'Really good': Micky van de Ven says there's one thing that makes Ange Postecoglou 'special'
30/04/2024 19:15
Micky van de Ven has lauded Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou as a 'special' manager.
Things aren't exactly going to plan for the Aussie boss at the moment after consecutive defeats in the Premier League.
Tottenham are facing the possibility of missing out on the Champions League following a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
But in a season where Spurs have undergone drastic changes on the pitch, there has been undeniable progress under Ange Postecoglou.
The Lilywhites slumped to an eighth-placed finish last term while offering up what can only be described as a dull style of football. While Spurs have plenty of issues in terms of their defensive work, Postecoglou has certainly succeeded in making Tottenham more easy on the eye.
The former Celtic boss also lost star man Harry Kane over the summer and not many backed Tottenham to challenge for a top-four place this year.
Despite some doubts emerging surrounding Postecoglou, Micky van de Ven is convinced the Aussie is the right man to lead Spurs forward.
Van de Ven lauds Tottenham boss Postecoglou
Speaking to Tottenham's official website, Van de Ven shared what makes Postecoglou a 'special' manager.
“I had a good meeting with Ange, we knew the interest from Spurs and it was good to speak to the gaffer," the Dutchman said.
“His vision on football, I liked it, to play out from the back, to play offensive football with a lot of possession. The way he spoke to me and the trust he gave me in the meeting really convinced me.
“I think he’s a top manager. He’s really clear in what he wants and sticks to his principles. What makes him special is that he knows what he wants and what is best for his teams, so he keeps pushing us more and more which is important.
“I like to play out from the back. Sometimes you need to play with risk in the build-up under pressure, but he gives us a calmness and trust to play like this is. He wants us to keep pushing to play in that way, to keep calm and keep playing from the back and I enjoy that.
“Obviously playing with the high defensive line doesn’t matter to me playing with the space in behind because I back my speed. I like to play with the high line because it means we can press higher up the field to encourage more offensive football and that’s what I enjoy the most.
“Even if we have an off game, we can bounce back to what we have to do because there is a clear focus. He’s been really good for this group. He's like a father figure who is so nice to everybody, but he pushes us hard when we have to get down to business.”
Postecoglou's record at Tottenham
Postecoglou got off to a flyer in north London as Spurs led the way in the Premier League after 10 games played.
A nightmare 4-1 defeat to Chelsea ruined their early-season momentum, with James Maddison and Van de Ven picking up injuries.
Spurs have been inconsistent since and there has been a fair amount of frustration amongst supporters over recent performances.
After 33 games in the Premier League, Postecoglou’s record stands at 18 wins, six draws and nine defeats – picking up 1.82 points per match.
But it's very much early days for Postecoglou and should he deliver a fifth-placed finish this season, that should be viewed as a promising debut campaign.
Tottenham are only likely to improve once the Aussie brings in more players suited to his style of play, providing he's backed sufficiently in the transfer market.
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