Defiant Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has hit back at critics of his swashbuckling style of play, saying he hopes to make them eat their words.
Despite guiding Tottenham to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with a dramatic 4-3 victory against Manchester United midweek, the ex-Celtic boss face criticism for his side gifting the Red Devils a way back into the tie – which Spurs had led 3-0 at one stage. But speaking on Sky Sports prior to his side’s match with table topping Liverpool, Ange insisted he won’t change his style saying: “I love my team scoring goals, I can’t get away from the fact that’s the biggest joy you get in football.
“I hate losing, but I hate losing if we haven’t scored a goal. I love winning, but I love winning more if we’ve scored multiple goals. That’s who I want us to be. The fact that we won [against United] embodies what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to be a really exciting side to watch, but win ultimately. Right now the jury is out, but people are talking about us. So hopefully when the success comes it won’t be that we won, but how we won. That’s just as important for me.”
Postecoglou had previously pledged to win the London club silverware for the first time since lifting the League Cup in 2008, and hopes that the success can help silence those questioning his methods. He continued: “I’ve said before that I think scrutiny and criticism, provided it’s based on the foundation of people analysing without an agenda – if someone has an agenda because they don’t like me then I’ve got no time for that – then I think that it’s right that it’s analysed, scrutinised and criticised.
“My belief at the end point when we do have success, is they’ll look back and say hold on we got something wrong. There may be a world in which we exist where Jamie Carragher is wrong for once. You never know! That possibility exists. I don’t get offended unless it’s personal, not just towards me but towards other managers. Sometimes I think it crosses a line. But when it’s football analysis you’ve got to take it on board as part of what you do. It tests me.”