Ange Postecoglou press conference - on transfers, Maddison and new injuries

[mawspurs]

Ange Postecoglou and Dejan Kulusevski are both holding press conferences at Hotspur Way on Wednesday afternoon ahead of Tottenham's Europa League match against Elfsborg.

Source: Football London

 

[mawspurs]

Spoiler: Article

Ange Postecoglou and Dejan Kulusevski are both holding press conferences at Hotspur Way on Wednesday afternoon ahead of Tottenham's Europa League match against Elfsborg.

Postecoglou's players can secure a top eight place and miss out the added fixtures of the extra play-off round with a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday evening against the Swedish side. Spurs have to get back to winning ways with Postecoglou's future the subject of plenty of speculation.

The Tottenham boss will deliver updates on James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr, Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon, who were all missing from Wednesday's training session. Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario were involved though as were Richarlison and Yves Bissouma, who had been doubts.

Postecoglou will also deliver an update on any transfer activity both in and out of the club, with Yang Min-hyeok set to join QPR on loan.

Dejan Kulusevski continues to be involved and he will give a player's perspective on the current injury crisis and the lack of help in the transfer market.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to both Postecoglou and Kulusevski. Scroll down for all of his live updates from the press conference.

Postecoglou's message to angry Spurs fans​

My message would be to all Spurs fans because I represent them all not just the angry ones that you are referring to or maybe talking to. All Spurs fans. We are working hard to turn this around. Obviously we know the situation, notwithstanding the fact the possibilities and opportunities in the second half of this season are still very much in our hands to capitalise on and still make it a successful season.

The Swede on that chant about him and Daniel Levy​

I'm just playing. I'm just playing football. If they see what I give, everything I give, if they appreciate it, it's even better. I'm happy that I'm getting love from them. That's it.

More from Kulusevski​

I don’t listen to no-one because I know the truth. I see the truth my side. It’s not important what people say. It has never been actually. The league is very bad and the game on Sunday was tough to lose but you have to stay clear minded and focus on the goals. We have done mistakes, don’t get me wrong. We have done a lot of mistakes. We are 10/11 fit players in four competitions and that’s not OK and that’s why the team is paying that price in the league especially. You can look at the manager and the players but it’s bigger than that, it’s everything involved.
We play three games a week with nine or ten players. That’s all I need to say, it’s nothing more than that. I think everybody has got to watch the picture and ask themselves how we came this far. That’s it.
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying [the squad not being big enough], we are 11 players playing three games a week for a long period. I don’t see any other team doing that. That’s the only thing we should look at.

Has Postecoglou had the backing from the board this month?​

Everyone is trying their utmost. I don’t think anyone is working against me. I don’t think anyone wants me to fail. I think everyone genuinely at the football club… this kind of situation is a tough gig for a manager. You can be very isolated, you can be very vulnerable. I don’t feel that. The people I work with are doing their utmost to try and help me guide us through this. I don’t feel like anyone is blocking that. From my perspective my focus is firmly on the things I can control which is making sure I prepare a team for a really big game tomorrow.

Postecoglou on Yang Min-hyeok's loan to QPR​

Just to give him a chance to settle in to a new culture, a new environment, new league, new country. He's very young and we feel he needs to be allowed to settle. And with our current situation, the last thing I want to do is throw in another young player. We've got enough that we're exposing, they're doing awfully well. He's obviously a long-term investment for the football club and we've got to do the right thing by him.

Kulusevski on Postecoglou​

Because we had games when we showed perfect football. Football that not many teams can play in the world. We played beautiful games against United, against City 4-0 so I think he is the right man. We play for him. We want to win for him and to be honest we have similar ideas. I am very positive as a guy and I always want to play that football he wants. I have to fight for him because I believe in that football too. Yes, I think he’s the right man.

The Spurs boss on Romero​

Cuti's still a bit of a slow burner. We're mindful his injury was a bit different and he's still got to tick a few boxes so, yeah, not for the horizon at the moment in terms of this weekend. We'll see how he goes after.

Postecoglou on other players​

Djed will be fine for the weekend. Him and Reggy can't be involved tomorrow but he'll be fine.

The Spurs boss on transfers​

I’d be disingenuous if I said anything other than fight now there’s nothing imminent but that doesn’t mean there isn’t opportunity being explored. Traditionally the last few days of any window tend to be pretty frenetic. I expect us to be involved in that. Does that mean anything will get concluded? I can’t commit to that because I’m a bit of a distance from it but the information and dialogue I have is we’re exploring all the opportunities to see if we can bring some help in with the finances.

Postecoglou on VDV​

Micky is good, he's good to go. We'll try to get him some match minutes. He's had a good week, 10 days with the team. Madders has a calf strain, 2-3 weeks, Pape is ok, still a bit of a niggle, but he's ok and available and so is Biss.

 

[Jenko]

All this Ange in or out nonsense is just clouding the issue. It's a much simpler story. Levy being Levy and a squad not fit for purpose. 4 competitions and a one off storm of the century type injury list. We can't judge Ange until we have a full squad again.

Dejan says it here....
We play three games a week with nine or ten players. That’s all I need to say, it’s nothing more than that. I think everybody has got to watch the picture and ask themselves how we came this far. That’s it.
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying [the squad not being big enough], we are 11 players playing three games a week for a long period. I don’t see any other team doing that. That’s the only thing we should look at.