Ange Postecoglou boldly invited pressure on himself and Tottenham with his recent boast that he “always” wins a trophy in his second season in charge.
The pronouncement raised eyebrows as it came from the manager of a club without a trophy since the League Cup win under the long-forgotten Juande Ramos in 2008. But Postecoglou was simply stating a fact.
And the Australian’s quest to fulfil that promise took a significant step forward with a fully deserved 2-1 win over Manchester City that booked Spurs a Carabao Cup quarter-final meeting at home to Manchester United.
For the record, Postecoglou won the Australian title with South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, as well as the Japanese League with Yokohama F Marinos, in his second season or second full season.
He also led Australia to an Asian Cup triumph in 2015, two years after becoming their manager, and won the Scottish Premiership in both his seasons at Celtic.
There were occasions when he did not win trophies, but did not see out two seasons in charge of Greek side Panachaiki, Whittlesea Zebras and Melbourne Victory.
His Spurs predecessors Andre Villas-Boas, Tim Sherwood and Antonio Conte were not allowed the luxury of a second season in charge, while Jose Mourinho did not get his chance of ending their trophy wait as he was sacked days before the 2021 Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed inside four months.
This explained some of the quizzical looks aimed in Postecoglou’s direction after his ambitious words, but he was merely outlining his track record. It was still, however, a real expression of self-confidence, even if he could also produce the concrete evidence to back it up.
Stating achievements and then backing them up, especially at Spurs, are two completely different things. But the Carabao Cup now presents a very attractive prospect of that long-overdue and long-awaited success, even though Manchester United will hold similar aspirations, presumably under prospective new head coach Ruben Amorim.
Postecoglou was in desperate need of Spurs showing their acceptable face after one of those displays that demonstrated the madding inconsistency of his team, even from one half to the next when they lost a 2-0 interval lead to go down 3-2 at Brighton, and were then tamely beaten by Crystal Palace last weekend.
A loss to City would have increased scrutiny on Postecoglou, not in the context of his future at the club, but whether his methods and unflinching belief in his all-out attacking strategy could fashion the success he insists it will bring.
Instead, this was the Spurs that has provided such entertaining fare throughout Postecoglou’s time in charge.
Manchester City may not have been at full-strength, with Erling Haaland kept on the bench even when they were chasing an equaliser, but they still had plenty of talent on show and this was a fully-merited win for the hosts.
It was the enigmatic Timo Werner who set them on their way after five minutes with a thumping finish he did not have time to think about – a key factor when it comes to this striker – from a Dejan Kulusevski pass.
Werner’s goal was his first of the season, only his third in 26 appearances for the club, but the manner in which he was swamped by elated team-mates and the reaction of the home fans illustrated that he remains a popular figure. It was the same at Chelsea, amid similar finishing travails, for his sheer boundless endeavour alone.
The “Timo Werner – he scores when he wants” chant that followed was heavily ironic, even if it was good-natured.
Pape Matar Sarr’s crisp finish increased Spurs’ dominance and, even when nerves jangled after Matheus Nunes gave City hope seconds before half-time, Postecoglou’s side maintained their progressive approach.
They created better chances, only surviving one real moment of worry when substitute Yves Bissouma cleared off the line from Nico O’Reilly with two minutes left.
It was no more than Spurs deserved. A late City leveller would have been an injustice as the hosts had their number once more in this magnificent stadium, this being their sixth win in eight games here.
Postecoglou. who has understandably cut a discontented and tetchy figure as Spurs dropped from the brilliance of their 3-0 win at Manchester United to lose so disappointingly at Brighton and Palace, willingly made a rod for his own back, and those of his players, with his own particular “second season syndrome”.
But if Spurs play like this, and of course they have the Europa League as well as the FA Cup to come, then he could easily come good on his promise.
The trick for Postecoglou is to produce the Spurs version against Manchester United and Manchester City, not the one against Brighton or Crystal Palace.
This was the acceptable face of Postecoglou’s Spurs.
