Postecoglou exclusive: Spurs boss on chasing 'ultimate goal' of Premier League glory

Ange Postecoglou has promised to match his younger aspect’s ambition as he chases the “final aim” of successful the Premier League with Tottenham.

In a wide-ranging interview with TNT Sports activities forward of Spurs’ journey to Newcastle United on Saturday, Postecoglou mentioned he needed his group to rival the consistency proven by runaway trio Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis, whereas he reserved particular reward for “excellent” newcomers Guglielmo Vicario and Micky van de Ven.

Spurs final gained a league title over 60 years in the past and have solely fleetingly flirted with the Premier League trophy, coming closest in 2015-16 below Mauricio Pochettino earlier than being pipped by 5000-1 pictures Leicester Metropolis. Their final trophy arrived through the League Cup in 2008.

“However finally for me, it’s about attempting to make this membership champion of the Premier League. I feel that’s received to be the last word aim.

“That doesn’t imply you possibly can’t have success in different competitions. I feel that helps with progress as a result of when you can achieve some type of success in a cup competitors or in Europe, that helps construct perception.

“It’s not straightforward, you’re competing in opposition to some high golf equipment which have been at this quite a bit longer when it comes to constructing squads and constructing groups, so we’ve received a little bit of catching as much as do.”

Postecoglou and Tottenham’s problem is an ominous one.

Defending champions Manchester Metropolis are of their eighth season of the Pep Guardiola venture, Arsenal are of their fourth full marketing campaign below Mikel Arteta and though Jurgen Klopp’s nine-year reign at Anfield is drawing to a detailed, he’ll go away a group full of high quality. By comparability, Postecoglou has simply entered his eleventh month accountable for Spurs.

“That’s essentially the most difficult bit, to get to the place they’re on a constant foundation,” he mentioned.

“In a one-off 12 months, possibly you might do it. However a constant foundation is the place we should always try to pitch ourselves.”

Requested what one change would possibly assist haul Spurs into title competition subsequent season, he mentioned: “The place we’re for the time being, when it comes to the squad and the place we’re with our soccer, we’re a good approach away from it being one or two essential issues [that need to happen].

“I don’t dismiss the truth that possibly we will do it subsequent 12 months however if you have a look at the opposite groups we’re competing with – they’ve been doing it for 4, 5, six, seven years.

“It’s solely after you’ve been there at the least three or 4 years that you would be able to begin interested by ‘possibly there’s a lacking piece’. It’s extra about trying on the broad topic of how we’re going to turn into a membership that may compete at that degree.”

Postecoglou’s arrival final summer time heralded a belated return to attacking soccer – dubbed ‘Ange Ball’ by supporters – after a largely bleak interval below Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, briefly, and Antonio Conte.

They’ve since recovered to sit down fourth, degree on factors with fifth-placed Aston Villa with a recreation in hand, as they give the impression of being to return to the UEFA Champions League.

“It’s not that I don’t care about it, it’s simply not our final ambition,” he mentioned.

“Ending high 4 would sign that we’ve made progress nevertheless it’s not a vacation spot level for us, so I’ve been reticent to make use of that as a marker that we’ve in some way been profitable.

“But it surely’s nonetheless necessary; if we end high 4 this 12 months it means we’ve made progress from final 12 months and offers us foundations for subsequent 12 months, however no ensures.”

He added: “Particularly for a membership like this, when you undergo two or three disappointing years it may be actually exhausting to get again up there. So I assumed it was necessary we at the least received again to a good degree this 12 months and it’s a credit score to everybody that we’ve executed that, giving our supporters some hope.

“However we’ve received to actually construct on that to verify it is sustainable moderately than a one-year factor.”

Two of Spurs’ most influential additions below Postecoglou have been in defence, with Vicario filling the void of long-serving captain Hugo Lloris in aim and Van de Ven starring both aspect of a hamstring harm in central defence.

Vicario, a summer time signing from Serie A aspect Empoli, has been focused in current weeks from set-pieces, however Postecoglou has been impressed with how the Italian has responded.

“For essentially the most half he is dealt with it fairly nicely,” he mentioned.

“What I’ve liked about Vic is at any time when that is occurred, the following ball that is are available he is gone for it once more. It might’t be underestimated the impression he is had, if you discuss a goalkeeper who has by no means performed within the Premier League earlier than… and he hasn’t are available from a large membership, just one or two years of Serie A expertise, I simply assume he is been excellent.

“There have been quite a lot of video games this 12 months the place he is just about saved us in it with an enormous save or an enormous second. For a goalkeeper in his first 12 months of Premier League, nonetheless very younger when it comes to maturity and expertise on the high degree, I feel he is been good.”

In the meantime, Van de Ven has excelled in Postecoglou’s excessive line and grabbed his first Spurs aim with a rocket within the win over Forest.

“He is been excellent. I am reluctant to say how good he will be as a result of I do not know and I’d hate to place a restrict on it,” mentioned Postecoglou.

“While you have a look at him and his background, he is had one 12 months within the Bundesliga, once more not at a large membership [Wolfsburg], and he is come to the Premier League. His progress via this 12 months has simply been excellent for us.

“Individuals discuss his velocity and his potential to defend in one-on-one conditions however every thing about him is enhancing – his passing, his ball carrying, his physicality, and he is nice to work with. He needs to enhance daily.

“That is the fantastic thing about this squad. Though I flagged that we have nonetheless received an extended technique to go, there is a core group of gamers who’re of their first or second 12 months of Premier League soccer, who’ve already set a fairly excessive benchmark.

” them as personalities, it hasn’t received to them in any respect. They only really feel like they have a lot extra to enhance. That is the thrilling bit for us.

“The duty I’ve is to verify we let these guys develop and match their ambition for us as a membership. They’ll all be actually high, high gamers.”