LONDON (AFP) – Ange Postecoglou launched an impassioned defence of his attacking approach yesterday, saying he is “not interested” in pragmatism after Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Roma – the latest episode in an inconsistent season.
Spurs were 2-1 up heading into added time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but veteran defender Mats Hummels snatched a late equaliser for Claudio Ranieri’s team.
It came just days after Spurs hammered Premier League champions Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad.
Spurs are sixth in the English top flight ahead of tomorrow’s match against mid-table Fulham, with six wins and five defeats so far this season.
Australian coach Postecoglou said he would stick to his attacking principles despite his team’s slip-ups. “There’s plenty of room for pragmatism in all walks of life and in football as well,” he said at his pre-match press conference. “But I’m just not interested in it.
“I don’t know why I need to change my approach to be like everyone else wants me to be. I’ll continue to push this team to be a little bit different, play football in a different way.
“Maybe when I’m long gone you’ll all pine for my entertainment, and you’ll have had your fill of pragmatism. “But look, if we were pragmatic I’d say at 2-0 up at City away, we’d have probably settled for 2-0 and we wouldn’t have got the victory we did and made it a special moment for our club.”
Postecoglou said his approach was geared towards long-term success for the club, who have not won silverware since 2008.
