Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media at Hotspur Way on Friday, ahead of our Premier League clash against Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday (3pm UK).
Here's what he had to say...
Ange on our UEFA Europa League Round of 16 draw against AZ Alkmaar...
"It's a familiar opponent. We played them here (in the league phase) and obviously watched that game (AZ against Galatasaray) and the Real Sociedad game (against Midtjylland) knowing they were likely opponents. It's a good game for us, excited by seeing the draw today. They did really well against Galatasaray, we played Galatasaray as well away and that's a tough gig. They're a good side so looking forward to it."
On being favourites for the Europa League...
"Look, what I do know about bookmakers is they're the only ones that make money out of betting. So, they must know what they're talking about. So, obviously, there's some reasoning behind that. But, I mean, whether that sort of affects me or not, not really."
On reminding players of the opportunity of being able to do something special this season...
"I don't have to remind them. We've been talking about that all along. I know you say the last two cup performances haven't gone your way, but we did get to the semi-final. So, it wasn't like we bombed out of the cups, and we lost to Villa away in the FA Cup. But I get it from an objectives perspective and sort of tangible what's left in the season. Europe's always been at the forefront of our minds and we did really well, and we saw how important it was that we did finish in the top eight, even finishing in the top four, because it kind of helped us this last two weeks having two games off. So, again, we were rewarded for that. It's important, but not dismissive of the league either. There's still 12, 13 games to go and from our perspective, we're not happy with where we are in the league, obviously, and our form has been very inconsistent, but there's still an opportunity there to make an impact in the league as well. The good thing now is we know sort of the programme roughly. Irrespective of what happens, there's some natural breaks in there which will help us. I think, particularly, as you said, with the injured guys coming back. So, yeah, a good opportunity for us."
On the latest team news...
"No new concerns. From last week, everyone got through okay. The three guys who picked up a knock last week were all good. Obviously, again, having a full week to recover and prepare is good, and the other guys are ticking along well. We've got now two games in quick succession in the league, a good opportunity for us to get some match minutes into guys who have been out for a while. We saw Brennan and Wilson, obviously, Vic comes back last week, Madders, but Destiny as well. We need to get them some match minutes and these two games will give us an opportunity to do that. Then we've got a week before the first Europa game. We've got the weekend off. And again, that's about the time we're hoping that guys like Romero and Micky in particular they should be in and around that sort of mark. And Richie and Dom not too far behind, to be honest. And again, with that, we've got sort of two games before the international break. So we're kind of mapping it out and trying to sort of navigate a way where we can have f as fit and healthy squad as we have all year for the run-in."
On the benefits of not having midweek games for the last two weeks...
"I think it helps enormously because, I mean, there's obviously the physical toll, which we kind of know and just their bodies being able to recover as much as anything else. And then, mentally it does. It takes its toll because you don't invariably get a lot of time to switch off when you've got games constantly because, again, you're in recovery mode and then you've got to prepare for another game. You don't really have the energy to do anything else. So, home life probably suffers a fair bit and the ability to switch off is difficult. So, we gave the boys two days off for the beginning of last week. We did a similar thing this week. I think you can see that in them that both physically and mentally they've really benefited from it. It means that the remnants of that long run has dissipated in their minds as much as in their bodies. It's also allowed us to really train well because when they do come back in, they're refreshed, they feel good and it means our training has become so much more meaningful in the last two weeks."
On Ipswich...
"They're a hard-working team. They're very well organised. They managed the game really well against us. They obviously scored and got ahead and we found it really hard then... we had our moments to get back in the game, but we couldn't. So it's really important that we don't allow that to happen again. Like I said, we know they're going to work hard. They're going to be well organised, they're going to fight for everything. So, we've got to be in a mindset to match that and at the same time, still play our football. I think that's important. As I said last week, you know, it was important we won. We played well, but I think there were areas we know we can be better. That's the opportunity for us tomorrow."
On the opportunity to build momentum after successive Premier League wins...
"Yeah, that's the opportunity that does exist. Obviously, our last two Premier League games, Brentford away and Man United at home, have been two important results for us to arrest the form in the league, but you need to keep doing that and backing that up. Tomorrow's an opportunity to do that. It's not easy when you're playing away from home and in the Premier League, especially against a team that's fighting like Ipswich are. So, we know it's not going to be an easy one, but it is an opportunity for us now to get another strong performance, get another positive result, and like I said, hopefully provide a bit of a foundation for us to kick on."
Summing up where we're at at the moment...
"It's not just the guys coming back from injury, but they need time to get up to speed. It's just the ability for the existing guys to also recover. It wasn't just the injuries that affected us. It was the volume of games. If we weren't in the Carabao Cup or in Europe, even with the players we had, if we had one game a week, you'd still be able to manage it better. So, it's been hugely beneficial the last two weeks that, yes, we've got some significant players back, and we saw the benefit of that with Vic and Madders last week and Brendan and Wilson being able to help. It's also guys like Kulusevski and Archie and Djed and all these other players, Rodrigo, who have been playing so much football, their ability to rest and recover. So, you know, from that point of view, we're obviously in a much better place. We knew the Villa game was the finish line for us in terms of where we were heading. So, yes, I think we benefited from last week. Hopefully we do the same again this week."
On Mathys Tel...
"I was happy to get him in and again for a young man who hasn't played a lot recently, obviously that was one of the reasons he was looking to move, to get more opportunities. I kept him out there for 90 minutes for both games just to build him up physically as much as anything else. He's a willing worker, which is brilliant. We’ve seen in both games, he really works as hard as he can for the team, which is massive for us and the more he plays, the more he'll get into the rhythm of how we play. Even for himself as a striker, I think he needs the games to get up to speed, but, yes, he's done really well for us. Hugely important. Hopefully with Dom not too far away, Richy not too far away, we'll have some real good options in that front third."
On being able to train with a full squad again...
"There are two aspects of my role that I love more than most. One is game day and the other one is training. You kind of get frustrated when you're out there and you can't really do what you want to do as a coach. Not just me, but the other coaches as well. You kind of design sessions, but you know guys are going to be walking through things and we're just trying to provide information. Whereas, you know, the last two weeks, the training sessions you walk off and you're pretty excited about what you've seen. You feel good about the session you've put on and the coaches get a buzz out of it, the players get a buzz out of it. So, yes, it's been good to be able to do that."
On Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski still needing a break...
"I think so. Like I said, these next two games are a good opportunity for us. Obviously we've got Saturday and then we've got City midweek and then a week off. So, I think these next two games... it was great to give Archie just a moment to have a breather even though we had to put him on last week because he’s another who has racked up the minutes. You’re right, Pedro, Kulusevski, these kind of guys, we've got an opportunity with the players we've got back to still maintain good levels of performance, but also give them a little bit of a rest. Again, once Europe kicks in, we know we’ve got to play midweek and weekend again, so we want to make sure we’ve got enough in the tank and we don’t want to lose any players during this period either."
On Destiny Udogie and Brennan Johnson being ready to start...
"Potentially, yes. Whether it is tomorrow or Wednesday, both of them need to get their match minutes up. Wilson as well, but he's been out the longest, so it’ll be a little bit of a slow burner with him. Again, to play and play significant minutes is important, but in terms of starting, I think both Brendan and Destiny, whether it's tomorrow or Wednesday, we'd be certainly looking to get them involved."
On when Archie Gray might play in midfield...
"The way it's going, never! You know, I was tempted to put him in goal because we were down a fifth goalkeeper. No, look, I think whatever happens, and I know people are really keen to put him in there, I think the experience he's had this year is going to be outstanding for him and outstanding for us. He's taken on every challenge we've thrown at him, not flustered, got on with it, performed at a really good level, contributed to the team all as an 18-year-old in his first year in the Premier League. He'll get to where he needs to get to in good time, but this period is going to be enormously beneficial for him."
On Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Djed Spence and being able to make changes without a drop in levels...
"Yeah, that's massive. You know, I was consistent in saying that even through the most difficult period, I still felt we were getting growth and they're the kind of guys you'd go, there has been so much growth in them. I think you saw even with Lucas last week, you know, he's becoming a man before our eyes really. You look at him now and I know he's just turned 19, but he doesn't look like a young player anymore and I think that's because of the experience he's had in recent times where we've just had to throw him in and he's had to do jobs for us and make an impact. So, I think him and Archie and Djed, Djed’s been brilliant in terms of the way he's come in and the thing is with it, they're not just playing, they're actually making an impact. They're really contributing and that's great for us with the period coming up because, hopefully, with guys like Destiny back and obviously Micky and Romero are not too far away, it just gives us some real strength in squad that we're going to need if we're going to compete in Europe and league. We've already seen sort of the attrition rate, so we're going to need a strong squad and those guys are certainly going to be beneficial."
On Cristian Romero having a scan on his injury...
"He's had that and it's going well. He's in a good place. So, like I said, with him and Micky, it's just picking our moment now. I'm really keen to get them back and have him back for the rest of the year. We've got a really good period coming up where I think we can manage that where they're back, they've had good weeks of training with us, so that when they do come back in, they're in a good place. So, yeah, he's still going well."