Ange Postecoglou said “Yeah, I’m sure it does [affect him]. It’s a shame that young people, for their own reasons, seem to enjoy something they have to close off from because of abuse. I don’t think that’s right. I haven’t spoken to Brennan about it, but the lads know what I’m about and my beliefs. I keep telling them the same thing: the most important people in your life are the ones you’ve got to worry about and their opinions, not anyone else’s in terms of validation. Just keep enjoying it. He won a game of football for us the other night with a really good finish at the critical moment. I reckon if you put any of his critics in that situation, they would be looking for a change of pants pretty quickly. But they don’t think about that in the moment. I’d hate to think he’s not enjoying it. I keep saying to him we’re all pretty blessed to do what we do, even in the worst of times. We’re still pretty lucky to be able to do what we wanted to when we were 10 years old. Not many people can say that.”
It was put to Postecoglou that Johnson’s displays this season have shown his challenge is to turn game-turning substitute appearances into strong starts in matches.
Ange Postecoglou said “To a certain extent. With Brennan, it’s just about consistency in his game, something we’re constantly working on with him. He’s always getting into good areas. It’s about decision-making sometimes, which is difficult in that position for a young player. But he works hard on it every day. People often look at goals and assists as the obvious measure for attacking players, but he also gives us a lot of other things, particularly his defensive work, which he’s worked hard at. When he first came to us, that wasn’t natural to him, but he’s gotten a lot better at it.”
Postecoglou also discussed the absence of Cristian Romero during the midweek cup win against Coventry, explaining the decision to rest him and other key players like Micky van de Ven ahead of the weekend Premier League game against Brentford. Romero had played for Argentina on Tuesday night in Colombia and returned Wednesday, but with the Spurs squad having Thursday off, there was no rush to bring him back into action.
Ange Postecoglou said “I don’t like post-game trying to find reasons or maybe excuses for things,” Postecoglou said. “I’d rather deal with them on merit. We prepared well for that game, but that’s a separate issue. We’ve always got to look after player welfare, and the international aspect of our footballers is important. I know better than most how travel, time differences, and rest affect game preparation. It’s something we look at on an individual basis. He [Romero] also knows things happen in football, and it’s about how you respond. I love him as a player and a person. He’s a winner, but you’ll have days when things don’t work out. He was disappointed he couldn’t do more, but it’s not like he’s gone into his shell. He wants to get back out there and make amends.”
Postecoglou was then asked about the potential crisis Tottenham might have faced had they tumbled out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday to a Championship side.
Ange Postecoglou said “If we’d lost, maybe we would have been in crisis, but if we’d won the first game, people might be saying ‘can you win a title this year?’ Neither of those things reflects my reality. I’ve always been pretty good at staying focused on what’s important. In terms of what I’m trying to build, the external noise, whether it’s valid or not, is just a massive distraction. I’ve learned that, whether things are going well or not, you can’t let it distract you from what needs to be done. Nothing will take me away from what I believe is necessary. It’s about the world you live in and where you take in information. The people around you are important. I make sure to surround myself with people who understand me and what we’re trying to achieve, both in football and outside of it. I’ve got a pretty closed world that I’ve developed over 26 years of doing what I do, so I can insulate myself better than others from the noise.”
Reflecting on the changes he’s made at Tottenham, Postecoglou acknowledged the struggles they’ve faced.
Ange Postecoglou said “I ignore the tide and just keep swimming. You need to embrace the struggle because success doesn’t come from everything rolling out perfectly. Whether it’s swimming against the tide, running uphill, or going against the wind, you can use any metaphor you like. But I ignore it because it doesn’t help. What works for me is staying focused on what needs to be done. You show me a success story, and I’ll show you a struggle. People forget the struggle and only see the end result. But that’s what tests your resolve and belief. This is no different from anything else I’ve done.”
When asked whether Spurs was the most difficult job he’s taken on, Postecoglou reflected on his career.
Ange Postecoglou said “The most difficult job I had was my first one. If I’d failed there, I probably wouldn’t have gotten anything else. I was coaching my hometown club, the one I grew up with, and the only reason I got the opportunity was because they knew me. After five games with no wins and sitting at the bottom of the table, it was pretty tough. But that’s why I love what I do. I enjoy the struggle and the difficult parts, and no one knows how it all ends. For me, it’s just about doing what I believe is the right thing to get success and hopefully change the fortunes of this fantastic football club.”
