Ange Postecoglou has already made a big impact on Tottenham Hotspur and he has previously explained in his own book exactly how he goes about transforming a football club and his squad. The Australian has overseen huge changes at Spurs already with the departure of star player Harry Kane as part of 11 players heading out of the club exit, either permanently or on loan. Seven players have come in the door at Tottenham but most of all Postecoglou has completely changed the way the team is playing with exciting, attacking football trained each day by a brand new coaching staff that he had never previously worked with. The result has been an unbeaten start in the Premier League with three wins from the first four matches and 11 goals scored with Spurs fans singing that they have got their Tottenham back.
Ange Postecoglou said: “Of course it’s a challenge walking into a place and putting something unconventional on the table. People don’t like change. Universal acceptance and understanding are never totally forthcoming and yet I’ve found that, when I’ve tapped into the right source, the objections have been very few. Even those who have some resistance at first will eventually buy into the project. Most people don’t want to find themselves outside the group or its momentum. Getting the group to the point where there is some momentum is the big challenge, and that’s the bit I love. I start with the premise that everyone wants to be involved. Everyone must find their place or for them it’s going to be a battle. Pitching it so that the majority comes on board is the key. I honestly start this process with such a total belief in the project that I just assume everyone is going to want to be part of it. In reality that won’t be the case, and it’s equally true that not everyone in the room at the start will turn out to be my kind of player. Those things work themselves out in their own time. The bigger the change the bigger the resistance.”
Postecoglou admitted that his way is not one for everybody and some players will not take to him. However, he also added that he will not accept anyone stepping out of line and trying to derail his changes.
Ange Postecoglou added: “People don’t like to have their comfort zone challenged, but I can’t work in a comfort zone. That’s not how exciting things are done, as far as I’m concerned,” the Spurs boss said in his book. The more I disturb the comfort, the greater the pushback. It becomes very testing when pushback becomes blowback. That can be a make or break time. I’m not a coach for everyone. I’m not a coach for every situation. I’m willing to accommodate people to a certain extent but I’ll never abide anything that will derail the mission. The range of personalities and motivations and abilities is so wide that my message and methods just will not resonate with some people. There’s no shame in that. I’m still going to push on. Once I’ve got the majority of the organisation (club or team) over the momentum tipping point, we’re usually away. To get to that point requires inclusiveness; making people believe in what you’re doing and feel as though their contribution is vital to its success. No person is more important than another. Any person can be called upon to perform a function and they need to believe that role is key. Even players who aren’t regularly playing must feel like they’re contributing. From day one I create the story and beat the drum, and, importantly, that first message is never about winning games. That’s not different from what people are used to, that’s expected. Every coach goes in with that aim, but if that’s the level of the ambition and there is no further context or meaning built around it, there is nothing special. I realise that I ask a lot of people around me. Change is inconvenient by nature and that was attractive to me because convenience is a soul destroyer. I can’t work effectively in that environment, can’t get what I need out of coaching. I can’t compromise the essence of my coaching – which goes to the heart of me as a person – and settle for a place where I’m just working for the sake of it. That position would trash everything I believe in and keep telling people, and would trample over the coaching achievements I’ve enjoyed. It isn’t always easy, but I see it as a matter of being. Anything less cheapens everything I’ve done, and want to do, in my life.”
