- Ange Postecoglou’s future at Spurs is uncertain after a difficult season
- James Maddison has given his manager his full backing ahead of a huge game
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why Jude Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid paid off for Liverpool
James Maddison has given his full backing to Ange Postecoglou ahead of the biggest game in Tottenham’s season.
Spurs have endured a miserable Premier League campaign and are currently 16th in the table, but they have reached the Europa League semi-finals and will play Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt in the first leg at home on Thursday night.
Speculation surrounding Postecoglou’s future at Spurs has mounted in recent weeks, with reports claiming that even a Europa League triumph will not save him, but Maddison insists the players are still play for their under-fire manager.
‘We’re behind the manager, 100 per cent. I think he’s a great man,’ Maddison said at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
‘He’s the first person to tell you, I’ve heard it myself, that we’ve had a poor season, especially in the league. We’ve been very good in Europe, but the league season’s probably been unacceptable, and we can all take a collective responsibility for that.
‘But he’s my manager, he’s my gaffer, I respect him an awful amount.
James Maddison has shut down any talk that Spurs’ players have turned on Ange Postecoglou
Postecoglou is under severe pressure after a disappointing league campaign
Spurs are still in the hunt for silverware, and Maddison has given Postecoglou his full backing
‘The narrative is something that we players try and keep away from because it’s not healthy to read into what you lot are talking about – the manager’s position. I just know that I come into work every day and see the lads listening, taking on the messages, how he wants to play and trying to do what’s best for this club.
‘We’re in a very good position in Europe, where we can still have a special season under his management. So, I’ll continue to do that until the day he isn’t here. He’s my manager and I respect him an awful amount, so that will continue.’
Spurs will enter their semi-final tie as favourites to progress to the final and end their 17-year wait for silverware, but Postecoglou has vowed not to underestimate their opponents.
Bodo/Glimt knocked Postecoglou’s Celtic out of the Europa Conference League in 2022, and the Australian manager believes they must be treated with respect after swatting aside some major European clubs on their run to the last four.
‘I think Bodo’s there on merit,’ Postecoglou said. ‘They’ve beaten Lazio and Olympiakos, tough teams. They’re there because they’re a good football team.
‘It doesn’t matter where you come from. I come from the other side of the world where football is the fourth sport. So I don’t underestimate anything.
‘You say we’re a big club, they’re a small club, it doesn’t matter. We’re two clubs in a semi-final of a European competition, and they’ve earned the right to be there. They’ve done very well to get there, and we’re going to treat them with the respect they deserve.’
Tottenham will be without their captain Son Heung-min on Thursday, with the winger yet to recover from a foot problem.
The winner of Tottenham’s tie will face either Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao in the final next month.
