Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has sent a warning to Spurs fans, expecting the team to lose against Manchester City in the Premier League on Tuesday so as to prevent North London rivals Arsenal from being crowned league champions.
The 58-year-old, who became Spurs’ manager last summer, told fans of the North London club that rivalry and bragging rights are not important in situations like this.
He further added that he couldn’t understand how any Tottenham supporter would want the team to lose, even if it would stop Arsenal from claiming their first league title in two decades.
“I understand rivalry,” Postecoglou said while speaking to reporters on Monday night. “I was part of one of the biggest ones in the last couple of years in the world with Celtic and Rangers, and I understand rivalry.
“But I’ve never…I will never understand if somebody wants their own team to lose, that doesn’t, that’s not what sport is about. That’s not what I love about the game.
“There’s a pretty simple notion to this – there’s a game of football tomorrow night, what do you think is going to happen? What do you think we’re going to do as a team, or any team on this planet? Aren’t we going to just try to win? It’s a simple, basic premise. Now, how that makes people feel, I am not really fussed… I do not really care.”
MATCHDAY ✊
🆚 Manchester City
🏟️ @SpursStadium
🏆 @premierleague
⏰ 8pm BST
#️⃣ #TOTMCI pic.twitter.com/nkKV2qAmEm— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 14, 2024
Arsenal, who will be at home against Everton this weekend, are currently atop the league standings with 86 points, one above City, who have played a game less, and will be away at Tottenham before facing West Ham United in their final game of the season on Sunday.
A draw in the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could provide Arsenal with the chance to secure the title on the last day of the season with their better goal difference (3 goals).
Meanwhile, a victory for Tottenham means a win for Arsenal on the last day would guarantee Mikel Arteta’s side the title, while if City win, they would overtake Arsenal at the top by two points.
Pep Guardiola and his City side do not have the best of records against Tottenham in their new stadium, but they claimed a 1-0 win in their most recent visit in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Whereas the last time the two sides met in the Premier League, City were held to a 3-3 draw at the Etihad Stadium last December.
Postecoglou has led Tottenham to fifth position this season with two games still to play for them in the league, and a win against defending champions City will help them put pressure on Aston Villa, who currently occupy the final automatic Champions League qualification spot and are five points above Spurs.
