Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has admitted he has been left slightly disappointed by something this season.
It has largely been a season of positive for the north London club who have played above many people’s expectations in their first season under Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs go into the weekend knowing they hold their fate in their own hands now as they sit two points off Aston Villa with a game in hand.
But there have been a lot of missed opportunities in recent weeks to really put a strong hold over their pursuit of the Champions League.
And it seems the 58-year-old is not settling for where Spurs are currently as they battle away for a Champions League spot.
What Ange Postecoglou said has disappointed him at Tottenham
Tottenham will go into Sunday’s game against Nottingham Forest knowing what Aston Villa were able to do the day before in their game against Brentford.
Equally, this could pile the pressure on Spurs to get all three points if Villa are able to pull to five points clear in fourth spot.
Although the result against West Ham was by no means a disaster – given their recent record at the London Stadium – it was another opportunity missed to pile the pressure on Villa.
Having beaten Villa on their own soil, Spurs have not exactly pushed on like a side who are desperate to land a Champions League spot.
Speaking to Optus Sport, the 58-year-old has admitted he feels Tottenham should be a lot higher than where they currently find themselves in the table.
He said: “Probably disappointed we aren’t in a better position. Because I think you start every season hopefully with the highest of ambitions, but you know there’s always challenges throughout the year whatever you do.
“Particularly, for me, being in my first year, there has been a lot of changes at the club and challenges. I think it’s been an OK season so far.”
What Tottenham have recently done that no side has done in 30 games
It is completely understandable that there is a feeling of missed opportunities and points left on the pitch for Spurs recently.
Perhaps the game which is really fueling this notion is the emphatic defeat away to Fulham after the high of beating Aston Villa.
It was a game which Spurs were absolutely expected to win, but instead, the Lilywhites were turned over in sensational fashion.
Had Spurs taken the win at Craven Cottage, the outlook on their recent form may have been completely different.
The draw against West Ham on Tuesday night may also have looked a much better point than some may feel it to be now.
Here is a round up of how Spurs have fared under Postecoglou in the league.
- 17 games won
- 6 games drawn
- 7 games lost
- 62 goals scored
- 44 goals conceded
- 11 home games won
- 6 away games won
Statistics via Fbref.
But playing away in the Premier League is a difficult task and it is something which Spurs have earned themselves a spot in a surprising statistic over.
It is a statistic which has now grown further after last night’s games, but Spurs’ win against Villa was the only away win in the last 33 Premier League games.
Next up for Spurs is Nottingham Forest, where three points will feel a necessity with the run of games they then have coming up.
With some players like Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison perhaps not quite operating to their top level, it would be the right time for the side to rediscover the form they showed against Villa.
Newcastle United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all await Spurs in what is going to be a really difficult end to the campaign.
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