JUST IN – Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson reacts to Tottenham’s trophy drought after recent performance since Postecoglou’s arrival at Spurs [Full story link in comment]
Fifteen years on from his fabled ‘Lads, it’s Tottenham’ pep talk, Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed the north London club will never win a Premier League title.
The legendary former Manchester United manager made the sensational remark while in attendance at Newbury Racecourse this weekend, just hours before Spurs’ dramatic comeback victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.
Brennan Johnson scored deep into stoppage time to secure all three points for Ange Postecoglou’s side, after Pape Matar Sarr had cancelled out Pascal Gross’ 17th-minute opener from the penalty spot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The result moved Tottenham up to fourth in the English top flight – one point clear of Aston Villa, who entertain Ferguson’s beloved Manchester United in Sunday’s intriguing clash at Villa Park.
Postecoglou has been widely credited with transforming the mood at Tottenham since taking charge last summer, but Ferguson clearly thinks the club are some distance short of competing with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.
Tottenham’s last league triumph came way back in 1961, when they won the old First Division, and supporters’ long wait for glory is set to continue… if Ferguson’s prediction proves correct.
Asked if Spurs will ever win the Premier League, Ferguson burst out laughing and bluntly told Sky Sports’ Matt Chapman: ‘No!
Sir Alex is here! @MCYeeehaaa catches up with Fergie on Protektorat, Hitman, Caldwell Potter and Spurs' Premier League title hopes…! pic.twitter.com/QSLXNmgXix
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 10, 2024
‘No, ’61 was the last time they won it, well that’s a long time.
‘The opposition today with Liverpool and Manchester City being so powerful in the Premier League.
‘Even for United now, we’re having to fight.’
On claims that Spurs are now more likely to win a title than United, Ferguson fired back: ‘No chance!’
Addressing the media after Tottenham’s dramatic defeat of Brighton, Postecoglou said he was pleased with his side’s ‘very positive’ response to their poor first-half performance.
‘It’s fair to say the first half wasn’t great. Part of that is because Brighton are a good side, they’re well coached and very disciplined and we weren’t,’ Postecoglou told reporters at his post-match press conference.
‘We just took a few liberties with our football, our effort and our work rate, there were a few things that we have been really good at this year but we just didn’t do it in the first half.
‘I don’t question the guys’ character or mentality. We’ve done that a number of times this year but I was really disappointed the way we went about it in the first half. You can’t get away from that.
‘We’ve got to this point because of certain things we do and I was disappointed we went away from that, but you can’t question the character.
‘The response was very positive. It’s easy in that kind of scenario to go into your shell and feel sorry for yourself but I’ve never felt that way with this group.
‘They always respond in the right way when given that sort of guidance. I felt they took it on board in the second half and made a difference to the game.’
Son Heung-min and Yves Bissouma made cameo appearances at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after returning from international duty, with Postecoglou keen not to overload the duo.
‘We were worried about fatigue, that’s why we brought him [Son] on in the second half. He was ready to play, wanted to play,’ the Australian added.
‘If we were desperate he probably would have started. But we had other options, that meant we could protect him. I think it was better for him that he came on and played the minutes he did.’
