Ange Postecoglou sends blunt ‘Newcastle mate’ message on Australian TV after Arsenal question.
Newcastle United welcome Spurs to St James’ Park on Saturday and Ange Postecoglou knows his side can’t afford to even think about next week’s huge clash against Arsenal.
Ange Postecoglou has predicted a ‘tough game’ against Newcastle United as the Spurs boss refuses to think about his side’s huge North London derby next week.
Spurs travel to St James’ Park on Saturday for the first time since the Londoners were hammered 6-1 on Tyneside in a supposed face-off between two sides going for the Champions League last season. A lot has changed since then, of course. Cristian Stellini, who was in interim charge that afternoon, lost his job while Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Ivan Perisic, Arnaut Danjuma and, blameless skipper Harry Kane, who scored a mere consolation, have moved on.
Postecoglou has since managed to revive a side who failed to qualify for Europe last season and who won just three of their final 11 games during a turbulent campaign. Spurs now sit 13 points clear of eighth-placed Newcastle in fourth with just seven matches to go.
Ahead of the trip to St James’, Postecoglou was asked by Australian broadcasters Optus Sport about having the chance to have a say in the title race when his side meet bitter rivals Arsenal next week. However, that game was far from the Spurs boss’ thoughts.
“Newcastle mate,” he said. “Newcastle away. That will be a tough game for us. That will be the one.”
It is a game with a lot at stake for both sides. Injury-ravaged Newcastle, who have picked up seven points from a possible nine, could move up to sixth with a win while Spurs are aiming to open up a three-point lead on rivals Aston Villa, who travel to Arsenal a day later.
Newcastle expected to make at least £37m from playing in the Champions League group stages, but Postecoglou stressed it ‘doesn’t guarantee anything’ when quizzed about the financial pressure of finishing in the top four.
“Newcastle made the Champions League last year,” he said last week. “Did it help them this year? Did it help them in a footballing sense?
“We’re not banks – we’re football clubs. We’re not financial institutions. I don’t get measured by the balance sheet at the end of the year and you can see how difficult it is for a club to juggle Champions League if you’re not building a squad.
“To be fair to Eddie, he’s had horrendous injuries this year. It makes it hard. Champions League? Great. Money? Great. Does that mean we’re going to finish third next year? No. In fact, it’s probably going to be more challenging.”
