Ange Postecoglou has channeled the spirit of Monty Python to play down talk that he inspires fellow Premier League managers with his attacking style, after Liverpool boss Arne Slott lavished praise on his methods.
On Friday, Slott said he hoped Postecoglou would lift the trophy at Tottenham after the two sides were drawn together in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup – meaning they meet three times in the next two months, starting with Sunday's live Premier League clash. Sky Sports.
Asked for his response to Slott's comments, Postecoglou jokingly quoted from Monty Python's 1979 film The Life of Brian to initially dismiss his opposite number's kind words.
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He laughed: “I'm not an evangelist.” To quote Monty Python, I'm just a naughty boy!
“(Slot's opinion) is what I love about football. There has to be differences, people who are willing to do things a little differently.
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Liverpool boss Arne Slott was full of praise for Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash
“There's that diversity, that opinion, and that allows emotion to come into it. I hate that people think I'm just some kind of showman or something. I want to win.
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Highlights from Tottenham Hotspur's 4-3 Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Man Utd on Thursday night
“It's still the core of my being, I hate to lose, I want to win and I want to be successful.
“I'm so driven by it on a daily basis and I've been that way my whole career, but I feel like if I can play this way and win, it makes an impact.
“We all want a little bit of a mark and I want it to be mine. We were successful and we won, but maybe in a slightly different way. I think that stays in people's minds for a little while longer.
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Postecoglou praised the performances of 18-year-old Archie Gray who replaced him at centre-back after helping them reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup
“Will we ever get there? Some will say we are a long way off. Who knows, but I am determined to bring success to this football club in a way that I hope will make an impact.”
The movie references continued after Postecoglou was compared to Maximus from Gladiator, to which he replied: “Love the movie. Love Russell Crowe! I haven't seen the new one yet but it's a great story. That's all I'll say oh I've already gotten into trouble with Monty Python.”
Slot: Spurs fans tell me they want us to play this way
Postecoglou has faced criticism from some Tottenham fans – some of whom he admitted was painful here – at times for refusing to change his tactics, with the club on a run of two wins from nine before seeing off Man Utd on Thursday in the evening.
He hit back at “offensive” criticism of his methods and questioned whether his “silly accent” played a part in any of it.
But ahead of Sunday's game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium he remained unapologetic about his style, having championed his philosophy long before Spurs chose him as Antonio Conte's permanent successor in the summer of 2023.
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Jamie Carragher said Tottenham are the most entertaining team in England after Spurs' win over Man Utd
“When I came in I made it clear and I think the club knew what it was about,” he said. “I wasn't coming in and doing something I hadn't done before.
“My impression is that this is what the club wanted. Of course, they want to win – everyone does. But they wanted to do it a certain way, and that excited me.
“Whether the fans understand or appreciate that as a whole I'm not sure, but I get the feeling from the Tottenham fans I'm in contact with, that's what they want.
“They want to win, but they want the team to play with this kind of intent.
“It's human nature these days – we get something, we want something more, it doesn't satisfy us. I just think that whatever makes you happy, hold on to it and cherish it, embrace it.
“It doesn't have to be more. You appreciate something for what it is – but we all have people like that in our lives. We also have that uncle who says it's raining outside, even if you've just won the lottery it's about your outlook on life.”
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