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Ange Postecoglou breaks silence on row with Tottenham fan and explains why he was furious
Ange Postecoglou has explained why he was angry with a Tottenham fan who sat behind him during his side's defeat against Manchester City.
Ange Postecoglou has explained why he aimed his fury at a Tottenham fan sitting behind the dugout during the club’s 2-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City earlier this week. Footage shared on social media showed the Australian engaged in a row with an individual in the crowd.
Postecoglou endured a frustrating night and later hit out at supporters who wanted Spurs to lose to dent Arsenal’s chance of winning the Premier League.
Asked about the confrontation, Postecoglou said: “I think if you’re going to sit behind the bench, especially in a home game, you got to be respectful when you’re in earshot of the most important people.
“He wasn’t happy we just conceded a goal, so I turned around to find out what his problem was and he used language that he shouldn’t and he was abusive and if I hear that I don’t care who it is I will deal with it.
A fan was constantly asking Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou to throw the game last night.
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) May 15, 2024
Eventually, he snapped back at the fan… ?????? pic.twitter.com/wKPg7gDIzg
“But he is more than welcome to come back next time and take his seat up and express his opinions. If he swears, if he is abusive, he will cop the same treatment from me again. But at the same time you also feel, ‘well, I cop it at opposition grounds every week. Give me a break at my home ground.’”
Postecoglou was upset by comments in the media and from the wider community about whether Spurs might throw the game to ensure City beat Arsenal to the title.
He added: “That is probably the worst experience I’ve had as a football manager in a game because once I realised that I got it wrong in terms of what the atmosphere was going to be like and what people felt, I got a real anxiety within me of what happens if Man City, who are the best team in the world and who were disposing teams quite easily in the lead up, four at Brighton, wherever they played they scored 15 or 16 goals in the last four games, what if we play as well as they can but they beat us 5-0.
“I got in cold sweats thinking about people questioning my integrity and the people I work with. Even watching the game back, there was a comment somebody mentioned to me in commentary saying ‘Tottenham are having a real go here’.
“If nothing else people should know about me, I love this game. I’m very principled. I would hate to think, as Manchester City could have done to us, we are on the end of a heavy defeat and people would be questioning whether I prepared the team. And before people say that’s not going to happen, we know on social media that would have happened. 100 per cent. And I would be up here trying to defend myself.
“Once you started defending yourself, you know what happens. That's why I was animated on the night. I didn't enjoy the night because I needed the boys to… That was important, not just to me and the players but for our football. I don't think anyone will say that we didn't make Man City earn that win the other night.”