Ange Postecoglou remains determined to overcome the final hurdles and lead Tottenham to Europa League success, but he has admitted the “general consensus” is that he will not be in charge next season.
Speculation over Postecoglou's future has been ongoing for months following a difficult winter that saw Spurs slip down the Premier League table from 14th place due to a rash of injuries.
With the Europa League remaining Tottenham's only chance to salvage a difficult season, they face Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their quarter-final on Thursday. Postecoglou cited a national newspaper article suggesting that even European glory might prove too little, too late.
“I just think we're in a situation where the good things we can do will be interpreted as glass-half-full rhetoric, and from that perspective I don't think that's going to be the driving force behind what we're trying to achieve. The guys really want to bring success to the club,” Postecoglou said.
“(Someone) wrote that even if we win, I will still leave. This is not an attack on you, it is simply a reflection of the general mood of people. So if you try to use this as a source of motivation, you will still not win.
“I came to this club with a clear goal and vision of what the club needed and what I could offer. This is a change in the team's style of play, obviously a rejuvenation of the squad, because it was coming to the end of its cycle and bringing success.
“As long as I am in this position, this will always be my priority, no matter what the noise is or what may happen in the future. I see no reason for this to diminish my ambition, my desire and my determination to make this happen.
“Everything we achieve in life is often achieved with difficulty. Of course, everything I have achieved in my life has been achieved through struggle from a professional point of view.
“It's just another fight, but throughout this fight I have never lost my desire to fight for what I believe is right and I will continue to do so.”
Spurs will be without key figure Dejan Kulusevski (foot) but otherwise have a fully-fit squad and Postecoglou made one of the biggest decisions of all – choosing between Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert on the right flank.
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Sourse: breakingnews.ie
