Yves Bissouma has described Ange Postecoglou as being like an ‘uncle’ to the Tottenham squad, revealing that the Australian gives the players the freedom to express themselves.
Despite Tottenham suffering a 3-2 defeat to West Ham in their first pre-season fixture, there was plenty of encouraging signs during the team’s performance in Perth.
Not only did the players show the bravery needed to play out from the back, even when they were under pressure, but they also counter-pressed very effectively whenever they lost the ball and created a lot of chances.
It was certainly a very different style of football compated to what Spurs fans have been used to over recent years under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
(Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Bissouma pleased with Postecoglou impact at Spurs
Bissouma explained that he and his teammates now have complete clarity on what the new head coach expects of them.
The midfielder told Football.London about Postecoglou: “He gives us confidence. He’s like a dad, uncle, friend for us. So we’re happy to be with him and we’re trying to do what he wants.
“[Against West Ham] he was good because we played our football the way he wanted the team to play. The result wasn’t good for us but we continue, work hard for the next game and try to win.
“He’s good with us. He gives us confidence. He comes to his players and talks to us all. That’s really important in the changing room. When the gaffer comes and speaks to his players that means everything. You know how we have to do it.”
Bissouma admitted that he is delighted with the direction that the team is heading in and insisted that he is willing to play in any position that Postecoglou asks of him.
The Mali international added: “I’m really happy to be back like this, and playing football like this, it’s amazing. The important thing is a win. We can’t just say it’s just a friendly game. We want to win everything to give us confidence before the start of the season. It’s hard. At the same time, it’s good because we’re coming stronger, and we’ll see.
“I really like the way we play but you have to adapt yourself. The coach can ask me to play right-back, left-back, centre-back. In my head I’m ready to play every position for my team, but I’m happy to play the way I played [against West Ham]. I really like it.”
Spurs Web Opinion
After repeatedly being asked to perform the same defensive drills under Conte, it is understandable why the players would be enjoying the opportunity to express themselves in training and in matches under the new regime.
However, there is no getting around the fact that Postecoglou’s system leaves us defensively quite exposed and Premier League sides will punish us when we give the ball away cheaply while trying to play through the press.
Have something to tell us about this article?
