Tottenham Hotspur

Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport Journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brentford (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Postecoglou gave an update on team news: Wilson Odobert has a hamstring injury and will be "out for the next period". Yves Bissouma should be available for and Timo Werner is also OK. However, Richarlison is "a fair way off".

• On squad depth: "It will be important for us. On Wednesday night [in the Carabao Cup against Coventry], we had a lot of players who played 90 or 70 minutes who don't play often. It's great having a squad but if you’re throwing in guys who haven’t played in three, four weeks, it’s very hard for them to contribute because they are not sharp match-wise and with match fitness."

• On Dominic Solanke still looking for his first goal for the club: "People are just so quick to judge. It's a small sample. The guy has played less than two games for us. If he has gone 15 games without a goal then I can answer that question, or 15 games where he hasn't contributed, but I just think take a breath. We don't have to rush to judgement all the time because the alternative is he may have got off to a great start - he is fit, scored in all four games, is flying - and then he goes through a patch like all strikers where he doesn't score."

• He added: "I just don't look at those things. He has come in, fitted really well and, quite logically, has picked up an injury that has disrupted the way he wanted to start his career, but he's still got plenty of time for that."

• On being the first Spurs manager to last a full season in half a decade: "I know I'm not going to be here forever but I work like I will be. I make changes I think are going to set the club up for success for a sustainable period. If you get caught up in this kind of timeline scenario you end up making results that might feel good short term, but long term you're not going to get to where you want. My brief and my focus and my ambition is to bring success."

• On Brentford: "Thomas [Frank] has turned them into a difficult and challenging team for everyone in the league. Last week against Manchester City, I thought they played really well and took the game to City. That’s the Premier League - I don’t think there’s any games you go into that you think is going to be any easier than the others. We have to be ready for Brentford. We are at home and we have to make sure we continue with our strong performances in the league and turn those performances into results."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter, at Tottenham Hotspur training ground

Image source, Getty Images

There is another news conference today for Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou and it will be a much easier affair after beating Coventry in the Carabao Cup.

But the harsh truth is that performance was one of the worst in his tenure.

Just days after Postecoglou said he "always" wins silverware in his second season, Spurs were just five minutes away from being knocked out of a competition that represents the first chance of doing just that this season.

Changing eight players from a side that had only taken four points from their opening four leagues games was a huge gamble that almost backfired, before goals from Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson saved Spurs.

There remains pressure to beat Brentford on Saturday afternoon. Questions Postecoglou is likely to be asked include:

• Do boos for his substitution of Lucas Bergvall for James Maddison represent general dissatisfaction - or are fans also frustrated at Maddison's underwhelming displays?

• How can he turn around the creeping negativity?

• And does it pre-date him after poor runs from his predecessors?

He will be speaking from 13:00 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

The team to score first have failed to win the past four Premier League meetings between Tottenham and Brentford (D2 L2), with Spurs coming from behind to win this fixture 3-2 last season.

Image source, Getty Images

The issue around the footballing calendar and the demands being placed on players right now is a difficult one.

First, we need to take into consideration the really high demands on the body that go on all-year round with few breaks, especially for international footballers and those in teams competing on multiple fronts.

I know the men's and the women's games are different, but we got exposed to these issues when we went from amateur to professional. There was a lot of loading, a lot of games and the result of that was a higher risk of injury and we have seen a lot of anterior cruciate ligament injuries now in the women's game.

From the fans' side, their point is often that players get paid a lot of money but I think that is irrelevant. That is just the industry players are in and, if you take out the money, they are still human beings.

The governing bodies need to look at who they consult with about changes in the calendar such as World Cups being held in winter and summers where there is just a couple of weeks off before going straight back into it. The changes and fixtures that are put in are there to generate more money, which makes it difficult. As a business, it is about money.

We talk about mental health a lot and you wonder, where is the time to switch off and have that time away from playing? To have that family time which is a deep human need? At some point mentally, if not physically, it will take its toll.

None of us want to see players striking, but players need to be listened to. What do they need to do to make change happen?

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris St-Germain are leading the race to sign Sweden forward Viktor Gyokeres, 26, from Portuguese giants Sporting. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Anna Howells
Fan writer

Ange Postecoglou's tactics have been questioned following their start to the season, only picking up one win from their opening four Premier League games and losing the north London derby on Sunday.

Anna Howells from Spurs XY has given her view on the subject and what she would like to see change in the next few games.

Find more from Anna Howells at Spurs XY, external

Image source, Getty Images

Some interesting comments that have been made by Ange Postecoglou in recent interviews, but he is stating facts.

When you look at it from the outside, he is just saying in his journey as a manager, in his second season he has always won a trophy. So we can't say that he won't this time or that he will.

But, it does add pressure. When you think back to Jose Mourinho at Chelsea when he first came in and said he was the 'special one', then everybody expects. So if you are going to make statements like this then people will expect you to back it up.

I do think Postecoglou is a good coach and I like the way Tottenham play under him. They dominate and control most of their games but it is just that cutting edge they seem to be missing.

The team are more than capable of winning a trophy under him, especially cup competitions like the League Cup or the Europa League. Not all managers take those seriously but these are potential ones where he goes really strong to try and win some silverware at the club.

If they are to win a trophy under him this season then there are areas of Spurs’ game that they need to improve. They have certainly shown some really good signs in the opening games of the season where they have made opportunities to win games, but they just haven’t been able to take them and put games to bed.

But it's a difficult balance in football between what fans want and results. The fans have cried out for a team that are easy on the eye and Tottenham are that, but it's a results based business and I think without results you're always going to come under pressure or criticism.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

We asked for your thoughts after Tottenham's late comeback against Coventry City in the Carabao Cup third round on Wednesday night.

Here are some of your comments:

Devlan: Embarrassing. How many times are we going to find ourselves in these situations? When is a Tottenham player going to take control and show some class? We got away with it in this game but it highlights the continuing problems under Ange. We look awful and easy to score against. Who is actually directing this team?

Craig: That was a hard watch. Spurs lacked any real quality. It was such a poor display which, after a poor display on Sunday, makes you wonder where Spurs are heading. Spurs got out of jail, but only because Coventry presented them with the key and not because they unlocked the Sky Blues with quality. Fans won't put up with performances like this for very long.

Jonesy: The players look bereft of ideas with the ball and all over the place in defence. Given the performance at the weekend, I cannot understand why Ange didn't start his best XI and use this as an opportunity to build confidence and establish some rhythm in our play. Instead he sent out a team of strangers, who were individually poor and collectively worse.

Dan: Ange has to now realise that his one way of playing is NOT working. It's time he starts trying some other formats. If he doesn't have any other styles of play, I'm afraid Spurs will continue to get mugged off week in week out and will end another season empty-handed outside of the top six. Stop being stubborn Ange.

Edward: It was a win. Good - now give Ange a break and let him get on with his job in peace. He is only in his second season in charge, so he has got to be given plenty of time. Mikel Arteta has been in charge of Arsenal for years and only now is he really reaping his rewards. Ange is the best manager we have had since Mauricio Pochettino. Let Ange develop and deliver our results!

Charlie: This season is already looking like a copy of last season. We look like an absolute mess. We were flattered at Everton but we are getting found out now. Ange seems out of his depth and, from his comments about winning things in his second season, I can only think he knows he is not going to last until May.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham goalscorer Brennan Johnson speaking to Sky Sports after helping his side to a late comeback against Coventry City: "It was really difficult. There wasn't one part of us that underestimated Coventry. We have played them a few times and we know they play good football.

"At times, we let them off too easily and gave them too many chances. We were under some real pressure, but we will always keep going."

On the chaos during the game: "That has happened too many times - where it has been a bit too chaotic. We gave the ball away too many times and we weren't too much of a threat. For most of the game, we didn't play forward enough. The goals came from quick play and that is what we want to do more often."

On his goal: "It was really nice. It is a great feeling to score, especially so late on. Getting into the next round is really important and penalties are a toss of a coin, so getting my goal was very beneficial."

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a tough game. Credit to Coventry, I thought they were outstanding. They really took it to us.

"We had to hang in there somehow and we did. In the end, credit to the lads. It was a typical cup tie."

On the performance: "We weren't as fluid performance-wise. Some of that is down to Coventry, they played with high-energy. In the end I was pleased both for Djed [Spence] and Brennan [Johnson]. They have come on and made the difference for us and made a difference in the game."

On what Brennan Johnson's goal will do for his confidence: "Hopefully a great deal. He's a fantastic young man, a great player.

"I have a lot of time for him because he works so hard every day. He took his goal well tonight and he made a good impact."

On how significant tonight's result is for Spurs: "There is no easy or quick fix to where we want to get to and one result doesn't change that. Tonight we showed what we have been missing the first four games, a little bit of spirit to fight and win. We have lacked a little bit of an edge and hopefully tonight gives the boys a little bit of belief."

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Two late goals rescued Tottenham against Coventry and also papered over an underwhelming performance.

"We had to just hang in there somehow and we did," manager Ange Postecoglou told Sky Sports after his side's win. "We weren't fluent or cohesive."

As Postecoglou says, Spurs were not at it on Wednesday night. They were pretty much second-best for the first 88 minutes at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

But Djed Spence did show some quality when he equalised after being put through by Dejan Kulusevski.

Moments later, Johnson completed the turnaround with a composed finish after a fine through-ball from Rodrigo Bentancur.

Victory ended Spurs’ two-match losing run and ensured the north London club would be in next Wednesday’s last 16 draw.

The result also kept alive one of Tottenham's 2024/25 trophy chances in the same week manager Postecoglou received some negative reaction for saying he "always" wins silverware in his second season.

So, while the performance was not there, on the whole a win is still something to be positive about.

Postecoglou added to Sky Sports: "I have consistently said there is no easy or quick fix to where we want to get to and one result doesn't change that.

"Tonight we showed what we have been missing the first four games, a little bit of spirit to fight our way and find a way to win a game of football."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Tottenham’s performance, external

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

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Three Premier League teams are in Carabao Cup third-round action on Wednesday:

• Brighton v Wolves - 19:45

• Coventry v Tottenham - 20:00

Kick-off times BST

Follow live text commentary of those games

Nick Godwin
BBC Radio London reporter

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When Wilson Odobert raced down Tottenham's right late on in Sunday's north London derby, he appeared to have a bevy of options in front of him; players arriving in support, others heading straight for the penalty spot, runners streaming forward, left and right.

And yet he seemed paralysed by the thought of what to do next. He hesitated, Arsenal pounced and Tottenham's last real chance for an equaliser came to nothing.

Indecision was a real theme for the home side on Sunday, particularly in the final third. James Maddison (pictured), who 12 months ago was popping up in every conceivable pocket of space, seemed to panic whenever he got into a decent position. Dominic Solanke, on his home debut, could have shot at goal early on but dithered. The only players willing to have a crack were Dejan Kulusevski and, erm, Pape Sarr. The less said about his efforts, the better.

Ange Postecoglou picked up on this drop in confidence in his comments post match. He accepted he needs to find a way to raise the confidence levels of these players so they do not freeze at the big moment.

Twelve months ago, everything Tottenham tried turned to gold. Confidence and daring were in limitless supply as they pummelled teams, scored late winners and cut such an early dash as league leaders.

If the Spurs boss can once again devise a formula that lets his team play without fear of what might go wrong, then several of the problems that are in danger of derailing this part of the season may well start to solve themselves.

Ange Postecoglou is facing scrutiny after Tottenham's sluggish start to the season.

The former Celtic boss received high praise for his early spell at Spurs but, as our data below shows, after an impressive opening 10 games, things have dropped off notably in the 32 Premier League fixtures since.

BBC Sport statistician Chris Collinson said: "It's no surprise defensively is where the real decline has come, with Spurs conceding almost a goal per game more in their last 32 games than the first 10.

"Again, just looking at the number of shots they've given up would be confusing as they’ve actually faced slightly fewer... but the quality of the shots they’ve given up has increased significantly.

"In the first 10 games, Spurs gave up chances that historically would go in 9% of the time. Since then, they’ve give up chances that on average have been scored over 13% of the time."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says Ange Postecoglou has been "let down" by some of his players so far this season.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "I don't think they have been clinical enough in their build-up play or their passing in the final third. They haven't been incisive enough.

"They are just lacking that understanding in the final third. The system Ange Postecoglou plays is very reliant on his wide players being the creators. He has been let down in that respect.

"But Postecoglou has been in for just over a season - so to think he took them from eighth to fifth is an improvement, all while selling Harry Kane.

"We are [only] four games in and some of the nonsense I have heard after the game has been ridiculous."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Ange Postecoglou has taken charge of Tottenham for 42 Premier League games - so how have they done?

They’ve taken the fifth-most points along with Newcastle and Chelsea (70), seven fewer than top-four rivals Aston Villa.

The good news for Spurs is that they have not been too different to Villa in terms of expected goals (xG) but Villa ran pretty hot last season. The question there is whether Emi Martinez or Ollie Watkins will have such good seasons again this time around.

The bad news is that Chelsea have generally been stronger, although not as much as simple xGD would suggest (17.1 v 5.4) because the Blues won a league-high 12 penalties last season (Spurs won just two) and Enzo Maresca's side are unlikely to get so many again.

Real Madrid are targeting Tottenham's Argentina centre-back Cristian Romero, 26. (Independent), external

However, Spurs are planning to offer Romero a new contract to deter interested clubs. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

As is so often with Ange Postecoglou, what looks like a fractious post-match press conference in the heat of battle becomes a much calmer tone in the pre-match press conference for the next match.

When a microphone is dangled under the Australian just minutes after a painful defeat, he can come across as ill-tempered.

That could be seen as a reflection that something isn't quite right at Tottenham - but, when the dust has settled, the 59-year-old has time and again returned to his usual pleasant, honest and composed self.

He was questioned extensively on his post-match grumpy tone and combative comments following the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, where he pointed to his record of success during his second season at clubs. In Tuesday's pre-match news conference for Spurs' Carabao Cup endeavours, he defended his position.

"I just stated a fact – should I lie? Is it me boasting?" he replied.

Perhaps it is fair complaint to ask why he should be criticised for being authentic in a sport which is so often marred by boring characters, who approach press activity with their guard up and attempt to get through it by saying nothing.

Of course, the only way to shield himself is by winning more often - so the match away at Coventry City in the Carabao Cup could be seen as a dangerous banana skin or an opportunity to kick-start the season.