Chris Sutton is unhappy with what he’s heard about Ange Postecoglou’s tactics at Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the pundit reflected on Tottenham picking up a 3-3 draw at Manchester City on Sunday.
Spurs endured a torrid first half at the Etihad Stadium and were fortunate to head into the break just 2-1 down after Son Heung-Min’s early opener.
Ange Postecoglou received some criticism over his approach to the game, with Tottenham persisting with their attempts to play out from the back.
The Aussie made a slight tweak at halftime as he introduced Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for Bryan Gil, pushing Dejan Kulusevski out wide.
It paid off for Spurs as goals from Giovani Lo Celso and Kulusevski earned them a well-deserved point on the road.
But Postecoglou didn’t change his approach to the game in the second half. Instead, the former Celtic man doubled down and urged his Tottenham players to play with more conviction.
Indeed, Kulusevski revealed after Sunday’s game the Spurs boss was furious with his players at halftime and told them to play with more belief.
And Chris Sutton completely disagrees with the criticism Postecoglou received during Sunday’s game.
Sutton unhappy after what he’s heard about Postecoglou at Tottenham:
Speaking on The Monday Night Club, Sutton hit back at claims that Postecoglou’s approach to the City game was ‘naive’.
The pundit believes the Spurs boss has every right to stick by his attacking methods given the success it has given him throughout his managerial career.
“The whole thing, I heard a lot of things yesterday criticism of Postecoglou and how Spurs were naive and they were going to get caught out and how going into the game how they need to adapt and change the way they play,” Sutton said.
“Postecoglou is different in his footballing beliefs. I said this before, I am repeating myself numerous times, if he has had 26 years – 26 successful years in management with the formula that works for him, why on earth would he change it?
“He hasn’t managed in the Premier League until this season. But it works for him. His beliefs work with him.
“Why is he then going to adapt and going to do something differently when the formula works?”
Sutton makes a great point about Postecoglou’s unwavering commitment to playing an attacking brand of football.
The Aussie has enjoyed success everywhere he’s been by urging his players to be brave and stick to his philosophy. He’s also enjoyed a positive start to life at Tottenham given the injuries and suspensions he’s had to deal with over the past few weeks.
It’s also important to point out that Postecoglou has picked up positive results in some big games for Tottenham this season.
Spurs have beaten both Liverpool and Manchester United at home, while also picking up draws at Arsenal and City.
Postecoglou’s style of football certainly has Spurs fans on the edge of their seats but their early-season form would suggest his approach works.
Spurs hadn’t tasted defeat in the Premier League until several key players were sidelined with injuries or suspensions. But things are starting to look up once again for Tottenham as they will welcome Cristian Romero back when they face West Ham on Thursday.