Tottenham manager: 'Winning against Man Utd boosted confidence'

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou believes that Tottenham's dominant second-half performance in their 2-0 win against Manchester United in the second round of the Premier League will provide them with added motivation and confidence.

"The performance in the second half will boost the players' confidence for upcoming training sessions and matches," Postecoglou said after the game. "Now, my colleagues and I must continue to motivate them, help them perform consistently on the road ahead, despite challenges and setbacks, and maintain their character, courage, and determination."

Coach Postecoglou observes Tottenham players in action during their match against Manchester United in the second round of the Premier League on August 19th. Photo: AFP

At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19th, in the first half, Postecoglou's men controlled 57% of the possession, taking seven shots with three on target, compared to 14 and 3 for their opponents. However, Tottenham had several close calls as Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes missed clear headers from close range. Alejandro Garnacho's shot hit defender Cristian Romero's hand inside the penalty area, but referee Michael Oliver did not blow the whistle. It wasn't until the end of the first half that Tottenham responded with two consecutive shots hitting the crossbar and post.

It wasn't until the second half that Tottenham created a breakthrough, scoring two goals from two somewhat chaotic situations. In the 49th minute, Dejan Kulusevski's cross deflected off center-back Lisandro Martinez, and Pape Malang Sarr pounced on the rebound to score his first goal for Tottenham with a one-touch finish. Then, in the 83rd minute, Ben Davies missed a shot inside the penalty area, but Martinez deflected the ball into his own net, leaving Andre Onana rooted to the spot.

Postecoglou admitted that Tottenham played awkwardly and made many misplaced passes in the first half because the team had many young players or new signings who were experiencing the atmosphere of the Premier League. Yesterday, Tottenham's lineup included 20-year-old left-back Destiny Udogie, 22-year-old center-back Micky Van de Ven, 20-year-old defensive midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, and new goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario - who was recruited from Empoli to replace Hugo Lloris.

Compared to the shaky first half, according to the Australian coach, his players were more stable after the break, maintaining their pace of movement, circulating the ball faster, dominating the game, and scoring two crucial goals.

Pape Sarr (number 29) scored the opening goal in the 49th minute of the match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 19th. Photo: Shutterstock

Davies missed his shot, but the ball deflected off Martinez's foot, changing direction and going into the net to give Tottenham a 2-0 lead. Photo: Reuters

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, captain Son Heung-min also agreed with manager Postecoglou's assessment of the significance of the victory and how Tottenham transformed in the second half. "We lacked confidence and made many mistakes in the first half, but the team played incredibly well in the second. That shows this team still has a lot of room for improvement," said the South Korean striker.

Compared to the opening match draw of 2-2 against Brentford, Postecoglou made two changes, starting Pedro Porro and Sarr in place of Emerson Royal and Oliver Skipp. Postecoglou emphasized that it would be foolish to stick to the same tactical formula in every match and wanted to continue exploring , understanding, and giving each player a chance.

After the final whistle, Postecoglou walked into the center circle, paused, and looked at the stands. The 57-year-old coach explained that, despite having coached for 26 years, he still cherishes every moment on the pitch. "You want to feel that moment," he expressed. "I love what football brings to people, especially in times like these. You take a moment to think about the 60,000 people in the stadium and those watching at home. I feel very lucky to have a moment like that."

In the third round of the Premier League on August 26th, Postecoglou's team played the earliest match away at Bournemouth.

Hong Duy

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