Ange Postecoglou said he doesn’t have to dream about winning trophies, pointing to ‘proof’ of his prior managerial achievements ahead of Friday night’s FA Cup encounter with Burnley.
After being knocked out of the League Cup by Fulham in August, this competition is undoubtedly Postecoglou’s greatest opportunity to end Spurs’ trophy drought, which dates back to 2008.
The 58-year-old has a track record of success, having won five trophies during his stint at Celtic.
He also won the Asia Cup with Australia in 2015, as well as the Brisbane Roar’s domestic league in 2011.
When asked if he “pictured” himself lifting trophies, Postecoglou immediately referred to his medal collection.
“I’ve got real pictures—quite a few,’ Postecoglou said. “I just look at the ones I have.
“I’ve earned them; it’s not lucky.
“I love winning; it is what I have done all my career. I don’t say that dismissively, and I don’t have them on the ceiling, mate, as you suggested.
“But that’s what drives me. Every year, I start the year hoping there is a picture by the end of the year of me with a team lifting a trophy.
“That is what I have tried to do my whole career, and I have plenty of evidence of that, so that’s what my intent is here. I don’t have to visualize it; it’s what I do.”
Tottenham will be missing captain Heung-min Son for the meeting on Friday night after he joined South Korea for the Asia Cup.
If his side advances to the final, the attacker might miss up to six games, and Postecoglou admits his absence will be felt deeply.
“It’s not just about what he does as a player; he’s the captain of the club; he’s been our leader, an outstanding leader from Day One on and off the field. It’s a significant absence.
‘”From that perspective, in terms of the presence he had on the field, if Christian Romero and James Maddison were available, you could diminish it. But they’re not available.
“With all the other challenges we’ve got, it makes it more difficult. But it’s been like that since day one. We’ve had to overcome these things, and it’s just another challenge for us.”
