Ange Postecoglou doubles down on Tottenham second season trophy boast

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has defended his previous insistence that he "always wins things" in his second year at a club.

In August, a week before the first game of a his second Premier League season at Spurs, Postecoglou insisted: "Usually in my second season I win things. That's the whole idea. First year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully the second year is going onto win things."

Postecoglou was reminded of his pre-season comments one month later, straight after a north London derby defeat to Arsenal. "I don't usually win things," he countered. "I always win things in my second year."

As Spurs prepare for the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night, which represents the club's final remaining avenue for silverware, Postecoglou was again asked whether he regretted making such a bold declaration. "My view has always been that when you're asked a question, you answer it," he shrugged. "I wasn't making anything up. I was asked a question, I answered that question.

"People have sort of used it for their own purposes in suggesting I was making a bold claim but I wasn't. I was stating a fact. If that doesn't happen this year then I cannot say that any more if I'm asked next year, can I?

"What was I supposed to say? 'I always win in the second year, I have in the past everywhere I've been, but here it won't happen?' Is that what people want to hear?

"People can twist these things and use them. Maybe we will defy the odds and I do win something. You know what people will say? 'Isn't it great that he made such a bold claim?' People just use it the way they want to, depending on the circumstances.

"I will always answer things the way I feel comfortable answering them. I'm really comfortable and proud of the fact that everywhere I have been, I have won things. I think it's something where I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't. Whether I win something in my second year here, time will tell."

Spurs trail AZ on aggregate after losing the first leg in Alkmaar 1-0.

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