'Is it boasting?' Postecoglou defends 'second-season trophy' remark

Tottenham Hotspur head Ange Postecoglou has defended his remark astir "always" winning trophies successful his 2nd play - and says he is "amazed" and "confused" by antagonistic reaction.

The 59-year-old made nan remark pursuing Spurs' 1-0 location defeat by northbound London rivals Arsenal connected Sunday.

He told Sky Sports: "I'll correct myself - I don't usually triumph things, I ever triumph things successful my 2nd year. Nothing's changed."

Speaking connected Tuesday earlier Spurs' Carabao Cup necktie astatine Coventry, nan erstwhile Celtic leader said: "It's amazing, isn't it? I conscionable stated a fact. Am I expected to conscionable dishonesty aliases conscionable opportunity it ne'er happened?

"But do you really deliberation it's maine benignant of boasting?

"It's conscionable confusing to maine that group are making a large woody retired of something. I'm not judge really I'm expected to reply thing that is true.

"I've conscionable said thing that's true, and it seems for illustration it's upset a batch of group for immoderate reason."

Spurs vanished 5th successful nan Premier League aft a driblet successful shape successful nan 2nd half of past season, and are 13th this run pinch 1 triumph successful four.

Their past trophy was nan 2008 League Cup - nan only title they person won successful nan 21st Century.

Postecoglou won nan Australian title pinch some South Melbourne and Brisbane Roar, and nan Japanese convention pinch Yokohama F Marinos - each successful his 2nd play aliases 2nd afloat play successful charge.

He besides won nan Asian Cup 2 years aft becoming Australia manager, and nan Scottish title successful some seasons pinch Celtic.

Last week Spurs vice-captain Cristian Romero shared a societal media station suggesting he was tired aft travelling backmost from world work connected a commercialized flight, dissimilar immoderate of his team-mates who had backstage jets arranged.

Although it is down to world shot federations - Argentina successful Romero's lawsuit - to put travel, immoderate clubs measurement in.

Romero was beaten to nan shot by Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes arsenic he headed successful nan victor connected Sunday.

Postecoglou confirmed Romero was not rushed backmost arsenic nan lucifer took spot connected Sunday, and that his defender reported nary complaints earlier kick-off.

"No, it was mentioned to maine [after] but it wasn’t mentioned to maine earlier nan game," said Postecoglou.

"No-one reported thing different than nan accustomed checks of group coming backmost from world duty, truthful anterior to nan crippled no-one said anything."

But he added that he had sympathy complete wide workload concerns by players, amid comments made by Manchester City duo Rodri and Manuel Akanji, and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

"The world almanac is really putting immoderate strenuous demands connected footballers performing astatine nan highest level," said Postecoglou.

"It is thing we request to person a look astatine from a holistic view, but it is not really applicable to nan existent situation.

"We are decidedly pushing nan boundaries of what we are asking of players today, if we want elite performances crossed nan committee and players perpetually being available.

"I deliberation we are bursting astatine nan seems successful position of really overmuch we require from players, absolutely."