EXCLUSIVE Jermaine Jenas backs Ange Postecoglou’s high-pressing football at Tottenham and says he has shown ‘courage’ despite calls for cautious approach… as he insists the Australian WILL end club’s trophy drought

• Jermaine Jenas defended Ange Postecoglou’s attacking football at Tottenham 
• He said his philosophy has shown ‘courage’ and believes it will bring silverware
• It’s wonderful, but we are baffled and bamboozled by what Big Ange is doing – It’s All Kicking Off 

Former Tottenham star Jermaine Jenas has backed Ange Postecoglou’s relentless high-pressing football despite calls for him to take a more cautious approach – insisting: ‘No one tells Pep Guardiola to dial it back.’

Spurs have won admirers for their heavy-metal football and attractive style of play under the Australian this season following a superb start that saw them win eight of their first ten matches- before a run of three consecutive losses saw his brand of football come under fire. 

Postecoglou came under heavy scrutiny in particular after Spurs collapsed to a 4-1 defeat against Chelsea last month – having decided to persist with a high line despite going down to nine men.

He has also stuck to his guns with the same philosophy despite losing a host of players to injury and suspension – with Spurs opting to go toe-to-toe with Man City at the Etihad last time out and picking up a 3-3 draw. Jenas says his style should not be questioned and that the Australian won’t be listening to the outside noise. 

Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport after announcing his move to become the new host of Formula E coverage on TNT Sports, he said: ‘I just don’t think [critics] know the football to be honest with you. There’s a lot of opinions in the game right now and he won’t listen to any of us. 

Jermaine Jenas has backed Ange Postecoglou’s high-pressing style at Tottenham despite calls for a more cautious approach

Spurs secured a 3-3 draw at Man City despite being tipped to struggle if they played their usual style

‘No one tells Pep to dial it in. No one looks at Man City and goes, “bit too expansive there, what are you putting John Stones in centre-midfield for and one v one at the back?” No one does that. Everyone has their own ways of winning.

‘He has his own mindset to how the game should be played. You don’t get to where he is without knowing his stuff and having the ability to shift when you need to shift. He’s a top manager and the people who doubt him will rue it in the end.’

Spurs play West Ham at home on Thursday night in what promises to be an exciting London derby and Postecoglou is set to welcome back Cristian Romero to the team. 

Tottenham ended their run of defeats against Man City last time out despite fans and pundits predicting a heavy loss if Postecoglou chose to stay expansive against the champions – and Jenas said he has shown courage in a bid to overhaul the club’s mindset long term. 

‘I love Ange Postecoglou, I love the complete culture shift and mindset he’s brought to the club,’ he added. ‘Don’t get me wrong – I’m watching the Chelsea game thinking, “what’s going on here, why don’t we drop off and defend the box?”. But he’s looking so far ahead of everyone else. 

Jenas said Postecoglou should not have to compromise on his philosophy, insisting: ‘No one tells Pep to dial it back’

‘The people that think like that are looking at it and think, “just win the game”. His mindset is about changing the culture and mindset of the football club for years to come. It’s almost like a lesson within itself. 

‘He probably sits there and knows he could drop off and win a game in a different way, but that’s not what he’s about – and it’s not what he sees the future of the club about. 

Jenas was in the Spurs team the last time the club won a trophy in 2008

‘He’s trying to suffer early to reap the rewards later down the line. We saw a tiny bit of that against Man City when everyone’s expecting them to get trounced. 

‘You need to have the courage to go to those places and play that way. That’s what he’s building. The quicker he gets it into them, the quicker they will adapt.’

Another quality Postecoglou brings is his knack of winning and his impressive rate of lifting silverware – having won the treble at Celtic last season.

Jenas doesn’t think the Australian will have to make any changes to his style of play to end Tottenham’s 15-year drought to win a trophy and is confident Postecoglou will add a cup to the club’s collection during his tenure. 

The 40-year-old – who is now a pundit – was in the Tottenham team the last time they won a trophy in a 2-1 win over Chelsea in the 2008 Carling Cup final. 

He credited the Australian with transforming the mindset of the players after struggling under Antonio Conte last season

‘I think he’ll win a trophy playing the way he plays,’ he said. ‘Spurs fans have been suffocated for years in terms of the style of football and everyone in that stadium is loving what they’re seeing and loving the togetherness of this team. Will he win a trophy? Yes. When that will be, I don’t know but he will definitely win one playing that style of football.’

Jenas credited Postecoglou for dramatically transforming a toxic atmosphere that was overtaking the dressing room after a turbulent campaign under Antonio Conte last season – and believes the players are flourishing under simple instructions and with the pressure taken off their shoulders. 

‘They’ve come a mile in such a short space of time,’ Jenas added. ‘He seems to have instilled a lot of trust in the players and it’s been reciprocated. The understanding of what he wants them to do is there. From a player’s point of view, sometimes one message is a good message. You tell me the one thing I need to do and I’ll go do it – that’s a nice place to be for a player. 

‘These players know their jobs and they just have to go out and execute it. If it doesn’t work, the manager seems to be big enough and broad enough shoulders to take the responsibility on him.’

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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