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Ange Postecoglou has cited the early part of Manchester City\u2019s journey under Pep Guardiola as a reason why he has total conviction in his ideas at Tottenham.<\/p>\n
Spurs have hit their first real rough patch under the Australian with three straight defeats coupled with a list of absentees which has reached double figures.<\/p>\n
Postecoglou remains determined to stick with his attacking approach and could again line up with no recognised centre-back or defensive midfielder at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.<\/p>\n
While many would adopt a more pragmatic style against City, the Tottenham boss will double down on his philosophy and believes the best clubs stick to the plan when faced with hurdles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure the players are thinking \u2018is this really going to work against Man City?\u2019 And those are justifiable questions that they need to ask,\u201d Postecoglou explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy role is to show them that this is still the way forward for us as a group. If we\u2019re ever going to bridge that gap to being a successful side, we have to believe in the football we want to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though the last few results haven\u2019t been great, I don\u2019t think the players have felt like they struggled out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey still felt there were parts of the game when we were dominant, so they can see when we\u2019re on it and we\u2019re doing things right, even with so many absences, we\u2019re still a very good football team. I don\u2019t feel like it\u2019s at a point where I\u2019m losing people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are plenty of coaches that coach very differently to me, but they\u2019re at that club for four or five years and they have that success. That\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about with a plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not about just playing one way or having a clear identity. Having a plan means getting the right people involved in the club who you believe will take you where you want to go.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you invest in them, in the club, in the squad and you stick to that plan. It doesn\u2019t mean that\u2019s just exactly the same as anyone else.<\/p>\n
\u201cCity are different to Arsenal, Arsenal are different to Liverpool, Liverpool are different to both of them but as far as I can see they have the same managers and they\u2019ve gone through tough times.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey saw something in them. You have to show something, it\u2019s not just about blindly appointing someone and saying you\u2019ve got five years, but those managers have shown they have a plan and the club have said \u2018let\u2019s back these people.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Postecoglou is no stranger to difficult periods, especially at the beginning of his tenures after exiting the Champions League at the start of his Celtic reign, while he faced a relegation battle with Yokohama.<\/p>\n
When I lay my head at night, I just believe in it. I get up the next day thinking I feel strongly about it. Maybe I\u2019ll end up in a heap, mate, I don\u2019t know, because there are no guarantees. But my gut tells me that I won\u2019t. I enjoy it<\/p>\n
He reiterated how much he enjoys these challenges ahead of this weekend\u2019s trip to last season\u2019s treble-winners.<\/p>\n
Postecoglou added: \u201cI think I enjoy it after when you come out the other side! Nah, I love it, mate. I love it. I don\u2019t think anyone goes into management, or anything you do in life, thinking it\u2019s going to be smooth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s going to be some rough moments and you\u2019ve got to be prepared for that, you\u2019ve got to enjoy that. The alternative is I\u2019m not in a job and I\u2019m sitting on my couch with no pressure on me and no one questioning anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m at a fantastic football club, I\u2019m in the best league in the world, getting challenged every week. Why wouldn\u2019t I be enjoying it? The reason I think I really relish them is because my belief gets tested on a daily basis, whether internally or externally.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven internally people will always ask those questions, \u2018can you do this? Are you able to continue playing this way?\u2019 or \u2018is it working or is it not working?\u2019 All those kind of things.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I lay my head at night, I just believe in it. I get up the next day thinking I feel strongly about it. Maybe I\u2019ll end up in a heap, mate, I don\u2019t know, because there are no guarantees. But my gut tells me that I won\u2019t. I enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n