Man City game was my worst experience in football, says Postecoglou
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou admitted to having cold sweats before Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City for fear of having his integrity called into question.
The build-up to the game was dominated by talk of Tottenham fans wanting their team to lose in order to scupper Arsenal's Premier League title chances.
Had Tottenham avoided defeat, Arsenal would have needed only a win against Everton on Sunday to win the title, but City will now clinch it if they defeat West Ham United.
Postecoglou was emotional after the game and caused a stir when he appeared to criticise the home fans, implying that he was "out of step" with their feelings towards Arsenal.
He also discussed the club's fragile foundations.
After a few days to let the dust settle, Postecoglou was asked about Tuesday's match, which comes ahead of Tottenham's final game of the season against relegated Sheffield United, where a draw would ensure they finished fifth.
"I will try to explain it this way, that is probably the worst experience I've had as a football manager in a game because once I realised that I got it wrong in terms of what the atmosphere was going to be like and what people felt," the Australian told reporters.
"I got a real anxiety within me of what happens if Man City, who are the best team in the world and who were disposing teams quite easily in the lead up and scored 15/16 goals in the last four games, what if we play as well as we can but they beat us 5-0?"
"I got in cold sweats thinking about people questioning my integrity and the people I work with."
Postecoglou claimed to have watched the game in the days following Tottenham's fifth defeat in six games.
"Even watching the game back, there was a comment somebody mentioned to me in commentary saying 'Tottenham are having a real go here.' You are laughing about it, but that is 26 years of my life," he said. "If nothing else people should know about me, I love this game. I'm very principled."
"I would hate to think, as Manchester City could have done to us, we are on the end of a heavy defeat and people would be questioning whether I prepared the team. We know on social media that would have happened. 100 per cent."
"And I would be up here trying to defend myself. That's why I was animated on the night. I don't think anyone will say that we didn't make Man City earn that win the other night."
SportsLigue