Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, who took in London’s West End last week as a guest at actor and Spurs fan Sir Kenneth Branagh’s King Lear, says he admires Chelsea rival Mauricio Pochettino’s appetite for a “big challenge”.
But the Australian says he would never allow others to take complete control of recruitment.
Pochettino, a predecessor of Postecoglou’s as Spurs boss, visits Spurs with Chelsea on Tuesady (AEDT) with the west London club struggling for a second consecutive season.
That’s despite an outlay of £1billion ($a1.9 billion) since Todd Boehly took over with his Clearlake Capital consortium last year.
While Pochettino acknowledged at the end of September he would “need to be more involved now” with regard to the January transfer window, it is a different story for Postecoglou and his summer transfers.
“I haven’t come across him,” Postecoglou said of the former Spurs manager.
“From afar, great admiration. I think the impact he had at Southampton and at Spurs is unquestionable.
“I like managers who take on big challenges, so great admiration and respect for his work.”
Paris St Germain was Pochettino’s destination after his departure from Tottenham, but a plethora of signings under his watch were made by PSG sporting director Leonardo.
Postecoglou said recruitment was a key factor for him.
“Wherever I’ve been, I’ve made sure that I have the biggest say over recruitment. I don’t do all the work, but I really think it’s an important part of my function and particularly when I first go into clubs,” he said.
“When you first go into a club, there are two measures that people will always put up against you.
“One is the results, that tells its own tale.
“The other … is the people you bring in. Because at least if the results aren’t there, then people will say ‘OK, there’s something building here’.”
Postecoglou and his wife Georgia were opening-night guests of Branagh on Tuesday to witness Shakespeare’s King Lear, a tale of a king seeking love from his three daughters, which ends in devastation.
The Aussie enjoyed the play but is eager for a different ending against Chelsea.
“Sir Kenneth is a big Spurs fan and was kind enough to invite my wife and I to the theatre,” Postecoglou revealed.
“We enjoyed it. I did have to swot up on King Lear. It wasn’t part of the curriculum at Prahran High.
“You always learn from life and the appreciation of seeing people excel at what they do is inspiring. You walk out of there thinking, ‘I don’t know how they do it’.
“Sir Kenneth was good after it. I caught up with him briefly. He was all over how it’s going and gave me some little bits of advice, which I’ll ignore like he’ll ignore my advice on acting, mate! It was good. It was much appreciated.
“There was a fair bit going on in that play, mate. I definitely want a better ending than Sir Kenneth had.”
Source: AAP
