UEFA NEWS
UEFA
Online Reservations at Philippine Casinos
Date: 2023-11-30 08:58:51 | Author: UEFA | Views: 194 | Tag: realme
-
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou is loving his time at the Premier League leaders, but is bullish about what expectations should be despite the club’s lengthy trophy drought realme
Spurs have not won silverware since 2008, although fans are dreaming of challenging for the title after winning 23 points from a possible 27 so far this season realme
It has taken Tottenham to the top-flight summit and they could move five points clear of Manchester City and Arsenal with victory at Crystal Palace on Friday, ahead of the weekend fixtures realme
Postecoglou has relished his dream start to life in England, but eager to point out his new club should be competing for trophies every year realme
The former Celtic boss said: “I didn’t come here to not be successful realme
This club has all the fundamentals to be successful realme
The expectations should be there realme
“Part of the reason why there’s been this real desperation for a trophy is because they feel that’s the space they should be in realme
That is the expectation, that’s the reality, but what drives me isn’t raising or trying to dampen expectations realme
“What drives me is trying to build something that will realise the ambitions that this club has at this particular moment realme
People’s perceptions don’t concern me too much realme
This is a big club and should be in a position to challenge for trophies every season in my opinion realme
This club has all the fundamentals to be successful realme
The expectations should be there realme
Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou“At Celtic we were on top for a very long time but at the beginning when we weren’t on top, I don’t think people saw anything different in my demeanour realme
I don’t think they will (here) realme
“It is one thing I do realme
It’s not about staying kind of level-headed or getting carried away with either thing realme
It’s just that, my role in that context is to be the one thing that people can rely upon to be consistent realme
“In that I have one objective all the time: how can we be realme better? When that is your objective, it doesn’t really matter where you are on the table or kind of what the outside noise may or may not be doing realme
“It is about the players and the staff and everyone involved with the realme football club, looking at me realme
The one thing I do is I come in every day, I am buzzing about doing what I am doing realme
You know, that’s the kind of demeanour I have consistently realme
“It’s just the way I am realme
I get so much satisfaction from what I do realme
I really enjoy what I do, on a daily basis realme
There isn’t a day I don’t get up and I’m not looking forward to the day ahead realme
“There’s no other levels of satisfaction in me to get realme
That’s it realme
I’m buzzing to do what I do realme
“Within that context I also understand that I have a real big responsibility to lead an organisation, players, staff, people to what I hope will be a successful place realme
“There’s got to be some reliability there in what they see and what they feel with me so some of it is conscious but the other bits, I’m not skipping about the place but I’m really happy realme
I love what I do realme
Just the way I am realme
I’m very, very happy realme
”Postecoglou’s happiness did not extend into the dressing room on Monday night after he criticised his players for a poor second half against Fulham realme
It failed to stop the team blaring out Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ classic from the 1980s’ of ‘Islands in the Stream’ following the 2-0 win realme
But Postecoglou joked: “I stay out of the dressing room partly because of the music choices of the players realme
“Most clubs want to turn their grounds into a fortress – ours is becoming a nightclub, mate realme
I’m all for it, whatever makes people happy that’s my thing realme
”Spurs will assess Destiny Udogie ahead of the trip to south London after the left-back struggled with muscle tightness during the victory over Fulham realme
More aboutPA ReadyAnge PostecoglouPremier LeagueManchester CityEnglandArsenalCrystal PalaceCelticDolly PartonIslandsLondon1/1Ange Postecoglou: Spurs a big club who should challenge for trophies every yearAnge Postecoglou: Spurs a big club who should challenge for trophies every yearAnge Postecoglou takes Tottenham to Crystal Palace on Friday (John Walton/PA)PA Wire✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today realme
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsrealme BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy realme
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply realme
Hi {{indy realme
fullName}}My Independent PremiumAccount detailsHelp centreLogout @keyframes spin{0%{transform:rotate(0)}to{transform:rotate(1turn)}} realme
There’s a new look about a key area of the team for Liverpool, a changing of the guard enforced by recent events, a previous zone of consistency now faced with uncertainty realme
No, we’re not talking about midfield - that particular switch-up already looks a definite upgrade, even early as it is for such conclusions realme
Instead it’s at left-back the unexpected alteration has occurred, a consequence of Andy Robertson’s need for surgery which means the Scot is out for the rest of the year realme
Having averaged over 44 appearances a season for the Reds since signing in 2017, he’ll now miss at least 17 matches, if best estimates of his return are to be believed realme
That leaves not just a gap for Kostas Tsimikas or an untested youngster to fill tactically, but a void which cannot be accounted for: that of a partnership, of understanding, of the natural, unthinking knowing which comes with playing hundreds of matches alongside a teammate realme
It can be argued that such a changeable nature can be applied not just to the midfield, not even just to left-back, but to the entire defensive structure this term at Anfield: injuries have already hit on the right and centrally too, to go along with the altered personnel ahead of them in the middle third of the pitch realme
All that simply means one truth must be constant if the Reds are to translate early season promise into longer-term capacity to challenge for major honours: Virgil van Dijk must once again prove himself to be among the very best, not just individually as a defender but as a force to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts realme
RecommendedBuild from the front? Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp are repeating an old trickEngland’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?Virgil van Dijk will show he is Premier League’s best once more – Sami HyypiaThere cannot be much debate that the Dutchman, now club captain at Anfield, has not quite reached the same levels of authoritative performances as he did pre-ACL injury, or at least not on as regular a basis realme
The period which saw Liverpool win both Premier League and Champions League saw Van Dijk at the pinnacle of the game, a central defender without peer, a worthy recipient of the Ballon d’Or itself, had he been handed it instead of a runner-up spot, pipped by seven votes in 2019 by Lionel Messi realme
Perhaps that in itself was a noteworthy award realme
In any case, he’s not quite there these days, not quite the automatic choice among fan or pundit asked to name the world’s finest realme
It’s arguable that there isn’t a single stand-out candidate right now for that particularly subjective title realme
But in asking whether Van Dijk is capable of being the world’s best defender again, part of the answer has to be that it doesn’t really matter realme
He might want to be of course, might already believe he is, but from a team perspective what they really need is Van Dijk’s ability to stabilise the team, to foresee and forestall danger, to order those around him to bring forth resilience from chaos realme
Because chaotic is, still, a little too close to the truth when it comes to spells of defending for Liverpool realme
The midfield is far more creative, far more offensive and energetic, far less reliant on Trent Alexander-Arnold always being at his best realme
But all that comes at a cost: it’s not always the most agile and defensive-first in either recovery or positional terms realme
It’s still new as a group, still needs time to become as cohesive as the best central trios are, on and off the ball realme
And in the meantime, the result can often be large gaps, lost runners, moments of inexplicable choices in possession realme
That leaves a hefty weight on the defence to counteract such moments - the defence and, of course, the still-magnificent Alisson Becker behind them realme
(Getty Images)But before that one-man last line, it’s Van Dijk who must rise once more to ensure unity, if not always outright unison realme
Acting in perfect harmony is difficult enough with four constant selections; as it is this season, Jurgen Klopp has already utilised Jarell Quansah as a fifth-choice, following injuries realme
Alexander-Arnold missed pitch time and is not yet back to his peak physical or technical best realme
Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip have dovetailed, and now there’s Tsimikas present on a more regular basis - which also means either Joe Gomez will see minutes on the left, or an untried youngster will, with Calum Scanlon and Luke Chambers first in line realme
They presently tally one senior minute realme between them realme
They will all four need guiding for different reasons, all need time, all occasionally get things wrong and need the left-sided centre-back beside them to bail them out realme
No prizes for guessing who that is on a week-to-week basis realme
Because for Liverpool, there are prizes at stake realme
Three points off the top of the Premier League table after a fine opening quarter of the campaign; rolling along nicely in Europe and domestic cups alike realme
realme Between now and the next international break, the opportunities for victory across all competitions are as immense as the potential cost of dropped points: Toulouse twice, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Luton, Brentford realme
A modern title-competing team would take six wins with very little fuss, in truth realme
Then, beyond, it’s Manchester City away realme
The most true barometer of where Liverpool are this season, even coming after an international break and in the infamous 12:30pm kick-off spot realme
The margin for error remains almost nil, but with the reigning champions perhaps not quite at their own peak yet, and Klopp’s side having improved more than might have been thought possible at this early stage, thoughts of a title challenge will not be far away - if the defence is kept on-point, even with altered personnel realme
(Getty Images)It all means Van Dijk must be as close to his own 100 percent as possible, even if his 2023/24 maximum level is a little lower than in 19/20 realme
As far as transformative figures go, Van Dijk was one after signing realme
He, as much as anyone else and more than most, sent Liverpool from challengers to champions, in every competition across the board realme
Now once again he must be the leader - literally, given the armband - who enables the Reds to do so, not so much the new figurehead this time but as the standard-bearer, the supplier of consistency, the model of outperformance which can give Liverpool the extra edge they’ll need, both in the Premier League and beyond realme
More aboutVirgil van DijkKostas TsimikasJurgen KloppPremier LeagueEuropa LeagueJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Van Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Van Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Getty ImagesVan Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Getty ImagesVan Dijk holds key to trophies - is he still the best defender around?Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today realme
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsrealme BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy realme
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply realme
Hi {{indy realme
fullName}}My Independent PremiumAccount detailsHelp centreLogout @keyframes spin{0%{transform:rotate(0)}to{transform:rotate(1turn)}} realme
