Ange Postecoglou Terms Manchester City Defeat As His Most Challenging Experience

Tottenham's manager, Ange Postecoglou, described the recent loss to Manchester City as the worst experience of his managerial career. Spurs were defeated 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday, allowing City to top the Premier League heading into the final day of the season. The atmosphere was peculiar, with Spurs supporters seemingly torn about fully backing their team, as a positive result would have nearly handed Arsenal, their biggest rivals, the title.

Postecoglou expressed his concerns during the post-match media conference, suggesting a fragility within the club. Ahead of Spurs' final game of the season against relegated Sheffield United, the Australian explained his fear that people would question his integrity. "That's probably the worst experience I've had as a football manager in a game," he said.

He added, "Once I realised I'd got it wrong in terms of what the atmosphere was going to be like and what people felt, I got a real anxiety within me of, 'What happens if Man City, the best team in the world, who were disposing of teams quite easily in the lead-up, what if we play as well as we can but they beat us 5-0?' I got cold sweats thinking about people questioning my integrity and the people I work with."

Postecoglou continued, "Even watching the game back, there was a comment on the commentary, 'Oh, Tottenham are having a real go here'. That's why I was animated on the night. I didn't enjoy the night. I needed the boys—and credit to them—aside from everything else, their football was outstanding on the night. That was important for our football club."

He concluded by stating that it would have cast aspersions on them as a football club if they hadn't made Man City earn that win. "It could have gone a very different way, just by Man City being Man City," he noted.

Sheffield United - Ben Brereton Diaz

Brereton Diaz has scored six goals for Sheffield United since arriving on loan from Villarreal. He may be looking to end on a high note to secure a Premier League move for next season.

Tottenham - James Maddison

Maddison has created 62 chances for Tottenham in the Premier League this season. This is the most by a player in their debut season for Spurs since Christian Eriksen in 2013-14 (68). It is also the most overall by an Englishman since Dele Alli in 2017-18 (64).

Spurs have lost five of their last six Premier League matches (W1), one more than in their previous 18 games combined (W10 D4 L4). However, they are unbeaten in 11 games against teams starting the day at the bottom (W8 D3), scoring 35 goals.

The Blades have a goal difference of -66; defeat by four goals here will see them finish with the worst goal difference in Premier League history (currently -69 by Derby County in 2007-08). They have conceded 101 Premier League goals this season, the most in a single campaign.

In top-flight seasons with a maximum of 20 teams, only Leicester in 1908-09 (102) and Darwen in 1891-92 (112) have conceded more. Tottenham have lost their final league game in just one of the last 13 seasons (W10 D2), with that loss coming at already-relegated Newcastle United in 2015-16 (1-5).

Tottenham won 3-1 in their last away league game against Sheffield United and last won consecutive visits to Bramall Lane in December 1975.

Opta Win Probability

The latest team news from Ange ahead of #SHUTOT pic.twitter.com/O1GSSDEwVg

Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)