“It’s not my wife handing me a shopping list and asking me to get some bread, eggs and milk for the kids.”
In one customarily disarming sentence, Ange Postecoglou gives his sideways take on a hypothetical Harry Kane replacement shortlist.
He’s only been at Spurs a couple of months, but anyone who’s been following his media appearances will recognise the tone immediately. The only thing missing was the word ‘mate’.
The 57-year-old doesn’t downplay the seriousness of situations, but he also doesn’t display any semblance of panic or of not being in control. And that disarming nature, using humour instead of hostility, is a welcome change from his predecessor.
Antonio Conte is one of the most successful managers in European football this century and this isn’t meant to disparage him, but you can just imagine how he would have publicly reacted to his best player being sold on the eve of a new season.
His reaction would probably have come via a pre-prepared statement, unleashed during a press conference.
“I am not happy,” you can picture Conte saying, glare intensifying, room temperature increasing, buttocks clenching. “But I respect the club, I respect the decision, this is a process,” his porcupine body language contradicting his words, the personification…
