Ange Postecoglou dismisses 'hysteria' surrounding Tottenham relegation talk

Tottenham had experienced a rough patch over the festive period, slipping to 15th in the Premier League, with injuries taking a heavy toll on their campaign. However, a 4-1 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday marked their third consecutive victory, signaling a potential resurgence for the team as they look to finish the season on a strong note.

Before their recent recovery, there had been speculation suggesting that Spurs might be relegation contenders. But Postecoglou dismissed these claims when asked if his team was now safe from relegation following the win against Ipswich.

"That just shows how ridiculous the idea was to begin with," Postecoglou said in a press conference. "People are talking about being safe with 12 games left, and that's the hysteria. It's all designed to put pressure on me and the club, and I understand that when you're in that position."

He added, "For me, it was always about focusing on what we could control. We had the (Aston) Villa FA Cup game as a benchmark. We tried to get to that point as best we could. We didn't always get the results we wanted, but that wasn't for lack of effort or will from the players. My main priority was always to protect and support them. They gave everything during that period, and now they have some rest and support."

Despite his frustration with the early season results, Postecoglou remained focused on improving the team's position, saying, "We're not happy with where we are in the league, but we still have the chance to change that."

Brennan Johnson's first-half brace helped Spurs secure the win at Portman Road. Johnson, who had been sidelined with a calf injury since mid-January, made a successful return to the starting lineup on Saturday.

Tottenham's injury struggles have been significant, with the club bowing out of the Carabao Cup semifinals to Liverpool and being knocked out of the FA Cup by Villa. Nevertheless, the team still has goals to pursue, including a place in the Europa League quarterfinals if they can overcome AZ Alkmaar next month.

"We've always tried to stay positive," Johnson said. "With everyone back, we've won our last two Premier League games, which was a key focus. We played good football and defended well against Ipswich."

Johnson, referencing Spurs' 2-1 loss to Ipswich earlier in the season, added, "When we have all the players back, we know how to get on the ball. That loss was in our minds because we didn't want to lose today."

Postecoglou expressed his satisfaction at having the Wales international back in form, particularly with main striker Dominic Solanke still sidelined. "We were always a threat. Sonny [Son Heung-Min) was unplayable in the first half. It's great to have Brennan back. He scores so many goals for us in those areas. He knows when to arrive at the right time. He's very clinical."

"He's missed a lot of football, but these past two weeks have given us a breather and allowed us to reset. I'm happy with how the players have embraced it," Postecoglou concluded.

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