Presser points | Spurs vs Man United, Carabao Cup | Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media at Hotspur Way on Wednesday, ahead of our Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night (8pm UK).

Here's what he had to say...

Team news

First up, Ange was asked for team news updates...

Ange: "I guess from the other night, Destiny, no injury but he is still a bit sore from the game. We are not ruling him out but we will see how he is with the turn around. Biss is available after being suspended on the weekend and I think everyone else is as is."

When will Micky van de Ven return?

Ange: "Van de Ven and Romero are still chugging along. I think both will be in the new year. Not as a significant injury as last time with Micky, but obviously, having a setback, the medical team is going to make sure he is right to go. So, both of them in the new year at some point."

Any update on Mikey Moore?

Ange: "Mikey is back in training, so hopefully not too far away. The next cabs off the rank are Mikey and Ben Davies, potentially next week, and then Richarlison, maybe first week of the new year."

Boost from St Mary's?

Ange was asked if the win at Southampton boosted the mood of the squad...

Ange: "No, we were in a good mood before then. It was a great performance in the last game on Sunday and I was delighted with the way the lads handled everything. It was a tough week with an away European fixture thrown in there as well. It was tough on us physically and the fact we had so many players out I think the way the players performed was outstanding but the mood is the same and looking forward to a big game."

Carabao Cup

Ange was asked for his thoughts on the Carabao Cup...

Ange: "We have got ourselves in this position, so we have earned that. Like you said it’s a big game, quarter-final of a cup competition and I'm looking forward to it. It should be a cracking night."

Second season = trophy?

It was put to Ange, 'you've reiterated many times, second season means a trophy...'

Ange: "I haven’t reiterated it many times, but if you ask me a question I will answer it. So if you ask me 100 times I will answer it 100 times but I’m not walking around with banners saying, ‘I win things in my second year.’ But ask me the question and I will give you the answer and it is what it is."

You're so close if you win tomorrow, so is it the most important game of the season?

Ange: "No, I don’t think quarter-finals is close. You get to a final then I think you’re close. There is still a fair bit of football to be played, all we can do is be ready for tomorrow night. Like I said, good game, big opponent and they have done well in cup competitions in the last couple of years. We are at home which is great for us with the support behind us and as you said an opportunity to get to a semi-final. That is enough motivation and focus we need for this game."

Lucas Bergvall

With Yves Bissouma back from suspension and Lucas Bergvall impressing at Southampton, Ange was asked how tough a decision it's going to be selecting the midfield against United...

Ange: "It's good to have an option there. Lucas did fantastically well the other night and he has done in the last two or three games he has played for us as he's really made an impact, but the other night I thought he was really good. In the first half he really showed maturity playing that role, discipline and real quality as well. It's good to have that option. Having Biss available is great as well. I'll make a decision tomorrow, but at the same time that was Lucas' first start for quite a while and he did tire noticeably in the second half so we'll have to see how he's recovered from the game."

Fraser Forster

Ange was asked how impressed he's been with Fraser Forster...

Ange: "He has been great, no surprise to me. I put him in my Europa League squad, that's how highly I rated him."

Yang Min-hyeok

Ange was asked if he'd had the chance to meet new signing Yang Min-hyeok, who has arrived ahead of joining us in January...

Ange: "Yeah, he has been in the building in the last couple of days, having a good look around. Obviously, we can't register him until January 1st, so he won't train with us, but I always feel it's good... I had this experience at Celtic with the Asian lads we brought in, the Japanese and Korean boys, bringing them in before Christmas which allows them to settle in, especially off the field, that way by the time we get to register them in a couple of weeks they are already settled and can train fully. It's good to see him around. He has been doing some English lessons which is great, he's already sort of conversing and it's great to have him in the building."

Archie Gray

Ange was asked what he made of Archie Gray playing centre-back in the last couple of games...

Ange: "He's done really well, credit to him, at 18, playing in a position he hasn't played before, in the toughest competition in the world, plus in Europe, plus multiple games. He hasn’t missed a beat, and it’s brilliant to watch. All the lads have obviously helped him. Radu is the experienced one, so to speak, at 22, and Destiny, 22, either side of him. That’s where we’re at in terms of the squad and all the young boys are stepping up, I think’s super exciting through a tough period for the squad where we are at from the squad perspective. The young guys are shouldering a big part of the load. That’s a brilliant thing for us, because once we get the other side of this and get to smoother waters they are going to be so much better equipped for what’s ahead. Archie's done really well, his defending has been really solid, obviously he’s got quality on the ball but the way he’s handled what we are asking him to do a really big job and not just for a one-off game. He’s handled it brilliantly."

Djed Spence

Ange was asked if Djed Spence, who made his first Premier League start in the win at Southampton, was ready to play more...

Ange: "Djed was outstanding the other night. I said after the game, credit to the coaches who have put the work into him, and to him, where a guy who hasn't for quite a while comes in and makes an impact. It wasn’t just about him filling a spot, he actually made an impact. I thought he was really good on the night and he obviously got tired in the second half, understandably so. Again, great for us in this period to have an established player come in. He recovered well from the game, tired, but he felt really good that he could contribute and show what he can do, and I'm sure he'll get more opportunities."

Trophy/sustained success

It was put to Ange, 'are United a good example of how winning a domestic cup is not the panaceum'...

Ange: "I have said that before. It depends on what way you look at it. I always feel when you are building something, and my ambition is to build a team and a club that has an opportunity for sustainable success then, no, I don’t think just winning a trophy shows you have done that. It can help the cause, for sure. I allows you to have belief in your ability to win things and create an environment that does bring trophies to the club. It can definitely help with the process, but it isn’t, just my belief, the be-all and end-all if the other factors aren't aligned. What are those factors? Is the team performing across all competitions, and how the squad is developing. Is it stable, is it consistent? Is there growth there, so if you win one trophy you are in a position to win a second trophy. But, if you win one and you fall off the cliff in eveything else, I don’t think it’s the way forward."

Ruben Amorim

Ange was asked for his thoughts on United's new Head Coach...

Ange: "He seems to have come in and made an impact straight away. As I mentioned earlier, it is a club that’s always going to have noise. It’s just that kind of football club and I guess that’s as big a challenge as the coaching challenge for anyone that takes over. He has obviously tweaked the formation a little bit, given different players an opportunity, probably wants to have a good look at everyone, but as they showed at the weekend, they are pretty tough competitors still. Yeah, looking forward to meeting him and taking on the challenge."

'Green shoots'

Ange was asked, 'how encouraged he's been by emerging green shoots - young players stepping up, Deki emerging as a leader, things like that?'

Ange: "That’s kind of why as I said last week I haven’t lost any resolve or optimism about what we’re building, because I see plenty of growth in this group. I guess people will look at our league position and our league form and within that context are saying there isn’t things developing here, but, if you strip it away and look at the challenges we’ve had this year with the injury situation, we’re probably one result away from people saying we’re going okay in the league as well. I think with all these things, my view is stay calm, stay focused and I see plenty of growth... even Pape Sarr, he is still a young man and is growing all the time and becoming a hell of a footballer. I just get so excited by all that. We’re going to hit some smoother waters at some point. I believe that in terms of where the squad is at. These kind of players who are now carrying us through this tough period, you talk about mentality - they’ve got through that, not only got through it, but helped the club through it, and at such a young age, anything they face after that, they’re going to crash through. For me, I certainly feel there is some real growth that has happened and is happening at the moment."

Atmosphere

It was put to Ange that the atmosphere in the previous round against City was very good, so how important will our fans be against United...

Ange: "Yeah, massive. That night against City, it was a big game for us and the whole atmosphere that night, the way we started, the way we played the whole night, City were good on the night as well and it was a cracking game. It had a real cup atmosphere and we’re going to need that tomorrow night. We’re going to need that energy. All these games tend to be pretty tight games and if you get the energy of the crowd behind you, it can certainly lift the players and for us it’s going to be an important factor."