Presser points | Vissel Kobe vs Spurs | Ange and James Maddison
Fri 26 July 2024, 14:15|
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou and James Maddison faced the media on Friday ahead of our pre-season match against J League champions Vissel Kobe on Saturday (11am UK).
Speaking at the host venue, the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, Ange and James were initially asked to make an opening address. Here's what they had to say, and a selection of the questions they answered...
Ange: "It's good to be here. We've had a good few days of training. The boys are working hard, the conditions have been testing for them, but they had a real good block of training and we're looking forward to the game, looking forward to the stadium, a new stadium, we're expecting a big crowd tomorrow. Vissel Kobe are a top team and it should be good. We're looking forward to it."
James: "I second what the gaffer said, really happy to be here. It's my first time in Japan. It seems a wonderful city. We've been very well received and the hotel and training and excited to see the stadium and looking forward to the game."
Last season was a good one for the team, but for future development and constant evolution of the team, what do you want to achieve this season?
Ange: "Yes, it's exactly that, constant evolution and improvement. We had a decent season last year where we certainly laid down some good foundations with the way we want to play and the squad we have. Obviously, we want to be better this year and that's the goal."
James: "It was our first season working with a new manager, a good season, we learned a lot, a new way of playing and philosophy. I think we have to strive to have more than a good season. We want to be achieving big things, making history, and getting our hands on silverware. We only do that by keeping improving. That's the beauty of starting a new season, we come back with the benefit of a year with the manager and we aim to kick on and striving to do more than we did last year."
When you're looking at training during pre-season, what details are you looking for?
Ange: "Nothing is really different from home to be honest, it’s just, again, constant improvement in our football. Obviously, when you’re away from your home environment it's different conditions, and it’s all about adaption to that and not allowing it to affect our training levels and exposing the guys to different things. It took me four years to nail 'konnichiwa', Madders has done it in three days! The boys are improving all the time and this time of year, it's about making sure we don’t miss a day or an opportunity to get ready for the start of the season, because you know that once the season starts, especially with us being back in Europe, a heavy games programme. For us as coaches this time of the year is really valuable so the last thing you want to do is come into a different environment and change your approach because of something not familiar to us. That's what we're looking for. The first day we got here, literally off the flight, we had a double session and pushed the boys hard and they were excellent. They’ve really embraced the challenge of it."
It feels like the team is putting a lot of emphasis and importance on this tour...
Ange: "It's very important. Obviously for us, the priority is preparing for the season and that's why we're here. We've got good training facilities, we've got good matches, but I think every time we go to another country it's an opportunity for us to acknowledge the support we have from this side of the world. We have three supporter branches here in Japan and hopefully we want to grow that to more. A lot of the people over this side of the world don't get to see us live, so I think it's important that, wherever we go, we make an impact beyond the football and any chance we get as a football club, not just with me, but with any representatives of the club is to get into the community and try to have a presence as much as we can. For us, it's important that Tottenham as a football club keeps growing globally and we've already got strong support from this side of the world, and one is we acknowledge it and secondly we keep growing it."
When you were here in Japan you changed the notion of football, the attacking football, I'm sure you've embedded that at Tottenham, so what do you want to demonstrate in tomorrow's match?
Ange: "I think it’s fair to say from my perspective nothing has changed in terms of my beliefs about how my team plays. Obviously we’re trying to do it now in the most difficult league in the world, the most challenging league. It’s got the best managers and the best players and it's the most competitive, but I still believe we can make an impact playing this kind of football, the same way I did when I came to Japan. Yokohama were similar in that they were a big club and hadn’t won anything for 14 or 15 years before I came here, and Tottenham are in a similar boat, and you understand the significance of winning something for a club that hasn’t won something for a while but, just as important for me is the way do it, and the football we play, and that’s what we’re trying to build here. Hopefully, with a bit of luck, we’ll repeat the success we had here."
