Presser points | Ferencvaros 1-2 Spurs | Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media after our 2-1 win against Ferencvaros in Matchday 2 of the league phase of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday evening.

Here's what he had to say...

Teenage kicks

Ange was asked a number of questions on the four teenagers who started against Ferencvaros - debutant Will Lankshear, Mikey Moore, making his first start, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray...

You put out a team with four teenagers in the starting line-up and you've won a potentially tricky away European tie, you must be delighted?

Ange: "Yeah, I am. Irrespective of who you play in Europe away, it's always a challenge. You saw with the atmosphere the crowd create, they get really behind their team. The conditions as well... there's a whole range of things you need to deal with. Obviously, I made quite a number of changes to the team, including putting the young boys in, but I thought they handled it really, really well. We needed to defend and defend well, we played some good football and created some good chances, maybe could have had a couple more and most importantly we won an away European tie which I think is a credit to the lads."

You kept Mikey Moore on the full 90 minutes tonight, what did you make of his performance?

Ange: "I thought he was outstanding. It's brilliant for a 17-year-old to play 90-plus minutes in a European away tie. He just handled it superbly. I kind of knew he would and I think it'll help his growth as a footballer once you get through a sort of experience like that. I think he'll grow and evolve and I didn't feel like I needed to take him off. He still looked strong at the end and was still contributing."

We've had the Busby Babes, the Fergie Fledglings, you've now got Ange's Angels...

Ange: "Nah, you've got to do better than that. No chance."

You've chucked them in and a lot of teenagers might not be able to handle that?

Ange: "I wouldn't say I chucked them in. With all these things, you've got to be really careful with young players. I certainly am. The first thing is that they're part of our first team squad, not because I want some young players, it's because they've earned that spot and then it's about how to help them develop and the moments we need to put them in there, the moments we need to hold off. We can't discount the fact that Archie is 18, Lucas is 18.  I thought Archie was brilliant today. We asked him to play in two different positions and it's incredible how he just adjusts and he's able to bring his game to wherever he put him. Lucas worked hard and Will was unlucky with a couple of moments when we could have got a goal. These guys are there because they've earned their spot, but they're an important part of our development because whilst we want to be a team that has an impact this year, like I said before, it's important we're developing players along the way so that whatever sort of period of potential for success or opportunity for success exists, it's elongated because of the young players you get through. I just think tonight all those boys will come to me and go, 'okay that was tough, it was different, but we got through it and we won'."

Are these teenagers particularly special or...

Ange: "Yes, they are. They're 18. What were you doing when you were 18?"

Not this, but my point is that football seems to have got a bit younger, we saw Yamal at the Euros, has the game changed a bit or are these guys just so good?

Ange: "No, I still wouldn't say that. I mean how many 17-year-olds are playing in the Premier League? Yamal is brilliant, but it's not a common thing. It's still pretty rare because you have to take into account, not just their physical maturity at 17 of being able to handle it, their emotional maturity, you've got to be really careful. There are always exceptions to the rule and Yamal is certainly one of them, but like I said, if you look at the Premier League, how many 17-year-olds are actually contributing? Mikey is already, which shows that he's got something special, but we've just got to be really careful about how we develop that. I think because it's too easy just to say, 'oh, you know, he's a great young player just throw him in there', especially in the Premier League because of all the leagues probably in Europe, it's the most physically challenging. So, young players, the first thing I want to see is can they handle it and to be fair, Mike handles it pretty well, and certainly Archie and Lucas have that, but we've got to be careful with them. At the same time, we've brought some really talented young players to the club and part of my pitch to them was that we will develop them and they will play and it's my responsibility to make sure they do that. I can't shy away from that because the next 18 or 17-year-old who I sign will point to recent experience. So it's important we give them the game time they deserve."

Ange on Inside Spurs

More on Mikey

Ange was asked what he particularly likes about Mikey Moore...

Ange: "It's just his ability to deal with pressure and keeping the ball in really tight areas and making really good clean decisions for a young guy. It's not easy today, out there you can see the conditions, it always suit defenders because they can fly in with tackles and he got one in the first 30 seconds I think it was. He kept his feet well and he takes the responsibility of driving inside or taking his man on. He makes good decisions with the ball. He's got so much growth still, but the good thing is he wants to learn, he wants to develop and I couldn't be happier for him but also pretty pleased that he's part of our football club."

Brennan Johnson

Ange was asked about Brennan Johnson, who made it five goals in five games, 'and he keeps finding the bottom corner, it's not a coincidence is it?'

Ange: "I thought he was unlucky with the one that hit the bar as well. Look, he is in a great vein of form and obviously feels good about himself at the moment, really confident. I guess with all attacking players, goals and assists, they kind of thrive on that stuff, but I've said before he has been fantastic for us. Even if you look at his figures last year, he moved to a big club and still got a decent return of goals. It was always curious to me why people were singling him out because if you compare him to other wingers in the league, his numbers always stacked up anyway and now he has probably bypassed all of them. I had no doubt he would make a massive impact for us. Now he is making not just an impact, but changing games for us. Again, still a young guy, still working hard and wants to learn, so that's great for us."

Ferencvaros

Asked was asked if Ferencvaros were stronger than when he faced them as Celtic boss in 2021...

Ange: "It's hard to say. I do remember both with Celtic and today, I knew the supporters create a fantastic atmosphere here. You can see why Ferencvaros have such a strong home record and not just domestically, but in Europe. They're hard to beat here because the supporters create a great atmosphere, I remember that from when we played them with Celtic and we had to work hard that day to get a win. I played against AZ when Pascal (Jansen, Ferencvaros coach) was coach there and they tried to play a high-tempo, high-energy game which is what we want to do. We knew it would be a difficult challenge, but I think for the rest of this Europa League campaign at home they are going to be a challenge for any team."

Davies-Gray tactical switch

Ange gave this insight when he was asked why he switched Ben Davies and Archie Gray around at half-time - Ben going in at centre-half, Archie at left-back for the second half...

Ange: "I felt like we were starting to get on top and stronger. Archie has got a great capacity to run, and I thought putting him at left-back he would be able to get forward for us more, and Ben with his ability to defend and his left foot meant he could get the ball out to the left side. I just wanted to use Archie’s energy, as much as anything. He did a good job for us in the first half but I just felt in the second half we could put them under more pressure if we had somebody on the left-hand side in the same way as the right-hand side who could get forward and get back. I thought he did that really well. In his first run he ran the whole pitch. It helped us balance our attacks on both sides."