Presser points | Brentford 0-2 Spurs | Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media at the Gtech after our 2-0 win against Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday.

Here's what he had to say...

Ange on our defensive display...

"It's a difficult place to come, difficult place to win at, but also a difficult place to keep them out because the way they play and the way they set up, you have to defend your box it doesn't matter how you play. They're getting throw-ins into the box, set pieces, crosses, you're just going to have to do that irrespective of how you want to tactically approach it, and I just thought the lads handled that awfully well. We knew we had to. It was going to be key for us, nullifying their threats, and the lads were brilliant and I still felt we had the quality of our football to hurt them the other way. Our second goal was outstanding and we were always a threat when we had it, so credit to the boys, they were brilliant."

On sharing the win with our fans at the final whistle...

"It's great for the supporters, great for the players too, because they're all hurting, you know, the players are hurting as well. I know the supporters are, it's not where they want to see their team, and certainly not where we want to be. We need to rectify that, but it was great to see that we could enjoy this game, enjoy the result, get the rewards for it, for both the players and the supporters. It's only one game, we need to rectify our league position, we know that. We're not in a league position we want to be anywhere near. It's been disappointing, but through that time, not through a lack of effort or will or determination by the players, they're giving everything and I was super pleased today that they could share that moment with the supporters."

On Kevin Danso's arrival, and the latest on Radu Dragusin's injury...

"Great to get Kevin in. We desperately need a defender, but getting him is great because he's a great fit for us. He's had a strong career, but he's at an age now where he really wants to kick on. He's got all the attributes we look for, he's really strong one-on-one, he's quick, he's dynamic, he wants to play on the ball, so, and like I said, he's just at a stage of his career where he's really determined to kick on now and make an impact. So really pleased, I think it'll be a lift for the whole group. With Radu, we'll probably have more information tomorrow. It doesn't look good, but I think he's seeing specialists tomorrow and we'll have more information then."

On the significance of the win...

"I guess in the context of where we are in terms of the season, yes, it's an important one because, like I said, our league position's not good enough, we need to address that. We need to improve, but it's still the same group of players doing Thursday, Sunday. You can't get away from that fact, and, you know, people can kind of dismiss it, but playing Thursday, Sunday, consistently without being able to rotate takes its toll. The Premier League is a relentless competition. You're meeting teams who've had a seven day break and we've had literally 48 hours sometimes, so from that perspective, I think the pleasing thing is that, you know, we got Micky back on Thursday night, we got Djed back in today, signing Kevin, at least the group now, I think are getting some sort of encouragement and energy from the fact they're getting some help and certainly, I've got no doubt they'll assist us in in addressing our our position in the league. We've got some massive opportunities as well in the back half of the year, so important because we have to improve in the league. There's no doubt about it, where we are it's not good enough, but I think significant because it was again done by the same group of players who we've asked to do this for quite a while now."

On a 'more pragmatic' style of football...

"Look... how do I say this without repeating myself and it not sounding like an excuse... It's very difficult for a group of players to play Thursday and Sunday and maintain energy and levels. What they're doing is giving maximum effort. And maximum effort in a game like today means you can't be sharp and really dynamic with and without the ball. It's just impossible. They're human beings, they're not robots. People want to dismiss it, they want to talk about excuses. But that's the reality. I know the reality. These guys are giving everything. We knew today it wasn't going to be a game where we could go out there and dominate. Because Brentford had a week to prepare for this. We had 50-something hours. With the same group of players. I think with that context, the performance was outstanding."

On Micky van de Ven...

"As I said before the game, he played 45 (minutes against Elfsborg on Thursday night). The plan was maybe to play him 45 again today. But then we had a think about it, spoke to Micky as well. And I thought, I'd rather he has another full week of training, get ready for Thursday night, that's a big game for us as well. We had Djed back today, which gave me some comfort that we could cover him. He was never going to play more than 45 minutes today. I just felt, after discussing it with the medical team and with Micky as well, as desperate as he is to play, I just think we've got to be really smart about how we integrate him back into the team. And obviously Thursday night's a big game for us. And again, having a week of training, hopefully we'll get him ready for that."

On Djed Spence...

"He's been outstanding since he's come into the team. He had to bide his time. It's fair to say we needed Djed to really be patient, and also just mature a little bit, and I think he has. And once he got into the team he's looked fantastic. And he was important for us today, I think we'd missed him the last couple of games. He's one of these defenders that loves the challenge of taking on the elite in the Premier League wingers, there's some outstanding ones. And Bryan Mbeumo's right up there, especially here. You can see he loves that challenge. Like I said, that's another reason we kept Micky on ice, knowing Djed was back in, was going to help us enormously. So pleased to get him back in the team. He'll be important for us until Destiny gets back. He'll be important for us in this period."

On Archie Gray becoming a centre-back longer term...

"Who knows? You can't lose sight of the fact he's never played there before. I just think he's a fantastic player. I'm so pleased he's at this football club. He's a fantastic kid as well. He just wants to learn, no task is too much for him, he tackles everything with a real kind of calmness, that belies his years. He wants to learn, he wants to get better. We are just very, very fortunate to have him at our football club. Whatever position he ends up playing, he's going to be outstanding. He has that attitude of wanting to improve, wanting to get better. He's already set a high benchmark. There aren't many 18-year-olds who you could throw into the Premier League, play out of position in such an important area of the park, and handle it the way he has. Just brilliant."