Presser points | Spurs vs Elfsborg, UEFA Europa League | Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media at Hotspur Way on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of our UEFA Europa League MD8 clash against Elfsborg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night (8pm UK).

Here's what he had to say...

Ange on our latest team news...

"Micky is good. He is good to go and we will try to get him some match minutes tomorrow. That’s the plan. Let’s see how much we can get out of him tomorrow. He has a good week, 10 days training with the team and is in good condition, so he is fine. In terms of the other guys, Madders has a calf strain so he is probably two to three weeks. He picked that up in the Hoffenheim game which was a week ago. Pape is okay, he still has a bit of a niggle but he is okay and available. Biss is available. I think that's it for tomorrow night at this stage."

On feeling the pressure...

"Me, personally? No different to any other game. It’s a game I want to win and we go into it with the same intent. It’s a competition we have done really well in to be in a great position. We want to solidify that position and finish in the top eight. That’s in our hands tomorrow night. A win makes it certain, a draw is probably going to be good enough as well. Finishing in the top eight for us is hugely important, because it gives us a good foothold in the tournament and also gives us a couple of weeks where we don’t have midweek games, which at this point is really important."

On a message to angry Spurs fans...

"My message would be to all Spurs fans, because I represent them all, not just the angry ones that you are referring to or maybe talking to. All Spurs fans. We are working hard to turn this around. Obviously we know the situation, notwithstanding the fact the possibilities and opportunities in the second half of this season are still very much in our hands to capitalise on and still make it a successful season."

On the latest on Cuti Romero...

"Cuti's a bit of a slow burner. We're mindful his injury was a bit different and he's still got to tick a few boxes so, not for the horizon at the moment in terms of this weekend. We'll see how he goes after."

On how our injury situation has been for him...

"It's well chronicled. Earlier in the year it was a different issue, we were kind of dealing with guys coming back and getting injured, but since late November, it's been logical that with the workload of the players we'd be getting niggles along the way and people picking up things. That's a natural consequence and not something that really we can do much about. It hasn't been something you're surprised by."

On dealing with pressure...

"It doesn't affect me, it never has, it never will. My view on my role has never been about self-preservation or security. It's about trying to achieve and we're still in a position where we can do that. You suggest there's a running commentary on me at the moment which is not surprising considering our league position. I don't have to respond to that or get involved with that, it just doesn't interest or affect me. What is important to me is I have a responsibility to... as I said, people can choose to ignore it, but we're in a great position to still achieve something special this year. I'm going to push this group of players and everyone at the club to not lose sight of the fact that this is a tough spot we're in, but the possibilities of us doing something special are still there if we work our way through it."

On January window latest...

"I’d be disingenuous if I said anything other than right now there’s nothing imminent, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t opportunities being explored. Traditionally, the last few days of any window tend to be pretty frenetic. I'd expect us to be involved in that. Does that mean anything will get concluded? I can’t commit to that because I’m a bit of a distance from it, but the information and dialogue I have is we’re exploring all the opportunities to see if we can bring some help in for the players."

On being wary about Micky's return...

"I'm not wary, because he's got to come back at some stage. We can keep him training forever and never play and then he'll never get injured. That’s not how it works. We’ve done everything in our power... we did last time, too. Last time he probably played more than he should have him in that first game, but again in hindsight and the circumstances around that game, without rewriting history, were pretty challenging anyway, but he’s ticked every box, worked awfully hard and been given clearance by the medical team. Invariably, when you’ve had one injury and re-injured, you are always going to take a conservative approach, which we have, but at some stage he has to play. What we’ve got to make sure is to just manage his minutes now to give him every chance to grow into it, but he’s enormous for us because A he is a fantastic player, and B, with a lot of these guys who will come back, they are just champing at the bit to help, so there is an energy there, a positivity there, and for the guys who have been on the grind for a while, just having him training is a boost. Having him out there tomorrow, even for our supporters, it just gives you some renewed energy, particularly for the core group of players who have got us through the last two and a half months. I think it gives us an enormous lift. So, really happy to have him back and tomorrow night is a good game for him to get back into it, European football, a good way to reintegrate him in and I’m sure he’ll do well."

On Djed Spence...

"Djed will be fine for the weekend. He is not available tomorrow, so I was just talking about tomorrow’s team."

On how Lucas Bergvall has dealt with the pressure and demands of playing at this level...

"Outstandingly well. We lose sight of the fact that he's only 18-years-old, but also his previous senior experience is in the Swedish league, so he's come into a different league, obviously a step up in the league level, different country, different environment. As an 18-year-old, for him to be taking such a massive responsibility on his shoulders to not only play, but also try to make an impact for the team, I think has been outstanding. 
I'll keep saying it, as tough as it's been, and it's been tough, and still is tough, we're going to get so much benefit from the likes of him and Archie coming through this really not like 18-year-olds, but like men, wanting to help the club through this process, once we hit some calmer waters then we'll truly see them flourish even more. He's been outstanding and it's a credit to him as much as a person as it is as a player that he's tackling this in the way that he has."

On Deki Kulusevski's leadership qualities, on and off the pitch...

"That was the other area of growth for us... we haven't had Vicario and Romero, part of our leadership group, for large chunks of this season and it's fallen on Sonny and Madders' shoulders to carry that load and through this time, Deki and Solanke in particular, both with their performances, but just with their general demeanour around the place, have really taken on the responsibility of leading us through this. Deki has been outstanding both with his football and his mentality and again it's a great area for us of growth for us. When all our players come back, I'm sure they're going to feel like they've grown through this period as well. In a difficult season, Deki has been outstanding all year and really important for us."

On Elfsborg...

"Obviously, it's a bit of a different scenario for them to us. They've had their off-season, so they've probably got a hell of a lot of enthusiasm and looking forward to a new season. They had a great result last week against Nice. A good team, well structured and organised, hard-working and pretty direct in their play. They're going to challenge us with their style of play. They're in a good position to make the knockout stages of the Europa League which will be a great achievement for them. It will be a good challenge for us tomorrow night."