*NORTH LONDON* Tottenham Hotspur secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Fulham, and in the aftermath, midfielder James Maddison and manager Ange Postecoglou shared their thoughts on the win and the role of the fans.
Maddison: Hard Work Pays Off
James Maddison, speaking to BBC Sport after the match, attributed Tottenham's success to their dedication on the training ground. He emphasised that the team's commitment to the manager's philosophy was the key to their achievements on the pitch. This focus on hard work and a shared vision is clearly paying off for the Spurs.
Maddison also opened up about his partnership with Son Heung-min, describing it as "brilliant." He expressed his admiration for Son, highlighting the joy of playing alongside a world-class player. Their relationship, according to Maddison, has grown stronger through extensive training sessions, resulting in a better understanding of each other's runs and movements.
The midfielder acknowledged the fans' enthusiasm, welcoming their dreams and aspirations. However, he also emphasised the importance of staying grounded and focusing on the day-to-day tasks to achieve long-term goals.
"The fans can get carried away, we want that! It is what it is about for them, but it is about us not doing that. If you think of long-term goals you can get carried away. We want the fans to dream, but we will stay focused day by day," said the former Leicester City midfielder.
Postecoglou: A Strong Performance and Fan Support
Tottenham boss Postecoglou, also speaking to BBC Sport, praised the team's performance against a formidable opponent. He commended the squad's patience and recognised the challenge of breaking down a defensively organised Fulham.
In the second half, Postecoglou noted an area of concern: wastefulness with the ball. He acknowledged that they gave the ball away more often than desired. Despite this, he highlighted the team's exceptional work rate, which remained a positive aspect of their performance.
"It was a good result obviously against a tough opponent. We maintained our patience, they were not going to open up too much for us. I thought our pressing was really strong. In the second half, we were really wasteful with the ball. We gave it away too much. The positive thing is our work-rate was still excellent.
"[In the second half] we went a little bit away from the things we had been doing all year. We were taking some liberties with possession and that can allow them back into the game,
"Both our goals game from our press to be honest. Our work off the ball was excellent. It has been first rate all year and that is what got us the result."
Postecoglou acknowledged the crucial role played by the fans, calling them the most significant part of the club. He noted their unwavering support from the very beginning and expressed the team's need for their continued encouragement.
He said: "It is important. They are the most crucial part of this club, they have been behind us since the first game and we need them. They are a big part of the process and credit to the lads they sent them home happy tonight."
Lastly, on achieving the distinction of being the first new Premier League manager to secure 23 points from the first nine games, Postecoglou remained humble, noting that the second half of the match gave him plenty to think about. While the start has been impressive, he recognised that there is still work to be done as the season progresses.
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