Spurs leave it very late in Postecoglou’s ‘second-season trophy’ tilt

While he was quick to praise the “real spirit and character” his team showed as they squeaked past Coventry City by the skin of their collective pearly-whites in Fizzy Cup on Wednesday, it’s difficult to imagine that Ange Postecoglou was particularly pleased with what he saw from his Tottenham side. And while what’s said in the dressing room tends to stay in the dressing room, it’s not difficult to imagine him having gone berko as he chucked a traditional Australian wobbly at the assorted boofheads, bludgers and drongos who had so nearly left him looking like a flamin’ galah. Just last Sunday, following his side’s defeat at the hands of Arsenal, Big Ange became a little impatient with an interviewer who seemed to be questioning his team’s ability to emulate previous clubs he has managed by winning trophies during his second season in charge.

“I don’t usually win things in my second year, I always win things in my second year,” he bugled, before confirming he was confident things would be no different at Spurs than they were at the clubs in Australia, Japan and Scotland where he has previously hung his slouch hat. Surprised at the reaction generated by his comments, Postecoglou told reporters at a subsequent press conference that he wasn’t bigging himself up, as some suggested, but merely spewing facts. “Am I supposed to just lie or just say it never happened,” he asked. “Do you really think it’s me sort-of-boasting? It’s just confusing to me that people are making a big deal out of something. I’m not sure how I’m supposed to answer something that is true.” While it could be argued that the fact his team rode their luck to beat a Coventry side who took a second-half lead through Brandon Thomas-Asante is another thing that is true, it was Postecoglou’s approach that will have infuriated many Spurs fans.

Having been heavily criticised for sending out a second-string side that got knocked out of the competition at the first time of asking last season, Mr Plan A only went and did the same thing against those renowned disrespectors of reputations, Coventry City. Luckily for him and despite trailing 1-0 after 87 minutes, on this occasion Spurs got away with it, although he did have to send on the heavy artillery to get the job done. “We had to hang in there and it was really hard just to stay in the game,” parped Postecoglou. “But we [did] and showed some real spirit and character, which has probably been missing in the first four games. But the last 10 minutes we got some really good belief going.” For Coventry it was another opportunity lost after coming up a fraction short in last season’s FA Cup semi-final and playoff final, and it was a wistful Mark Robins who spoke after the game. “We have to be more ruthless,” he sighed. “Life presents you with chances and we seem to not take those chances.”

After feeling compelled to deactivate his Instagram account due to the amount of abuse he was receiving in the wake of Tottenham’s north London derby defeat, the game was a happier occasion for Brennan Johnson, although you wouldn’t have known it to look at him. A young player who has clearly been so wounded by reaction to his performances in recent weeks that he barely celebrated his equaliser and had to be shoved forward to take the post-match plaudits from grateful travelling fans, it is to be hoped Johnson realises that, while far from the be-all and end-all of life, their opinion matters a lot more than that of an army of sad internet clowns.

It’s Thursday night so that must mean … ah. Well, do join John Brewin at 8pm BST for hot Big Cup coverage of Atalanta 1-2 Arsenal.

“It was very difficult. I told [their coach] Míchel that this was worse than giving birth, with all due respect” – PSG’s Luis Enrique, there, not quite managing to put their last-gasp 1-0 win over Girona in Big Cup into context.

Ciao and Godspeed then, Totò Schillaci! Everyone in Ireland (and several other countries too, no doubt) cursed your shooting-star brilliance at Italia ‘90. But how could we begrudge you when your radiant smile lit up the screen? Even the ‘[Eff] Schillaci’ T-shirts that soon appeared in Dublin that summer (and later in Roddy Doyle novels) were only funny because you were held in such warm esteem. You brought joy to all of us who loved the drama of football, and yes, as you hoped, your memory will linger around the world long after you’re gone. Thanks for the very fondly held memories, Signore Schillaci” – Justin Kavanagh.

The latest Knowledge on failures being marked by open-top bus parades (yesterday’s Still Want More, full email edition) could have gone back even further. You’re made of sterner stuff than hardman goalie Iam McFaul if you’re not moved by this. Can you imagine the scenes on Tyneside if we ever actually won something again?” – JD Laux.

Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Justin Kavanagh. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.

And now to the NIFL Premiership. Yep, that’s right. Here at Football Daily, we can’t help but throw our weight behind the underdog. So this weekend we’ll be waving our amber scarf around and cheering on Carrick Rangers, where manager Stuart King sounds like he really needs a result. Since winning their league opener on 10 August, Rangers have lost six on the bounce and King says he hasn’t “slept for weeks” as he wrestles with ideas to get his misfiring side motoring again. “Someone has a voodoo doll against us – probably me – but I can look myself in the mirror and say I’m giving it everything, probably to the detriment to my family but it’s not going away,” he said a day after a 4-1 home defeat to Ballymena. “When the chips are down, you see who your mates are and I need to look after myself a bit. I’m not stupid. We have to win games of football and that’s what I’m going to be judged on.” Next up it’s top-of-the-table Linfield at Windsor Park this Saturday. Gulp. Good luck!

Former Arsenal and QPR player Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged in connection with an attempt to smuggle £600,000 of cannabis through Stansted airport. He currently plays for Scottish Championship side Morton.

Football League suits really want to get their hands on Leicester City, hoping to charge the Foxes over an alleged PSR breach should they go down.

Slovan Bratislava are languishing 35th in the preposterous Big Cup standings after a 5-1 gubbing at Celtic. “We played to our standards,” tooted Slovan head coach Vladimir Weiss. “We knew we were going to face some of the best teams in the world. Credit to Celtic and Brendan Rodgers, he is a fantastic coach.”

But it could be worse … they could be 36th. “In such situations, the most important thing is to remain decent and put [the club’s] interests first,” wailed Dinamo Zagreb president Velimir Zajec after manager Sergej Jakirovic was mutually consented out the door off the back of their 9-2 thumping by Bayern.

Kevin De Bruyne is a doubt for Manchester City’s game with Arsenal on Sunday after appearing to twang his groin in the 0-0 draw against Inter. “We played so good,” purred Pep Guardiola. “I love my team – we are a fantastic team. Inter are the masters of defending and in transition they are really strong as well.”

It feels like we’ve been here before, but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta fears captain Martin Ødegaard faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with ankle-gah. “After everything was scanned, [it] showed he has got some damage, especially on one of the ligaments. We are going to miss him,” declared Arteta.

In Women’s Big Cup, Arsenal face a battle to advance after losing 1-0 in the first leg of their qualifier at Häcken. “It’s always worrying in football when you’re not efficient with your goalscoring opportunities,” lamented Jonas Eidevall.

Manchester City are all but through, mind, pocketing a 5-0 romp over Paris FC from their trip across the Channel.

Mike Williamson has jumped ship from MK Dons to take over at fellow League Two strugglers Carlisle, after they triggered his release clause.

Bristol City have lured Leicester coach Stephen Kirby in their push for a return to the WSL. “It is super exciting,” he whooped.

And Anthony Martial – you remember him – is back in the game after agreeing a deal with AEK Athens.

Richard Hall pays tribute to Totò Schillaci, the wide-eyed dreamer who stole Italian hearts at a time when calcio ruled the world.

What’s the story? Barney Ronay watches Manchester City and Inter serve up an underwhelming advert for the new world of Big Cup, while David Hytner thinks Arsenal may have been given an idea or three.

Timbbbbbbbbbbbbbberrrrrrrrrr!

Their Big Cup cruise showed that Celtic are on the up, writes Ewan Murray.

European football awaits Brest for the first time. Luke Entwistle reports on their success so far against all the odds.

Deep-sea diver and fossil fan: meet Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Manchester United’s new No 1 keeper, as she steps into Mary Earps’ boots.

And there’s no let up with our WSL team previews with No 11 … Tottenham.

Grand Parisian parties haven’t always been quite as impressive as the past summer’s efforts. Here, artists dance in front of 20-metre-high giant Romeo at the Place de la Concorde on the eve of the 1998 World Cup.