‘Ruthless’: Coach shares the big difference between Ange Postecoglou and Pochettino after working under both

A coach who has worked under both Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou and former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has highlighted a big difference between the duo.

Mauricio Pochettino isn’t exactly the most popular figure at Tottenham these days after a brief spell with London rivals Chelsea last season.

The anger towards Pochettino from Spurs supporters may have somewhat subsided after he left the Blues by mutual consent last month.

Despite a controversial move across London, Pochettino very much remains Tottenham’s standout manager of the Premier League era.

The Argentine guided them to lofty heights between 2015 and 2019 as they challenged for league titles and even made a Champions League final.

Spurs are yet to reach a similar level since his departure in November 2019, with Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte all departing without managing a full season in charge.

The north Londoners seem to have landed on a promising manager in Ange Postecoglou and similarly to Pochettino, the Aussie delivered a fifth-place finish in his debut season at Tottenham.

Now, Anton McElhone, a coach who’s worked under both managers, is predicting big things for Postecoglou at Spurs.

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The difference between Postecoglou and Pochettino

McElhone worked as a fitness coach at Spurs during Pochettino’s tenure before departing in December 2017.

The Scotsman then worked as a sports scientist at Celtic between 2021 and 2023 while Postecoglou was at the club.

McElhone has been speaking about Postecoglou’s methods and feels the Aussie gives more freedom to his players than Pochettino.

“Ange doesn’t take 90 per cent of the training,” McElhone told The Athletic. “He steps back so he can see everything and several times, he said to me, ‘That player doesn’t look right’. 

“He takes the tactical stuff and the meetings pre- and post-match, which is he incredible at and brings everything together.

“The themes are there every day with Ange — inverted full-backs, wingers high and wide, breaking lines — but he allows the players to thrive in it, without telling them you must stand here, you must stand there. Whereas Mauricio was very specific to get to his model.

“Players hate when they are restricted. The style is so invigorating that it takes away excuses for players as he takes the responsibility for allowing them to try things in his style.

“He’ll be ruthless this summer and go and get even better players to play his way.”

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Postecoglou and Pochettino’s first seasons at Tottenham compared

Both managers delivered a fifth-place finish in their debut seasons at Tottenham but there were some slight differences in terms of performance in the league.

Postecoglou racked up 66 points last term while Pochettino managed 64 back in 2014/15. The Argentine also guided Tottenham to a League Cup final, which resulted in a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Wembley. 

Postecoglou crashed out of the Carabao Cup in the second round while also exiting the FA Cup in the fourth round.

Here’s a closer look at both Postecoglou and Pochettino’s first seasons at Spurs in the Premier League.

Tottenham 2023/24

• 38 games played
• 20 wins
• 6 draws
• 12 losses
• 74 goals scored
• 64 conceded 

Tottenham 2014/15 

• 38 games played
• 19 wins
• 7 draws
• 12 losses
• 58 goals scored
• 53 conceded