Spurs 1-0 Man United | Ange’s verdict | OneFootball

Ange Postecoglou provided two big reasons why Sunday’s victory over Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was so important.

James Maddison marked his return from injury with the winner after 13 minutes, following in for a poacher’s goal – his ninth in the Premier League this term - after Andre Onana parried Lucas Bergvall’s shot. The midfielder impressed and was one of five players back from injury, including goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, back for his first action since November and outstanding in keeping his clean sheet, Wilson Odobert, out since October, Brennan Johnson and Destiny Udogie.

Speaking on our Review Show afterwards, Ange said: “There are a couple of really pleasing things… the victory, obviously, I thought it was a really important day for us, important we got the victory, and secondly, just seeing some players back, and how that lifts the whole group. Vic and Madders were significant contributors but just having Brennan, Wilson and Destiny all involved… our bench was strong - both important reasons for us to get a victory.”

Ange on the way we managed the game in the second half…

“I thought we weren’t too bad. Again, it helps when you can put significant talent on. We’ve been doing it with kids, and they’ve done an unbelievable job for us, but the Premier League is tough, and it’s the fact we could make changes that still allowed us to have the quality and experience out there. I thought the lads handled it well. We can play better, definitely, but there was always going to be that little bit of anxiety and nervousness around. We needed to win today. The players knew that, and they were determined to get the three points.”

On finally having those options on the bench again...

“Absolutely, and the players feel that too. They put in a solid shift, but they know if they tire, or the game needs changing, we can put players on to help them. We felt that in training this week. For the first time in a couple of months, we could actually train properly, we weren’t just training with Under-18s and Under-21s, it was senior players and there was a real excitement amongst all the lads about the possibilities moving ahead. We still have two or three (players returning) on the horizon and we really feel like there still a lot on offer for us in the second half of the year. Today gives us a chance to do that.”

After the cup disappointments, Ange on the importance of our fast start and getting ahead against United...

“There is no doubt the two cup games were disappointing. We did really well at Brentford, so, in terms of the league, it was important that we backed that up. I think getting to the Villa game was a bit of a marker for us. As disappointing as it was, we also knew that we have two weeks of no midweek football, two weeks to recover and that coincided with players coming back. We needed to get to that point as best we could. We were always confident this week would look a little different.”

On if the players came through unscathed...

“Kevin, Rodri and Sonny all got knocks, they are all iced up, but the beauty of it is they get a chance to recover, we don’t have to patch them up and throw them out again midweek, they have time to recover. The important thing is Vic, Madders, Brennan and Wilson all got through unscathed, that’s the main thing.”

On having leaders like Vic and Madders back...

“It was enormous to have them back, not just for me, but for the players, for the staff, the fans. They are top players, and we have missed them, even though the other guys have done everything in their power to contribute. There is a reason the experienced players are there and today they really stood up for us.”