Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou insists that his focus is on his own team's success, not on derailing Arsenal's title hopes as the North London Derby looms. Spurs are set to face their arch-rivals at theTottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the match carrying significant weight for both sides.
Since their last game on April 13 the landscape has shifted, with Aston Villa climbing to fourth and the race for Champions League qualification intensifying. A win for Arsenal would edge them closer to clinching their first league title in two decades, but Postecoglou is drawing on his experience from his time at Celtic to prepare for this pivotal encounter.
«Not in terms of that as a motivation, no,» said Postecoglou when asked if stopping Arsenal was a driving force. «I want to win and I understand the importance of winning against your traditional rival.»
Having experienced the fervour of Glasgow derbies, he knows what these matches mean to fans. However, he emphasised that his ambition is rooted in his own team's aspirations, not in the setbacks of others.
«I've just come down from Glasgow. I've got a fair idea about what derbies mean to supporters. I never believe your motivation should revolve around the demise of somebody else. Your motivation should be about yourself. I want to win because I want us to achieve something.
»I want us to progress. I want us to be in a position fighting for the title. That's what drives me, not the demise. If that's your kind of measure, always peering over the back fence to see what your neighbour's building, you could both have the worst houses in the street because everyone else is building beautiful places and you're looking over the back fence.
«I never wanted to win those games because it meant
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