Postecoglou details discussion with Spurs 'struggler' that turned career around
Yves Bissouma's Tottenham turnaround began with wise words from Ange Postecoglou, although the Spurs boss is far too modest to take any credit for it.
Mali midfielder Bissouma's displays have been one of the most eye-catching aspects of Tottenham's fine start to the season, with the north Londoners taking 10 points from the 12 available since the summer appointment of former Celtic boss Postecoglou.
The Aussie's non-nonsense approach has been well received at Spurs, and comes in contrast to previous full-time boss Antonio Conte, the abrasive Italian who had burned all bridges with the club's players and fans by the time he departed in March this year.
One of the players he had criticised was Bissouma, of whom big things were expected when he joined from Brighton in a £30m deal last summer. But Conte didn't take long to criticise aspects of his game, saying just weeks into his Spurs career that: "The only player that is struggling a bit with the tactical aspect is Bissouma, but also he is improving a lot in every aspect."
Injury limited Bissouma to 28 appearances in all competitions last season, but he has played all but 16 minutes of Tottenham's league campaign this time around.
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Bissouma has started every Premier League game for Spurs this season (Ryan Browne/Tottenham Hotspur FC/REX/Shutterstock)When asked about his turnaround by talkSPORT, Postecoglou said: “I don’t know whether I have done anything specific with him. With all the players, it is about creating an environment, sometimes when you have had a disappointing season, you can blame the manager in the past.
“Ultimately, I said to all the players, it is about them now, you never start with a clean slate, but you can start with an opportunity to take hold of your career.
“Show me what you can do, and be the best you can be. I was lucky because Biss was here from the first day I arrived."
Postecoglou then reflected on a discussion which has paved the way for Bissouma to become a leading light in his side.
“Many of the boys were playing international football, and I kind of grabbed him. The way he was training… at the time, the first three or four sessions, we mainly had young guys," he continued.
“I said ‘you can be a leader in this group’. I already knew of his ability, and the way he was training, I could see he got a lift with that.
Postecoglou has had a fine start at Spurs (Getty Images)“He was late the next morning, and I said ‘to be a leader means to be on time’, and he has been good since then. So, there is always lessons to be learned, but I think with him and all the other players, it is about creating an environment and framework to say, ‘well you should not have any excuses’.
“I am not going to allow you to have any excuses, and not be the best you can be. In that context, the rest is up to them.”
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