Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou says he “doesn’t understand” the mindset.
The last few games of the Premier League have dropped Spurs fans into quite a moral dilemma.
While the North London side host Man City tonight (Tuesday, May 14) at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the majority of the home crowd will seemingly be cheering on Pep Guardiola’s men instead of their own team.
The reason is clear: a loss or even a draw for City means that Arsenal are in pole position to become champions.
According to a Sky Sports poll, 54% of fans would rather hand three points over to City than give Arsenal a helping hand towards their first league title in 20 years.
A loss or draw for Spurs tonight would also mean that they would say goodbye to their slim chance at slipping into fourth and securing a Champions League spot.
54% of Spurs fans polled on the Sky Sports website have said they would rather LOSE tonight to Manchester City than see Arsenal win the league 🗳️ pic.twitter.com/Cx4KY7SzAs
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 14, 2024
Staggering percentage of Spurs fans would rather lose to Man City than see Arsenal win the league
Arsenal currently sit at the top of the table, two points ahead of Man City, whose game in hand against Tottenham would see them overtake the North Londoners.
Despite some fans having their say on the poll, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou says that he “doesn’t understand” why supporters are gunning for a loss tonight.
“People are allowed to feel the way they do,” the Australian said at Monday’s press conference. “I don’t understand it, I never will.
“I understand rivalry. I was part of one of the biggest ones in the world in the last couple of years with Celtic and Rangers but I’ve never, and will never, understand if someone wants their own team to lose.
“That’s not what sport is about.”
Postecoglou said that success is defined by trophies, and that Spurs shouldn’t be reliant on any “false dawns”.
“Anything else in between, bragging rights, whatever it is, is absolutely meaningless to me or anyone involved with me,” he continued.
“We’ve got a game we want to win.”
Tuesday night’s encounter becomes even more interesting considering that the Spurs stadium is not the happiest hunting ground for Guardiola’s team.
Despite finally getting a victory at Spurs’ new home at the sixth attempt when they beat them in the FA Cup in January, City have not scored a goal there in four Premier League defeats.
City’s incredible end-of-season form as of late, on top of Tottenham’s current injury woes may give a chance to finally put the hoodoo to bed and get one hand on the Premier League trophy on Tuesday night.
🗣️ "There's no bragging rights trophies"
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 14, 2024
Ange Postecoglou is clear that he wants a Tottenham victory tonight against Manchester City ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/3xb740EINC
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