Tottenham beat Arsenal in May two years ago and ended up getting carried away by leading them to a Champions League place. Photo: Mark Leach/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has no interest in derailing Arsenal's title bid.
Spurs return to action on Sunday after 15 -a day break with the leaders of the Premier League — guests N17.
Although Tottenham have lost ground in the race for Champions League qualification over the past two weeks, the Gunners have a lot at stake.
Arsenal could close their four-point deficit at the summit with a win, which would also lead to «St. Totteringham's Day» — the moment when Tottenham can no longer catch up with their rivals in the standings.
But Postecoglou, no stranger to hotly contested derbies after his time at Celtic, insisted on ending Mikel's team Arteta does not motivate him.
“In terms of motivation, no,” Postecoglou said.
“I understand the importance of beating your traditional rival. I've just returned from Glasgow. I have a clear idea of what derbies mean to the fans.
“I never believe that your motivation should revolve around the death of someone else. Your motivation should be about you.
Having managed Celtic against Rangers, Postecoglou knows all about the fierce rivalry. Photo: REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
“I want to win because I want us to achieve something. I want us to progress. I want us to be able to fight for the title. This is what drives me, not demise.
«If this is your type of measure — always looking over the back fence to see what your neighbor is building, you both may have the worst houses on the street, because that everyone else is building beautiful places, and you are looking through the back fence.
“I never wanted to win those games because it meant Rangers would lose. I wanted to win because I wanted us to win the title.»
Postecoglou has repeatedly stated his desire for Tottenham to be among the contenders for the major honors this time next year.
Spurs will be significant in the title race with Manchester City visiting on May 14, but fifth place now seems most likely given Aston Villa's recent resurgence.
Although Postecoglou laughed at the offer he would have accepted at the start of the campaign when Harry Kane was sold the day before their opening, he did credit his young group for rising to the challenge.
» I was literally sitting here the day before the Brentford game and he had just left. So you start the season and the most important person in this football club, perhaps ever, left just before the first game,” Postecoglou reflected.
“I remember making a conscious effort to look really graceful above the water, and if there was a panic, to make sure everything was underwater so no one could see, especially the players.
«And once again, the players didn't bat an eyelid — or they could have, especially when you look at what Harry has done this year. It was incredible.
“And yet it wasn't mentioned as often as if we hadn't scored goals.
“It's a credit to the group, the playing group, that they took up this challenge .
“I think what we've been through this year will help us in the medium to long term.
“Even the season being disrupted, because it kind of eliminates any the excuses we have for next year. We're not going to lose another Harry Kane next year. We will not have a disruption to the season.
“We know that we still have work to do. At the same time, we are in a better position than 12 months ago to build on this.
“Our goal should be that in 12 months we will be in a position where we are one of the competitors, not We’re trying to stop them.”
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