James Maddison says Tottenham’s squad are “100%” behind manager Ange Postecoglou and can still turn their season into “something very special”.
Spurs are 16th in the Premier League table after a dismal domestic campaign and pressure is mounting on Postecoglou despite their contrasting fortunes in Europe.
The North London club, who have not won a trophy in 17 years, host Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday.
Attacking midfielder Maddison, 28, acknowledges the club’s disappointing season but says the narrative surrounding the manager is “not healthy”.
“We are behind the manager 100%,” said Maddison. “I think he’s a great man. We have had a poor season, especially in the league. We’ve been very good in Europe, but the league season has been unacceptable.
“He’s my manager, he’s my gaffer and I respect him an awful amount. The narrative [of Postecoglou’s job being under threat] is something we players are trying to keep away from because it’s not healthy.
“I just know that I come into work every day and see the lads listening and taking on the messages on how he wants us to play and doing the best for this club and we are in a real good position in Europe, where we can still have a special season under his management.
“I will continue to do that until the day he isn’t here.”
Spurs will be without captain Son Heung-min, who is unavailable with a foot injury, against Bodo/Glimt but Maddison says the club are going to “relish the challenge” of reaching a first European final since they were beaten by Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League showpiece.
“It’s huge,” the England midfielder added.
“When you get to the end of your career and you look back, there’s not many times a player has been in European semi-finals. Maybe once or twice if you are lucky.
“We need to use that. We are in the final four in a massive competition in Europe and use that to have a great tie on Thursday and in Bodo as well.
“We’ve got a real special opportunity. There’s obviously been a lot of talk about form and being a poor season, but we have the opportunity to do something very special.
“We’ve earned it and we deserve to be here. It is a challenge we are going to relish.”
