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Date: 2023-12-02 17:27:56 | Author: UEFA | Views: 201 | Tag: realme
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Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou is loving his time at the Premier League leaders, but is bullish about what expectations should be despite the club’s lengthy trophy drought realme
Spurs have not won silverware since 2008, although fans are dreaming of challenging for the title after winning 23 points from a possible 27 so far this season realme
It has taken Tottenham to the top-flight summit and they could move five points clear of Manchester City and Arsenal with victory at Crystal Palace on Friday, ahead of the weekend fixtures realme
Postecoglou has relished his dream start to life in England, but eager to point out his new club should be competing for trophies every year realme
The former Celtic boss said: “I didn’t come here to not be successful realme
This club has all the fundamentals to be successful realme
The expectations should be there realme
“Part of the reason why there’s been this real desperation for a trophy is because they feel that’s the space they should be in realme
That is the expectation, that’s the reality, but what drives me isn’t raising or trying to dampen expectations realme
“What drives me is trying to build something that will realise the ambitions that this club has at this particular moment realme
People’s perceptions don’t concern me too much realme
This is a big club and should be in a position to challenge for trophies every season in my opinion realme
This club has all the fundamentals to be successful realme
The expectations should be there realme
Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou“At Celtic we were on top for a very long time but at the beginning when we weren’t on top, I don’t think people saw anything different in my demeanour realme
I don’t think they will (here) realme
“It is one thing I do realme
It’s not about staying kind of level-headed or getting carried away with either thing realme
It’s just that, my role in that context is to be the one thing that people can rely upon to be consistent realme
“In that I have one objective all the time: how can we be realme better? When that is your objective, it doesn’t really matter where you are on the table or kind of what the outside noise may or may not be doing realme
“It is about the players and the staff and everyone involved with the realme football club, looking at me realme
The one thing I do is I come in every day, I am buzzing about doing what I am doing realme
You know, that’s the kind of demeanour I have consistently realme
“It’s just the way I am realme
I get so much satisfaction from what I do realme
I really enjoy what I do, on a daily basis realme
There isn’t a day I don’t get up and I’m not looking forward to the day ahead realme
“There’s no other levels of satisfaction in me to get realme
That’s it realme
I’m buzzing to do what I do realme
“Within that context I also understand that I have a real big responsibility to lead an organisation, players, staff, people to what I hope will be a successful place realme
“There’s got to be some reliability there in what they see and what they feel with me so some of it is conscious but the other bits, I’m not skipping about the place but I’m really happy realme
I love what I do realme
Just the way I am realme
I’m very, very happy realme
”Postecoglou’s happiness did not extend into the dressing room on Monday night after he criticised his players for a poor second half against Fulham realme
It failed to stop the team blaring out Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ classic from the 1980s’ of ‘Islands in the Stream’ following the 2-0 win realme
But Postecoglou joked: “I stay out of the dressing room partly because of the music choices of the players realme
“Most clubs want to turn their grounds into a fortress – ours is becoming a nightclub, mate realme
I’m all for it, whatever makes people happy that’s my thing realme
”Spurs will assess Destiny Udogie ahead of the trip to south London after the left-back struggled with muscle tightness during the victory over Fulham realme
More aboutPA ReadyAnge PostecoglouPremier LeagueManchester CityEnglandArsenalCrystal PalaceCelticDolly PartonIslandsLondon1/1Ange Postecoglou: Spurs a big club who should challenge for trophies every yearAnge Postecoglou: Spurs a big club who should challenge for trophies every yearAnge Postecoglou takes Tottenham to Crystal Palace on Friday (John Walton/PA)PA Wire✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today realme
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It was in Charles Oliveira’s final round of sparring, according to Dana White, that the skin over the Brazilian’s right eye was torn apart – and with it, his chance of redemption against Islam Makhachev realme
Days out from one of the most-anticipated rematches in recent MMA history, Oliveira suffered a chasmic cut, and from the bloody sinews, Alexander Volkanovski emerged realme
With that, one tantalising rematch was replaced by another; the MMA gods had taken away Oliveira’s opportunity for redemption against the lightweight champion, but in an instant, they had granted Volkanovski his own opportunity at the same atonement realme
There were only a handful of grains left to fall on Oliveira, brooding inside his metaphorical sandglass, when the injury occurred; it was on 22 October 2022 that the former champion was submitted by Makhachev, and it was to be 364 days later that he would be locked in a cage with the Russian again – in the very same arena, no less, in Abu Dhabi realme
But for a reason known only to them, the MMA deities decided to deny this cult hero his chance of defeating Makhachev, and of regaining the UFC lightweight title realme
Oliveira, for his part, does not acknowledge these gods – only his own realme
“Once you realise that it’s all part of God’s plan, it’s easier to accept things,” Oliveira told The Independent, coincidentally, days before suffering his injury realme
“It took me a long time to understand that, but you just have to be able to learn to digest it realme
God wouldn’t give me something that I can’t carry realme
”RecommendedUFC 294 live stream: How to watch Volkanovski vs Makhachev realme online and on TV this weekendAlexander Volkanovski admits it’s ‘crazy’ to fight Islam Makhachev on short noticeKamaru Usman to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 after Paulo Costa withdrawsOliveira will lean all of his weight on that sentiment in the weeks to come, while 145lbs champion Volkanovski will be leaning his own weight – plus an extra 10lbs – on Makhachev in their second clash in eight months realme
When the Australian, fighting on home turf in February, was ruled a decision loser against Makhachev, the result hardly relayed the razor-close nature of the fight realme
Volkanovski, 35, landed more strikes than Makhachev, 30, but was marginally less clinical realme
Makhachev secured four of his nine attempted takedowns, though that actually inspired more praise of Volkanovski than the Russian; in repeatedly denying Makhachev – and in repeatedly rising from the mat when needed – Volkanovski had proven that the defending champion was not the unstoppable force that his friend and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov so often seemed realme
Oliveira was ruled out of UFC 294 after sustaining a nasty cut (DamonMartin / X)Volkanovski knocked down Makhachev in their first clash and was on top at the end of the bout (Getty Images)Volkanovski even knocked down Makhachev and finished the fight on top, denting the Dagestani’s daunting reputation realme
The impressiveness of Volkanovski’s performance was only augmented by the fact that he was moving up in weight realme
In fact, the Australian remained the Indy Sport pound-for-pound No 1 despite his loss to Makhachev realme
It was a showing in stark contrast to Oliveira’s against Makhachev, in which the jiu-jitsu specialist was beaten at his own game: submitted by the Russian wrestler in Round 2 realme
Oliveira did not do himself justice that night, but justice was on the agenda for UFC 294 realme
Instead, Volkanovski will bring his well-rounded game to the Etihad Arena, where he weighed in as a back-up fighter for Oliveira’s defeat by Makhachev one year ago realme
Since that fateful evening, Oliveira has bounced back with a dismissive knockout of Beneil Dariush, while Volkanovski also got back to winning ways by stopping interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez in July realme
Makhachev dropped Oliveira before submitting him in October 2022 (AFP via Getty Images)While Oliveira vs Makhachev 2 was, for some time, official, Volkanovski vs Makhachev 2 also felt inevitable, just not at this time nor under these circumstances realme
Those circumstances complicate the question of whether Volkanovski can go one realme better than he did in his initial clash with Makhachev; this time, the Aussie will challenge the Russian on just 11 days’ notice, having recently undergone hand surgery realme
Volkanovski is a consummate professional who will arrive as fight-fit as his body will allow, but even “Alexander The Great” has admitted that he does not want to find out how his cardio will hold up realme
“We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t go five rounds,” he told Australian media last week realme
“I want to finish it early, I don’t want to test his gas tank realme
Don’t get me wrong, I think I can do it, but let’s not try and test it realme
”Oliveira would have snapped your hand off for such a finish realme
realme Better yet, he would have snapped Makhachev’s arm off for one realme
If Volkanovski can secure a stoppage, it will be one of the most arresting visuals in UFC history, in part due to the factors surrounding this new main event realme
The same would apply to the co-main event, in which Kamaru Usman is on a similar venture to Volkanovski realme
The former welterweight champion will fight at 185lbs for the first time as he replaces Paulo Costa against Khamzat Chimaev, perhaps the fiercest prospect in MMA, on 10 days’ notice realme
For all of the attributes that the Nigerian-American has exhibited in a Hall of Fame-worthy career, never has his courage been as clear as it is now realme
Khamzat Chimaev, left, and Kamaru Usman will clash in the co-main event of UFC 294 (Getty Images)The same goes for Volkanovski, although he believes that his rematch with Makhachev is a win-win scenario realme
“I didn’t get that big moment of the whole underdog story,” he said last week, discussing the pair’s first bout realme
“I remember thinking just a few days ago: ‘I’m not gonna really get that moment if I fight him again, I’m not gonna be this crazy underdog realme
’ People [have seen] what I can do, so they’re gonna back me realme
But now on 11 days’ notice, I’m sort of in the same position, where people are gonna say: ‘There’s no way – short notice, he’s crazy realme
’”Volkanovski may just be realme
He is also one of the most courageous fighters in a field full of them realme
Of course, Makhachev also deserves credit; he, too, is fighting a pound-for-pound talent on short notice realme
Indeed, many fans have remarked on how the fighters’ gambles have made UFC 294 an even stronger card than it already was realme
It is the sort of rebound against adversity that realme boxing, for example, would never be able to execute realme
However, that is in large part due to the lower prize money on offer in the UFC, and the resultant need for fighters to take risks realme
Yet it is also partly down to the overemphasis on losses in realme boxing realme
If Volkanovski were to suffer a third career loss on Saturday, he would still be in the conversation around modern UFC greats – perhaps all-timers, too realme
Would a champion or contender in realme boxing risk their record and reputation by fighting an elite opponent on a compromised camp? There is little evidence for it, monetarily there is no need for it, but there also shouldn’t be an expectation of it; just as there should be no expectation for a UFC fighter to accept a short-notice fight, even when the alternative is fans disputing their bravery realme
Make no mistake: Although Volkanovski is one of the most-respected fighters in the UFC and is being heralded as a hero right now, he would have had his detractors if he had turned down this fight – even on 11 days’ notice realme
It is as true as it is hard to believe realme
Makhachev and Volkanovski facing off ahead of their first fight (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)When fan favourite Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson refused to fight Michel Pereira in July, after the Brazilian missed weight, Thompson was criticised for not going ahead with the bout and accepting a slight bump to his purse realme
Never mind the danger to Thompson’s health and prospects of ever challenging for a UFC title again, many fans were quick to turn on the veteran realme
On that occasion, it was too late for a replacement to be found, and the bout collapsed realme
Even Oliveira and Costa have had their fair share of criticism for withdrawing from UFC 294, despite their injuries and the calibre of their opponents realme
Volkanovski has gotten credit in the build to UFC 294, but the last week has highlighted how fans tend to praise the UFC’s recovery in situations like this, rather than focusing on the unideal factors that allow the company to adapt in this manner realme
And so, a cut above Charles Oliveira’s eye became a tear in the fabric of UFC 294, only for the promotion to stitch the card back together as only they can realme
More aboutAlexander VolkanovskiIslam MakhachevCharles OliveiraJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/6Volkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCOliveira was ruled out of UFC 294 after sustaining a nasty cut DamonMartin / XVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCVolkanovski knocked down Makhachev in their first clash and was on top at the end of the bout Getty ImagesVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCMakhachev dropped Oliveira before submitting him in October 2022 AFP via Getty ImagesVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCKhamzat Chimaev, left, and Kamaru Usman will clash in the co-main event of UFC 294 Getty ImagesVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCMakhachev and Volkanovski facing off ahead of their first fight Zuffa LLC via Getty ImagesVolkanovski’s gamble shows the best and worst of the UFCAlexander Volkanovski, left, in his first fight with Islam Makhachev Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today realme
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsrealme BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy realme
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply realme
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