By Tom Gott
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has insisted that any fan wanting the team to lose against Manchester City on Tuesday just to stop Arsenal winning the Premier League title may "need counselling".
City have played one game fewer than current league leaders Arsenal but sit just one point behind the Gunners, who only have one more match to play against Everton on the final day of the season.
A win for City over Spurs would put them back in first heading into the final round of fixtures - Pep Guardiola's side face a mid-table West Ham United on May 19 - but defeat would likely see Arsenal lift the title - something many Spurs fans are adamant cannot be allowed.
With many Spurs fans urging the team to effectively gift City the three points on Tuesday evening, Postecoglou insisted there will be no handouts from his side.
"If you're going by social media then 99% of them will [want Spurs to lose] but please don't tell me that's your world," he said. "If it is you need counselling. I understand rivalry but I'll never understand anyone wanting their own team to lose.
"People are allowed to feel way they do but I’ve been consistent and strong in my belief that it's important for this club to get to where we want to, not look for a silver bullet, it’s hard work, perseverance, quality not false dawns and know what real success looks like. Anything in between, bragging rights, are meaningless to me. We've got a game tomorrow we want to win.
"You think the majority of our fans don’t want us to win? I don’t see it that way, I think the fans inside the stadium will create the same atmosphere they always do."
That stance was shared by Spurs playmaker James Maddison, who refused to think about what the future may hold for Arsenal.
"Of course we will be giving everything on Tuesday," he stressed. "We are professionals.
"The only way we can qualify for the Champions League is if we win all our games, so [helping Arsenal] is one for the fans to talk about, not us players."
Arsenal forward Kai Havertz admitted he would temporarily become the "biggest Spurs fan ever" for Tuesday's game, which will play an enormous role in deciding the fate of this season's Premier League title.
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This article was originally published on 90min.com as Ange Postecoglou responds to calls for Tottenham to intentionally lose Man City clash.
