Tottenham star delivers squad verdict on Ange Postecoglou after AZ Alkmaar defeat | OneFootball

Spurs boss is under pressure to overturn 1-0 deficit in crucial Europa League last-16 clash

Full support: Djed Spence insists the Tottenham squad remain completely behind manager Ange Postecoglou

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Ange Postecoglou retains the "full support" of the Tottenham dressing room, according to Djed Spence, who says the players still believe in the head coach's approach despite the abject Europa League defeat by AZ Alkmaar.

Postecoglou's side mustered just a single shot on target in Alkmaar and had goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to thank for keeping them in the tie, leaving the Australian under pressure to oversee a turnaround in the decider, which follows Sunday's visit of Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Asked if the squad is still behind the manager, Spence said: "Most definitely.

"We believe in what he wants us to do. We try to implement that in every game. Of course it’s not going to work in every game, but the manager has our full support. We are all behind him and we want to show that by winning games.

“We didn’t win [in Alkmaar], but come next week we’ll get the win. We’ve got to play better. Most definitely we can turn it around. We’re a good side and come Thursday, we will turn it around.

"[There's] no frustration. The only frustration is we’ve had a lot of injuries, so naturally it’s a setback for the team but we have a strong mentality, we fight. The mood in the group is good."

After Spurs lost Sunday's reverse fixture 1-0 at Bournemouth in December, Postecoglou angrily clashed with fans in the away end and Spence - an unused substitute on the day - was the peacemaker, running over to raise a conciliatory hand to supporters and walking the head coach away.

"He’s the manager and we are a team and a family," said Spence, when asked about the incident.

"When one of your family members is in trouble or whatever, you go to support them. That’s what I did, supported the manager. We all fight for him at the end of the day and that’s our main target for the team."

Spence has been impressive since breaking into the Spurs team in mid-December and was nominated for February's Premier League Player of the Month award, with Postecoglou up for the manager's prize following three straight wins.

Spence's form has led to suggestions that he could be named in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad next week, particularly given the shortage of English left-backs in the Premier League, but the 24-year-old revealed he had not heard from the German.

"No, I haven’t heard from anyone," he said. "I’m just focusing right now, I just want to keep playing well and help the team to win games.

"Most definitely [I'd like to be called up]. Who doesn’t want to play for their country? That’s something I’m looking forward to. If I get called up, happy days. If I don’t, I’ll just keep working hard.

"My family are always in the crowd supporting me," he added. "That gives me the strength to do well. The support is one hundred [per cent] always, I couldn’t ask for anything else.

"I’m very confident at the moment, I’m playing well. Most importantly is about the team, we need to win.

"Come next Thursday, we need to get through to the next round so I think that’s the most important thing.

"[And in the league] there’s always something to play for. We want to win as many games as possible and when we do that, we’ll see where we are at the end of the season."