Tottenham midfielder, Destiny Udogie, has recently opened up about his experience playing under Ange Postecoglou's unique system. He admits that it is the most challenging one he has encountered so far in his career but also insists that he now feels more comfortable in the inverted left-back role than he did a year ago.
Postecoglou's system stands out due to its innovative use of inverted full-backs. This approach is somewhat similar to Pep Guardiola's style, but with an added twist. Not only does Postecoglou require both his full-backs to invert, but he also expects them to receive possession in extremely advanced areas on the field.
This strategy often sees players like Porro and Udogie operating as attacking midfielders when Spurs have possession of the ball. This unique approach demands a high level of adaptability and skill from players who are expected to perform dual roles on the pitch.
Udogie’s growth and adaptation
Despite making occasional errors last season, Udogie demonstrated significant growth over time. The 21-year-old Italian player managed to grow into this demanding role over the course of last season and expects further improvement in his second year at Tottenham.
In an interview with Football.London, Udogie discussed how he evolved from a wing-back into an inverted full-back under Postecoglou's system.
Tottenham midfielder, Destiny Udogie, said:
“It’s just about working in training with the staff. They teach me a lot of stuff. So I try to learn as much as I can about the game. We work on everything – in possession, without the possession and alone. When alone I’m just trying to use my imagination, like I put myself in the position and I try to turn and play.
“So far I think it has been the hardest [system I’ve played in] because you have to attack and then you’ve got to come back – high sprints – so it is not easy, but the way we train, they bring us in the position to be ready so we are ready. I’m a little bit of a work in progress but I feel more comfortable, so I think I’m getting there.”
Aiming for improvement
Udogie has set high goals for himself for the upcoming season at Spurs. He expressed a strong desire to make a more decisive impact during games by contributing more significantly in terms of goals and assists.
Destiny Udogie added:
“This season I want to be the best I can be, with the assists, the running, the scoring, helping my team and everything. I have to improve in everything when it comes to defending and attacking.
“I mean, the way we play, we are always with the ball so we have a lot of opportunities to score, to make assists, to attack. So I will try to give my best to the team.”
While Postecoglou’s system may be challenging for players like Destiny Udogie, it also provides them with an opportunity to grow and develop their skills in unique ways. As Udogie continues to adapt and improve, Spurs fans can look forward to seeing his contributions on the pitch in the upcoming season.
