Ange Postecoglou will not tell Tottenham supporters how to feel about the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict but hopes his team can provide a sense of escapism when they host Fulham on Monday night.
The fixture will be Spurs’ first at home since tensions escalated in the Middle East, with hundreds of Palestinian civilians killed in a massive blast at a Gaza City hospital on Tuesday.
A statement was issued by Tottenham earlier this month in response to the initial war breaking out between Israel and Hamas, but some supporters were critical of the club for failing to show support for victims from the Jewish community, which has a long-standing affiliation with the Premier League outfit.
The Club and our footballing family is shocked and saddened by the escalating crisis in Israel and Gaza, and strongly condemns the horrific and brutal acts of violence against innocent civilians.
Our heartfelt sympathies are with the victims, their families and the communities…
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial)
Postecoglou answered questions about the ongoing conflict during Friday’s press conference and although he discussed the topic at length, he was keen to point out the role of his players is merely to help fans forget their troubles for 90 minutes.
“I have the responsibility of being a football manager but like everyone else, I’m a human being and you struggle with these things and you understand that other people will struggle with them,” he explained.
“My life experience has taught me not to judge or come to any strong conclusions. I’ll let the people who are affected by it be the guide in these kinds of things, because it’s very easy for others to cast judgement but in all these things, you are guided by people who are directly affected.
“I am not the custodian of this club. I have been at this club for four months or whatever it is.
“People have spent lifetimes in these clubs, so I am not going to go round telling people how to feel, how to behave, how to act, what to think.
“As I said, I think the greatest role a football club can play in these scenarios is to provide what they have always provided – a sense of one place where people can come and escape and hopefully unite as one to support their football club.
“You know, maybe sort of take them away from whatever troubles they may have. I think that’s the greatest role any football club has.”
