'Blew my mind': How Ange Postecoglou's tactics won over England great

Ange Postecoglou's stock continues to rise as the Australian coach declared his side his aiming for a place in the Champions League, following their 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

Dominic Solanke scored twice in the space of four second-half minutes to set up the win as Postecoglou's men followed up their victory against Manchester City in the League Cup.

Having dropped four games from 10 so far this year, there was some pushback on Postecoglou's style of play but with Tottenham at seventh in the standings, the benefits of the Aussie's style is on full display.

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One man who has had the chance to witness the Australian's tactical brilliance is former England gloveman Joe Hart.

Hart made 266 appearances for Manchester City but spent three years at Celtic under Postecoglou in the latter part of his career before retiring.

The four-time winner of the Premier League golden glove award arrived at Celtic at the same time as Postecoglou in 2021, having spent time under several world renowned managers during his career at club and international level.

Yet he said his time with the Aussie "blew his mind" and helped him perceive the game a totally different way, by playing three defenders at the back.

"My last three managers in England, David Moyes, Sean Dyche, [and] Jose Mourinho. All top, top managers in their own right and have done incredible things," Hart told BBC Radio.

"But they are very much [about] hard work, dedication, learning what you need to do and going out and performing.

"Then I went and had three years [at Celtic] – two of them with Ange Postecoglou and one of them with Brendan Rodgers. Ange Postecoglou blew my mind because he really opened me up."

Postecoglou's attacking tactics earned him plenty of plaudits and titles in Australia with the Brisbane Roar and the Socceroos.

Celtic fans quickly fell in love with the Australian as he guided them to a treble winning season in 2022/23, and now Tottenham supporters hope he can do the same at their club.

Hart said it's not difficult to see why Postecoglou's style has been successful.

"I always thought playing out from the back, does that mean I have to do [Johan] Cruyff turns, pick passes? No, it doesn't; it means I need to stand on the ball and make sure my centre halves are on either side of me; my six is showing.

"I'm not playing out for the sake of it. I'm playing out to score. If that full press comes and all I see is opposition players next to mine, I'm given that clarity in my mind that there's a little dink into the striker's chest.

"All these things come together, and it's a totally different game and a totally different thought process.

"I feel truly blessed because I would honestly feel out of my depth sat here three years ago trying to have this conversation [about playing out from the back]."