Ange Postecoglou has laughed off a prediction by Opta’s supercomputer that Tottenham have just a 0.1 per cent chance of winning the Premier League title.
The latest calculations this week showed Spurs, who are currently fifth and seven points behind leaders Liverpool, have only the most minuscule of chances.
Manchester City were overwhelming favourites, with a 66.2 per cent chance of securing a fourth consecutive title, while Liverpool’s probability came in at 26.1 per cent, Arsenal at 7.4 per cent and Aston Villa at 0.2 per cent.
‘A supercomputer! Does it go to a phone booth and change into something else from just a normal computer?’ said Postecoglou.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has ridiculed the Opta supercomputer after it gave his team a mere 0.1 per cent chance of winning the Premier League title
Tottenham sit fifth in the current Premier League standings, seven points off leaders Liverpool
Opta predict that Manchester City will win the title from here, with a 66.2 per cent chance
‘What did it say, 0.1 per cent? So we got a chance then. Let’s go for it. No problems, no issues with that, we’ve got a chance.’
Spurs topped the Premier League in early October after going their first 10 league matches undefeated, winning seven of them.
But as injuries started to take their toll, Postecoglou’s side slowly slipped down the standings but they remain on course to qualify for the Champions League next season.
They dropped two points at the death when Jarrad Branthwaite scored a 94th-minute equaliser for Everton in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw and will hope to return to winning ways against Brighton.
Postecoglou will be boosted by the return of Son Heung-min following South Korea’s elimination from the Asian Cup, while Yves Bissouma is also back in training after Mali went out of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Spurs boss believes his team’s results will improve now the squad is approaching full strength again.
‘It gives us a chance to put some thing into place with our training, with the way we want to play our football, to see if we can go up another level or two or three between now and the end of the year,’ he said.
Richarlison is in great form as Tottenham try and cement a Champions League place
Spurs saw two points slip through their fingers in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Everton
Postecoglou was boosted by Son Heung-min’s (right) return to training this week after South Korea were eliminated from the Asian Cup
‘We’ve got 15 games to go and we’ve got probably the healthiest [squad] list since the start of the season.
‘That gives us that platform but you’ve still got to go out and perform. It doesn’t make it any easier. It doesn’t give us any impetus unless we take advantage of that.
‘Having the extra bodies means competition for places is also at a higher level which is always good.
‘I like it, not because people get complacent, it’s just that everyone tries to raise their level, which is only a good thing whether you’re in or out of the team.
‘All those factors give us a platform to finish the season strong.’
