Ange Postecoglou clashed with a journalist over questions regarding the off-field behavior of one of his Tottenham players.
Tottenham Hotspur will face Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 clash on Thursday. With Spurs eliminated from the FA Cup last month, the Europa League remains their only chance to secure silverware this season.
In a press conference ahead of the game, head coach Ange Postecoglou was asked if he had granted his players extra time off after midfielder Yves Bissouma shared photos from a ski resort on Instagram.
"Seriously, what sort of question is that?” the Australian coach responded.
"No I didn't, we were training but he decided to go skiing… Come on mate, you're better than that."
The journalist pressed further, asking if Postecoglou had any concerns about players engaging in risky activities ahead of matches.
"I don't worry about those things, mate," Postecoglou said.
"They're adults, they're human beings, they had a couple of days off.
"They can choose to use that time as wisely as they can to help them be ready for what's in store for us.
"You kind of hope that they're sensible about these things and go about whatever they do in a manner that befits the position they hold, but I have no concerns… and he's fine."
Postecoglou stressed that the team, enduring a trophy drought since 2008, understands the significance of the upcoming match.
"The club hasn't in recent years done well in this competition, but it's a major European competition, we're in the last 16 and for us there's an opportunity there and we'll see how far we can go in it," he added.
"With us tomorrow night, we've got to make sure whatever happens at the end of the game, we've still got an opportunity to go back to Tottenham and win the tie."
