Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou told his players they wanted to win on Ugo Ehiogu’s birthday weekend.

Spurs dented Villa Aston in the second half to win their Premier League match 4-1 on Sunday.

EhioguA former Premier League player, he was manager of Spurs when he died on April 20, 2017.

Spurs assistant coach Matt Wells said: “I spoke at the end of the team meeting on Saturday. It was a good opportunity to talk about Ugo, especially the timing as it’s his birthday on Sunday and we’re playing Villa. .the club he is most associated with as a player, along with Middlesbrough.

“The boss gave me the opportunity to do it, so I posted a photo of the two of us sitting together in the academy restaurant back then. We had the opportunity to do it. salt and pepper shakers and we were planning our pressure strategy for a match against Chelsea. Jenny Stephens (our former football assistant secretary) came and took the photo, we both sat at the table, salt and pepper ready 11 against 11!

“I was telling the guys what that photo symbolized and what it meant to me, and the whole moment, his birthday on Sunday. I wasn’t linking it to the game and saying, ‘let’s win it for Ugo,’ but it was just a way to bring it closer.” everyone with that family vibe, and I thought it was an opportunity to show a little vulnerability, because guys usually don’t see that side of things.

“You only know me as a coach and you wouldn’t have known what I went through, and what I’m still going through and processing. But everyone can relate to that, because everyone has had people they loved and lost.” So, it was just about that and my relationship now with Ugo’s wife, Gemma, and his son, Obi. It was a nice moment and a privilege to be able to share that with them.

“Then, before the game, the coach, at the end of his talk with the team, something I didn’t know he was going to do, but after that, he put a photo of Ugo on the screen in the locker room. before the game, which was really nice, and he talked a little bit about my talk and the pain that I went through and just related it to the team and how everyone can relate to that and the fact that it was Ugo’s birthday and, Again, I’m not saying “let’s win for Ugo”, but more about the togetherness atmosphere.

“I didn’t know he was going to mention it in his interviews after the game and in the locker room afterwards, he caught me a little off guard, he walked in and where he usually talks to his team, he stood up and said ‘Wellsy, the floor is yours,’ and let me talk to the boys again.

“I couldn’t tell you what I said, because I was pretty emotional, so I rambled a little bit and thanked everyone for the performance. It was a memorable day with the win and the performance and, for me, a lot of emotions.” levels too. It was boss class.

“It’s been nice to talk about it this week. It’s something I’ve struggled with, especially the nature of how it all happened, the trauma, I guess, of witnessing it, of being there. In a way, it was quite cathartic.

“I was very emotional, but I told the boys that it had also been a privilege to be able to share memories of Ugo with them and I am glad that the performance and the victory made this occasion a special occasion. It is certainly a day that Lo I will remember for a long, long time.”