In a season marked by repeated setbacks, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has come forward to defend his team. The Spurs boss has faced criticism following the team's recent FA Cup loss to Aston Villa and their Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Liverpool. However, he insists that it is not fair to judge him or his players until key individuals have returned from injury.
The look on Postecoglou's face just 57 seconds into their FA Cup match against Aston Villa said it all. His side fell behind in the opening minute at Villa Park, leading to their eventual elimination from a second domestic cup competition in four days. The pain of Thursday's insipid Carabao Cup exit at Liverpool was still fresh. Despite having an initial advantage, Spurs were dismissed with a 4-0 thrashing at Anfield. This defeat was followed by Sunday's 2-1 loss against Villa, leaving the Europa League as the only route for Tottenham to secure silverware this season.
Amidst these disappointments, it is not Postecoglou but club owner Daniel Levy who has become the target of supporter discontent. Fans have expressed frustration over what they perceive as insufficient investment in squad development and improvement. Chants of "we want Levy out" could be heard from away supporters during recent matches.
In defence of outstanding players
Despite these challenges, Postecoglou remains steadfast in his support for his players. He has frequently cited injuries as a significant factor contributing to poor results this term and offered a staunch defence after being asked if he felt judgement should be reserved until key players return.
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham manager, said:
"People can judge me. They can say I've done a bad job, I'm not up to it or whatever. That's fine,"
"What I'm saying is you can't be critical of our players' performances at this time. If you want to measure anything on what they're doing at the moment, other than the extreme situation they're dealing with, then I think your analysis is skewed and it's not objective.
"If it's to get rid of me that's fine. Good on you. Go for it a million times. But in terms of this group of players, what they've given over the past two and a half months has been outstanding."
While this season has been a difficult one for Tottenham, Postecoglou's unwavering support for his players demonstrates his commitment to the team. As they navigate the remainder of the season and look towards potential success in the Europa League, it is clear that their manager will continue to stand by them through thick and thin.
