Ange Postecoglou says he doesn’t fear about gamers’ “bruised egos” after saying Timo Werner’s efficiency towards Rangers was “not acceptable”.
Tottenham got here from behind to earn a 1-1 draw on the Ibrox Stadium within the Europa League on Thursday, however the German was taken off at half-time after a dismal efficiency.
He misplaced possession 16 occasions, with solely Pedro Porro (20), who performed the complete 90 minutes, doing so on extra events for Spurs. He additionally failed to finish any of his three dribbles and didn’t win any of his 5 duels.
His substitute, Dejan Kulusevski, scored the equaliser to rescue a degree.
Postecoglou made it clear he was sad with Werner’s efficiency on Thursday, and stood by his public feedback, explaining that senior gamers within the squad wanted to step up extra because of their damage issues.
“It wasn’t criticism [of Werner]. It was an evaluation,” Postecoglou stated in his press convention forward of Tottenham’s journey to Southampton.
“He’s a world, he’s received the Champions League, he’s a senior participant. There’s a degree of software it’s worthwhile to rise to, to lift the group. He didn’t attain that.
“It’s simply an evaluation of his efficiency. On a extremely difficult night time for us — which we knew going into it — he must be higher.
“We’re in a combat right here. I’m not going to go away worrying about folks’s bruised egos. We’re right here to win issues.”
Subsequent Up: Southampton on Sunday
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— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 13, 2024
Tottenham have misplaced 14 of their 33 Premier League video games to date in 2024 (W14 D5), only one fewer than they did in 42 video games in 2023. They final misplaced 15+ league video games in consecutive calendar years in 2002 (15), 2003 (20) and 2004 (15).
They’ve received simply considered one of their final eight matches in all competitions and are winless of their final 5 since beating Manchester Metropolis 4-0 away from house.
Spurs are presently with out Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies, and Guglielmo Vicario on the again, in addition to attackers Richarlison and Wilson Odobert.
Postecoglou is underneath strain after their current run, however he has caught by his fashion of play and expects his squad to maintain shopping for into it as they navigate this injury-hit interval.
“This soccer membership, we wish to obtain issues, we wish to achieve success, and we’re right down to the naked bones in gamers,” he added.
“If there’s any person within the dressing room who’s match who feels he wants one thing additional on this second, he’s most likely not the correct sort,” Postecoglou stated.
“I’m not going to go round attempting to get additional out of individuals. In the event that they’re not in a position to give additional now, it most likely says one thing of the sort.
“Timo will not be the place our season is at. It’s not about Timo. It’s not about bringing any person down and blaming any person. We’ve received a restricted variety of gamers. It’s an amazing problem. I would like people who find themselves up for that problem.”