Ange Postecoglou has expressed his frustration with the perceived softness of his Tottenham team during crucial moments, attributing it to issues of mentality. The manager is adamant that there is no 'institutionalised' reason for the club's failure to meet their targets and insists he will not 'shift responsibility to past issues'.
As he prepares for Sunday's derby against Chelsea at home, Postecoglou reflects on the disappointment of Thursday's 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth. After the match, some of the traveling supporters directed abuse at him. What particularly irked Postecoglou was how, after a reasonable start, his team conceded under the first hint of pressure, allowing Dean Huijsen to score from a 17th-minute corner.
This marks Spurs' third loss in six Premier League games, all against teams that started below them; Crystal Palace and Ipswich, both facing relegation threats, inflicted the other defeats. During this sequence, Spurs, currently 10th, have managed victories against fourth-placed Manchester City and eighth-placed Aston Villa, and drew with sixth-placed Fulham.
'The key is to understand that Bournemouth is not a 'lesser' team,' Postecoglou said. 'They have beaten City and Arsenal at home. We prepared ourselves for a tough game, one that would be tougher than any other we were going to face.'
Postecoglou was questioned whether the issue was physical, mental, or a combination of both. 'It's a bit of everything but it can't be a physical thing when it happens early in the game,' he replied. 'We started well. And literally the first time they go up, they get a set piece and they score an unopposed header. You can’t go into a game like that and allow the opposition then to take control.'
Postecoglou is resolute in his commitment to change this pattern. 'Nothing’s changed in terms of my resolve to play the football I want to play. It’s just that we haven’t understood the other side of that and that’s the discipline and resilience to overcome difficult moments so that football we have can come through.'
When Spurs prepared for last season’s home fixture with Chelsea in early November, they were top of the league with eight wins and two draws from 10 games. Despite sustaining two injuries and having two men sent off, they fought hard, losing 4-1 but earning applause from the crowd.
Postecoglou acknowledges the changing climate and the edgy mood due to Spurs' inconsistency. Since that Chelsea game, Spurs’ league record reads: W18 D6 L18. 'It’s about winning but it’s about belief in what you’re doing sometimes,' Postecoglou said. 'You look beyond the results. That’s what happened at the start of my tenure last year. We lost against Chelsea but there was a sense that we were building something. Obviously it kind of went off the rails after that game. It’s not just about winning but where we are right now it will certainly help.'
Postecoglou mentioned that if Spurs were 10th at Christmas, there would be 'a lot of scrutiny' around his position. They face Southampton next Sunday before hosting Liverpool the following Sunday.
Injuries continue to mount, with Ben Davies the latest, suffering a hamstring problem at Bournemouth. Postecoglou hopes to welcome back Cristian Romero, who is scheduled to train on Saturday as he recovers from toe and hamstring issues.
Postecoglou admits he is still searching for answers regarding the team's erratic performance. 'We will keep searching for those answers. Some of it is just around having a competitive squad where there is competition for places which keeps people on edge and we don’t have that at the moment. We haven’t had that for a while. Within the absence of that, we have to find other ways to make sure the players are clear on their responsibilities.'
Postecoglou is clear that the responsibility ultimately lies with him. 'If there is doubt – whether that’s internally or externally – it only strengthens my resolve to get it right. On the other hand, it’s better if the fans support me; otherwise, the culture could become toxic. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way so I’ve got to find a way to make that happen.'
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