It seems it’s not just the Tottenham fans that manager Ange Postecoglou is currently under fire from. The pressure has ramped up on the Australian boss following Thursday night’s 1-1 Europa League draw at Rangers, a result which made it just one win in eight games for Spurs.
Amid criticism over results and his apparent refusal to adapt tactics, the 59-year-old has also had to deal with a crippling injury crisis with six key players currently injured or suspended.
And ahead of a trip to Southampton on Sunday, Postecoglou has revealed that he’s felt the wrath of local school teachers after having to take pupils away from lessons in order to play for the first team.
In his pre-match press conference, he was asked whether Timo Werner, who was singled out by his manager after being hauled off at half-time in Edinburgh, would be in the squad at St Mary’s. Postecoglou explained why he had little choice but to again select the German forward.
“We need Timo,” he replied. “We need all of them. I’m pulling kids out of school, literally am getting notes from their teachers. That was my reason for pointing out [the fact that more is needed from him] last night.”
Postecoglou was referring to naming two 16-year-old players on the bench at Rangers. Forward Luca Williams-Barnett and defender Malachi Hardy were both unused substitutes, along with midfielder Callum Olusesi, 17.
To further highlight the nature of his makeshift side, another teenager in Archie Gray was deployed an an emergency centre back. And the north London club seem to be paying the price for not targeting experienced signings in the summer, with Dominic Solanke their only new addition over the age of 20.
Postecoglou is again set to be without defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Ben Davies this week. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is also out long-term with an ankle injury, with Richarlison is still sidelined with hamstring problems.
Rodrigo Bentancur meanwhile, is currently banned until December 26 after receiving a seven-game suspension for a racial slur against team-mate Son Heung-Min. But Postecoglou said his side won’t be hiding behind excuses over the festive period, with the Southampton game followed by the visit of Manchester United in the League Cup.
“It’s no secret we’re thin on numbers both squad wise and position wise,” he said. But it is what is, we can’t change that, we’ve got some big games coming up starting tomorrow.
“We’ll have to deal with what we’ve got. I’m still confident we’ll be able to get the job done with players we’ve got at our disposal.”
