Ange Postecoglou Under Pressure as Tottenham Slump to 10th

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham are struggling, but the manager remains defiant despite his team's poor form and 10th-place standing.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has vowed not to deviate from his playing style despite his team's crushing 6-3 defeat to Liverpool at home on Sunday. The loss marked a disappointing day for Spurs, who have now conceded nine goals in their last two home league games.

Postecoglou acknowledged that his injury-plagued squad faces significant challenges, but emphasized that there is no simple solution to their problems. While Spurs have been involved in some thrilling matches, their defensive vulnerabilities have been a major concern, leaving fans frustrated despite the entertainment value.

Tottenham Hotspur's erratic form was on full display in their 4-3 League Cup victory over Manchester United, a match that prompted manager Ange Postecoglou to defend his tactics against criticism from pundits. The win showcased Spurs' attacking prowess, but their defensive frailties were again exposed in Sunday's 6-3 loss to Liverpool.

The defeat highlighted the significant gap between Tottenham and the Premier League leaders, but Postecoglou remained defiant in his post-match interviews. When questioned about the reasons behind his team's 11th-place standing in the table ahead of Christmas, aside from their lengthy injury list, Postecoglou's patience seemed to wear thin. However, he chose not to elaborate on the matter, instead emphasizing the need to focus on the team's recovery and preparation for upcoming challenges.

Tottenham Hotspur's injury woes were evident in their starting lineup against Liverpool, with several key players missing, including first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, centre backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, left backs Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie, and forward Richarlison. When questioned about his team's defensive vulnerabilities, manager Ange Postecoglou grew frustrated, telling BBC Sport, “You know what? I'm just going to stop answering these questions.”

Postecoglou expressed his exasperation with the constant scrutiny of his team's defensive issues, emphasizing the impact of their injury crisis. “If people can't see the obvious I'm not going to point it out. Look, make of it what you want, yes we're conceding goals,” he said. “If you want to discount the fact we're missing a goalkeeper, two centre backs and a left back as well and that hasn't coincided with what we're doing ... I don't know what to say anymore.”

According to Opta, Tottenham's Premier League games under Postecoglou average 3.6 goals per game, the highest for any manager taking charge of at least 50 games in the competition. This statistic has led some to suggest that Postecoglou prioritizes style over substance, leaving his team vulnerable defensively. While Spurs fans still showed their support for Postecoglou on Sunday, many took to social media and radio phone-ins to criticize him for Tottenham's defensive fragility.

Ange Postecoglou's pre-Christmas prediction has come back to haunt him, as Tottenham Hotspur find themselves 10th in the table, a position he previously stated would be unacceptable. Last month, Postecoglou confidently asserted that his team would have risen through the ranks by the festive period.

When questioned about whether he feels under pressure given the team's current standing, Postecoglou seemed unfazed. “I'm not sure what you mean by pressure,” he replied. “I'm not happy about where we are in the table. I'm not sure about pressure in what sense?” He went on to address the potential implications of being 10th in the table, saying, “If you're saying that 10th means I'm not doing a good job and I maybe somehow should be uncomfortable, well that's for others to judge.”

“If people want me to change my approach, it's not going to change. We are doing it for a reason, we are doing it because we think it will help us to be successful,” he told reporters.

“I get the idea that people think that I should just flip a switch and change and somehow that will miraculously make us a better team.”