I can’t just flick a switch and change style, says Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou

LONDON – Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said there is no easy fix for his injury-hit side after a 6-3 loss at home to leaders Liverpool in the English Premier League on Dec 22.

The London club proved great entertainment again, but that was little consolation to fans who have seen them concede nine goals in their last two home games.

They also showed their chaotic side in a 4-3 League Cup quarter-final win over Manchester United on Dec 19, after which Postecoglou took issue with some pundits who questioned his tactics.

In reality, a three-goal deficit masked the gulf between Tottenham and Liverpool, but Postecoglou again came out fighting in some spiky post-match interviews.

In one, his patience appeared close to snapping when he was asked whether there were other reasons apart from a lengthy injury list as to why his side were down in 11th place in the table.

Tottenham started against Liverpool without first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies, and forward Richarlison.

“You know what? I’m just going to stop answering these questions,” the Australian told BBC Sport. “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.

“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 any more.”

According to Opta, Tottenham’s Premier League games under Postecoglou average 3.6 goals per game, the highest of any manager taking charge of at least 50 games in the competition.

Some are now suggesting that Postecoglou is more interested in style than substance and while Spurs fans still sang his name on Dec 22, many took to social media or radio phone-ins to criticise him for Tottenham’s fragility.

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

“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.”

Postecoglou said in November that if his side were 10th at Christmas, no one would be happy, and predicted that they would have climbed the table by the festive period. But the former situation is now the reality.

Asked whether he was feeling under pressure, he said: “I’m not sure what you mean by pressure. I’m not happy about where we are in the table.

“I’m not sure about pressure in what sense?

“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.”

Across north London, Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks” after suffering a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, manager Mikel Arteta said on Dec 23.

Asked at a press conference about the 23-year-old England international’s condition, Arteta said: “It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks.”

Saka was filmed leaving Selhurst Park on crutches on Dec 21, souring a comprehensive second win over the Eagles in four days.

Arteta also revealed on Dec 23 that Raheem Sterling had injured his knee and would also be out for many weeks. REUTERS, AFP