Ange Postecoglou says he is not focused on talk about his future after James Maddison labelled Tottenham’s first-half display in the 3-2 defeat at Everton “unacceptable”.
Everton had only scored 15 times in their first 20 league games this season but they hit the net three times in the first 45 minutes on Sunday, cutting through some terrible Tottenham defending.
“No excuses over the first half,” said midfielder Maddison. “It was a tough afternoon. We had 11 fit senior players, so there is context. But we had 11 starters and the first half was unacceptable.”
Postecoglou had set his team up in a back three amid an 11-player injury list and later admitted the plan clearly had not worked. Radu Dragusin, who suffered a cut, had to be subbed off at half-time and another change of formation at least gave Spurs the platform to pull a couple of goals back and set up a nervy finish for their hosts.
But with just one league win in their last 10 games, Tottenham are languishing in 15th, just eight points above the drop zone and four ahead of an Everton side considered by most to be in the relegation battle.
Spurs have a 1-0 lead going into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Liverpool, but after being forced into extra-time at non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup, losing at arch rivals Arsenal in midweek and now being humbled at Everton, the pressure is on Postecoglou.
“I separate myself from it,” said the Spurs boss when asked about speculation over his future. “This is not about me. What’s about me is I have a responsibility of the group of players I do have to try to get through this. That’s all I’ve got to focus on. For me to focus on anything else is abstaining myself from the responsibility I have.
“I’m determined to get us out of this. The club is doing its best to help – it’s more about helping the players than me. We’re asking massive jobs of 18-year-olds, 17-year-olds out there trying to win games of football for us and others playing week on week.”
Postecoglou remains optimistic that once Spurs start to get their injured players back they will be able to produce performances and results to lift them from their lowly league position and help them compete for silverware success.
“We look at the situation we’re in, it will eventually dissipate in terms of player availability, then we give ourselves an opportunity to at least get some consistency in games and performances,” he said. “Keep fighting. I haven’t lost belief or determination to turn it around. The second half the players showed they’re not throwing the towel in. We’ll get our way through this.”
However, the Australian later said that there are unlikely to be many players back from the treatment room imminently – other than Rodrigo Bentancur who is going through concussion protocols, and Yves Bissouma, who could return next weekend.
Dominic Solanke, who was injured in training before the Everton game, could be out for “a few weeks” with a knee problem, Brennan Johnson is “probably three to four weeks” out with a calf issue sustained against Arsenal, while Spurs will also be without Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon against Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday as they are not registered for that competition.
Source: Sky Sports