Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has staunchly defended his players’ commitment following their crushing 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Thursday.
The loss saw Spurs exit the competition after holding a one-goal advantage from the first leg.
The defeat further intensifies the pressure on Postecoglou, whose initial positive impact at the club has waned, leaving Tottenham closer to the relegation zone than the top four in the Premier League.
Their hopes for silverware and European football this season now largely rest on the UEFA Europa League and the FA Cup.
Despite the mounting criticism and questions surrounding his future at the club, Postecoglou has unequivocally backed his squad.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s crucial FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa, the Greek-Australian manager dismissed any suggestions of a lack of dedication within the team.
“There’s plenty about them,” Postecoglou told The Guardian. “I get the pile-on at the moment. It’s really easy for people to stick their boots in and question the players. That’s not something I question.”
He acknowledged the team’s disappointing performance against Liverpool but insisted it doesn’t reflect the players’ overall attitude and effort.
“We were disappointed last night didn’t go the way we wanted to. [We] didn’t really perform at the levels we wanted to. That doesn’t define this group of players by any stretch, in my eyes. We’ll go out there on Sunday and put in more of a performance that reflects where we’re at.”
Postecoglou also addressed the growing chorus of opinions surrounding his management and the team’s performance.
He reiterated his focus remains on his own assessment and the team’s progress, rather than external commentary.
“I don’t know which people I’m meant to be proving wrong,” he said. “I said last night, it’s irrelevant to me what other people’s opinions are. People are on the TV and the radio and in the newspapers to give opinions and I respect that. They’re allowed to do that but I don’t have any obligation to listen to any of it.”
The upcoming FA Cup match against Aston Villa will be a crucial test for Postecoglou and his players.
