Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has downplayed the controversy surrounding his apparent ear-cupping gesture towards fans during Thursday’s 1-0 Premier League loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Australian claimed his actions were “misinterpreted” and aimed at encouraging fans after a disallowed equalizer.
In a tense London derby, Enzo Fernandez’s second-half header sealed Chelsea’s victory, marking Spurs’ 16th league defeat of the season. The match saw 10 yellow cards handed out, emphasizing the intensity between the two rivals.
Postecoglou’s gesture came after Pape Sarr struck what appeared to be an equalizer, only for it to be ruled out due to a foul in the build-up following a VAR review.
“Jeez mate, it’s incredible how things get interpreted,” Postecoglou said post-match. “We’d just scored, and I wanted to hear the fans cheer because we’ve been through a tough time. I thought it was a cracking goal, and I hoped for some excitement and momentum.”
Postecoglou, who made history as the first Spurs head coach to lose his opening four league games against Chelsea, remained pragmatic despite the defeat.
“It’s a difficult night, but we’re still a work in progress,” he added. “There’s enough in the lads’ performance to show we’re getting back to the level we need.”
Spurs are set to face Southampton at home on Sunday, hoping to rebound from a challenging stretch in the Premier League.
