Ange Postecoglou fires back at Jamie Carragher after being told he must change Tottenham tactics
Ange Postecoglou has insisted that he won’t change his gung-ho approach at Tottenham, despite surrendering a two-goal lead to lose against Chelsea.
Spurs roared into a 2-0 lead inside 11 minutes after two costly slips by Marc Cucurella helped Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski find the back of the net. Chelsea fought back impressively, with Jadon Sancho blasting in before Cole Palmer equalised from the penalty spot after a foul by Yves Bissouma.
Enzo Fernandes made it 3-2 and Palmer scored again from a penalty after a clumsy foul by Pape Sarr, making Son Heung-min’s late goal a mere consolation. While Chelsea moved up to second, Spurs are 11th in the Premier League as pressure grows on Postecoglou.
But the Spurs manager was resolute in his belief that his trademark open and high-pressing playing style is the right way forward. “It was good enough to get us ahead in the game so I am not sure why we should change our approach,” Postecoglou told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“It was a game of big moments. If we score at 2-2 and go 3-2 ahead then the pressure is on them and they have to open up like we did when we conceded. But like I said, disappointing that we let them get the advantage in a way that was self-inflicted.”
He added: “Their penalties were poor from our behalf. We didn’t need to make those challenges and it was hard for us to claw it back. I think sometimes when you are in this position we are, you are desperate to do the right thing. You probably need a calmer approach. The guys are desperate to do the right thing and unfortunately it cost us.”
Postecoglou’s beliefs were challenged by Jamie Carragher, who was hugely critical of Tottenham’s approach on Sky Sports. “The manager keeps telling us he won’t change,” he said. “I can’t imagine any manager when I played for Liverpool, after conceding four goals, saying that we played well.”
The former Liverpool defender added: “I wake up every morning, and if the sun’s shining I put a pair of trainers, shorts and a t-shirt on, we all want to do that, but if it’s raining, you put your coat on! You can’t have this idea that ‘we’re just going to do this’ and play our way of playing football. It won’t work! And if it doesn’t change then he (Postecoglou) won’t be here next season.”
Paul Merson made a similar point. “I don’t mean to sound disrespectful but I’m watching the game, Spurs are 2-0 up against Chelsea and it’s like they are playing against Kilmarnock or St Mirren and he’s the Celtic manager and got the best players,” he said.
“They haven’t got the best players at Tottenham, so they have to change it. You can’t go, you have a shot, we have a shot and we can destroy you like they have over the years. You’ve got to be cute and say, ‘we’re 2-0 up here, let’s counter-attack.'”
