Ange Postecoglou reacts to a ‘painful’ 4-3 loss to Chelsea full of ‘poor decisions’

Ange Postecoglou has described Tottenham’s loss to Chelsea as ‘painful’, with certain mistakes from key players once again proving to be decisive.

Tottenham showed something different, then returned to form

Tottenham’s performance against Chelsea was one of deception. Nobody expected both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero to be named in the starting line-up. Certainly, nobody would have predicted Tottenham to have been 2-0 up after 11 minutes.

However, then things began to return to what everyone has started to expect of Spurs recently. Romero was forced off with injury and Sancho gets a goal back. Tottenham start to look fatigued and are pressured into their half.

Into the second half, Brennan Johnson is forced off. Then Chelsea turn the screw, earning two penalties and a volley from Enzo Fernandez, before Heung-min Son added a final goal in extra time.

Everyone was deceived into thinking Spurs’ misfortune was over, but two forced subs and clear fatigue made their regular return once again.

Ange Postecoglou describes a ‘sore’ loss for Tottenham

Speaking to BBCSport after the match, Ange Postecgolou described the loss.

“It is a sore one, a painful one. We started the game really well but as our season has been going, we lose [Cristian] Romero after 20 minutes and that disrupts us a bit and they score straight after.

“We had moments to get our third and at half-time, we were in a decent position. The second half is a ding-dong, especially at the start, they scored but we had a big chance with Son, we didn’t take it and then they go 3-2 up.

“I thought both penalties were poor decisions by us, we have to show more discipline. In the end, the critical moments got us.

“I think there were quality opportunities but I don’t think there was an abundance of them. I can’t remember the keepers making a load of top-quality saves.

“We more than matched a good side in that department and when there is quality out there you are going to have moments. There were things we could have done better for sure.”

Spurs were undone by injuries, again

Very little can soothe a derby loss, but Tottenham’s injury situation is a heavy caveat to all of their performances at the moment.

While the return of Romero and Van de Ven would have been a significant morale boost, the challenge of having to contend with the disruption their substitutions brought and the technical drop-off with their absence, cannot be understated.

It’s an exhausting position for the team to be in, but they will once again be hoping that Romero, Van de Ven and Johnson are not set to be absent for too long.

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