Ange Postecoglou reflected on Spurs’ inability to secure a much-needed win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, but amidst the disappointment, the manager stood firm in his defence of his players, whose efforts, he insisted, deserved far more.
Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers was a match that encapsulated their recent struggles, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by a frustrating inability to see out the game.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Brennan Johnson found the back of the net, seemingly putting the Londoners in a commanding position after Hwang Hee-chan’s opener; however, as has been the case too often of late, Spurs faltered once more, allowing Jorgen Strand Larsen to snatch an equaliser in the 87th minute.
While the draw offered a point, it was a bitter pill to swallow for a team desperate to regain their momentum.
After the final whistle, Ange Postecoglou did not shy away from addressing the frustration but was quick to shift the focus away from his players’ shortcomings, instead highlighting their resilience in the face of adversity.
Speaking to reporters, he said as relayed by TNT Sports: “I am the person in charge, so of course it hurts. When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward, and I think today they deserved a reward for their efforts.
“Even though they were dipping into their reserves of energy, which I do not even know where they got from, I wanted them to get a reward for their efforts.
“It hurts immensely. At the same time, it is my responsibility for where we are at right now, and it is my responsibility to try to get us out of it.
“It is fair to say we are dealing with a fair bit, and it does not feel we are getting a smooth run at anything in terms of getting players back and allowing us to freshen up the team.
“As soon as we get one back, we lose one. We have just got to get through it. There is still a hell of a lot for us to play for.”
Tottenham’s performance against Wolves presented a noticeable shift in their usual approach, with the team adopting a more pragmatic strategy in the latter stages of the game.
After taking a 2-1 lead, Spurs appeared content to drop deeper into their half, prioritising defensive solidity over their trademark high press and attacking transitions.
This adjustment could be interpreted as a tactical tweak by Postecoglou, designed to cope with the lack of rotation options available to him.
However, there is also the possibility that the players, weary from the relentless demands of a packed schedule, instinctively fell back into a more conservative shape, unable to maintain the intensity required for their usual style of play.
Whatever the case may be, this match served as a stark reminder that pragmatism alone does not guarantee results.
The late equaliser was a gut-wrenching blow, but it also highlighted the precarious balancing act that Tottenham must navigate in the weeks ahead: staying true to Postecoglou’s philosophy while finding ways to adapt to their current limitations.
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