Ange Postecoglou hits out at media after Tottenham loss

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou wants the media to stop complimenting his team for playing good football after losses.  

Tottenham’s 1-2 loss to West Ham at home midweek marked the first time a Premier League team has failed to win five straight matches that they were leading at some point in the match. Despite this abysmal record, the way Spurs play has been widely praised. Ange Postecoglou is sick of it.

People saying we played “good football” is “part of the problem,” according to the 58-year-old South Melbourne native. “We weren’t good. We’ve got to get away from that. I don’t believe that” Postecoglou said. 

Spurs are fifth in the table heading into their Matchweek 16 fixture against Newcastle.

Media are part of the problem says Postecoglou

After starting the 2023/24 Premier League season on a 10-match unbeaten run, Tottenham have lost four out of their last five Premier League matches. They were once title challengers. Now, they will be lucky to finish the season in a Champions League spot.  

Injuries and suspensions are the widely accepted reasons for Spurs’ recent poor form, but Postecoglou believes the media narrative around his team is contributing to their poor form.

In his post match press conference following the loss to West Ham, a reporter began to ask the Spurs boss about losing the match despite playing good football. Before the reporter could finish his question, he was cut off by the Tottenham boss. Then, Postecoglou went on a rant about his side playing “good football.”

“We weren’t good. We’ve got to get away from that. I don’t believe that. That’s part of the problem,” said Postecoglou, “I think everyone’s saying we are playing good football. Good football means you win games. And I’m not here to play good football, I’m here to win.”

“I don’t play this kind of football to entertain, I play this kind of football because it wins.”

Spurs are not ‘Spursy’

Postecoglou spent much of his post match press conference after the West Ham loss debunking the media narrative around his style of football. He continued the debunking in his pre match comments ahead of the upcoming Tottenham vs. Newcastle match by taking the media to task for calling Spurs ‘Spursy.’

“That is schoolyard stuff,” Postecoglou said of his side’s recent form being called ‘Spursy.’ Even though he had problems with the tag, Postecoglou admitted that Spurs’ history might be affecting some of the players. 

“It shouldn’t weigh the new ones down because they have no history,” Postecoglou said. “Whether it weighs the ones that have been here, that’s something that is hard for me to gauge.”

Postecoglou also revealed that he has challenged his players affected by the history of the club. “If you want to change perceptions, there is only one way to do it,” said the Tottenham boss. “You’ve got to give them a reason to. I’m here because the club wanted to change its course.”

January window key for Spurs

Postecoglou challenged his players to help him change the course of history at Spurs. Some fans, however, are saying the club needs to change the players to achieve Postecoglou’s goals.

Tottenham are very thin at virtually every position on the pitch, but especially in defence and midfield following injuries to Micky van de Ven and James Maddison. 

It’s unlike Spurs to spend big in the January window, but if the Champions League places are at stake, maybe Daniel Levy would dive into the market.

BoomBet and most other soccer betting sites have Spurs as outsiders to finish in the top four. Postecoglou has plenty of time to turn things around, but it’s not looking good for the big Australian right now. We’ll all be watching to see what he says to the press if they lose at home to Newcastle this week.