Ange Postecoglou cut a dejected figure as crestfallen Tottenham plunged deeper into relegation turmoil.
The former Celtic boss looked on course for a rare Premier League win on Sunday afternoon after Brazilian striker Richarlison fired Spurs into a first-half lead. But his side were left to rue their missed chances as two quick-fire goals after the interval secured a shock away victory for Leicester City – lifting them out of the drop zone.
It means injury-ravaged Tottenham remain at serious risk of being dragged into a relegation fight as they languish just eight points above the bottom three in 15th spot. Postecoglou has hit out with some spiky responses in recent post-match interviews amid a woeful run of just one victory in 10 league games. But the straight-talking Aussie appeared despondent as he defended his struggling players in a debriefing with Sky Sports.
Q: Ange, there were high expectations and a positive feeling around. How much does this one hurt?
“Yeah, it hurts a lot because the players gave everything again. You can look at a lot of things, but in terms of effort, I can’t ask for any more from this group. They’ve just given everything they possibly can. Things didn’t go our way today. We created some good opportunities. Unfortunately, things didn’t drop for us; it’s a very disappointing defeat, obviously. Especially at home, but not because the players weren’t trying, and that’s the main thing.”
Q: You created a lot of chances and hit the crossbar twice.
“The players are giving everything they can. I think that’s all we can ask for as a football club and me as a manager. If there was more to give and they could find another way of doing things, they are trying their hardest and that’s all anyone can ask for.”
Q: Two goals conceded in four minutes, did you get punished for a lack of concentration?
“You can analyse that and it’s disappointing goals for us to concede. Again, I thought we had enough chances in the game to come out on top.”
Q: You mentioned so many times that the players are giving everything, but is the run of results taking a toll mentally on decision-making?
“There’s no doubt. When you’re in this situation, they are trying as hard as they can and sometimes it doesn’t give you the clarity in decision-making. Again, all you can ask for is people to do as much as they can and from my perspective that’s what I see. I see a group of players who are giving everything they can and I know it will turn. I know it will turn. We’ll get some players back. Obviously today we were short. But in the next couple of weeks, we’re getting some really important players back that I know will help this group.”
Q: Is it a matter of just powering through? Have you hit a ceiling?
“We’ve not hit a ceiling, we’ve been going like this for two months. They put in an enormous effort on Thursday night to get us a result in Europe and then they had to go back out today. There were probably two or three players who weren’t at 100 per cent but they gave everything.”
Q: Is your work unfairly judged with so many injuries?
“I’m a football manager. I get judged on results. That’s the way of the world and that’s how I’ll be judged.”