Ange admits Spurs were ‘NOWHERE NEAR’ their level in dismal first leg defeat

Ange Postecoglou accepted that given Tottenham 'nowhere in the neighborhood' of the level that was necessary after she lost 1-0 at AZ Alkmaar in the first stage of their Europa League Last-16-significance.

A comic own goal of Lucas Bergvall in the 18th minute turned out to be enough for AZ to register a first victory over an English club in 12 attempts.

Bergvall tried to erase Troy Parrott's shot, but only thought to cut the ball up and over Djed Spence on the goal line.

Despite eight days to prepare for this crucial fixture, Spurs could not produce adequate response and they only registered a shot on goal for 88th minutes.

It was a thorough disappointing version, especially in view of this competition, the last hope of the club on silverware remains this period, and they have to do work to turn the draw in the second stage in North Londs.

“We will analyze it and look at the areas where we struggled, but it is honest to say that it was not nearly the level that it had to be,” Postecoglou said.

“It wasn't great of us tonight. Almost all facets of the game. We are not really grasping with part of the game. We struggled to get some momentum with the ball, we were not as aggressive as we had to be without the ball.

“I don't think it's a matter of effort or attitude. I don't think it goes outside and not trying, but, as I said, we didn't really get a grip and have the right mindset to tackle an away game in Europe.

'It is always difficult and we clearly admitted the goal, which was a disappointing set of events, but even after that we did not take the game at all.

“You're going to face some pressure when you play away from home in Europe and endure the storm and get a grip on it, but we never really did it that a disappointment was.”

Wilson Odobert's Cross-shot with two minutes left, proved the only effort from Tottenham on Target, where Bergvall and Captain Son Heung-Min sent the second half of Target's attempts.

Nevertheless, Postecoglou, who has had to deal with pressure after a difficult winter in which Spurs against a huge injury crisis moisture and to 13th place in the Premier League table, believes they can turn things around at home.

He added: 'I doubt no doubt about our ability to break them down, but of course we have to play a little differently than how we did it tonight, not just with the ball, but also without the ball.

'We have to be a lot more aggressive than we were. We just missed a little aggression in everything we did.

'We were a bit hesitant with the ball, hesitantly in our urgent and we can't be that way.

'If we tackle those things, I am sure that we are able to cause them at least more problems we have done tonight. It is only 1-0, so I think that is positive because we did not let the game escape from us. '

A further blow to Spurs came in standstill time when replacement Dominic Solanke, only back from a knee injury, got a blow to his back from Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro and Hinkte.

'It looks like a knock, but I didn't really see it. Hopefully nothing bad, “said Postecoglou.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *