Ange Postecoglou is happy to take criticism of itself, but fervent fervently defended his exhausted Tottenham team, insistently that they should be left out of the debt.
Spurs suffered a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth on Sunday, only a few days after he was beaten by Liverpool from the EFL Cup-Halve Final.
Tottenham was also lost in the fourth round in the past term and for the first time since 2014-15 were eliminated from the FA Cup for the first time in back-to-back seasons from the fifth round in back-to-back seasons (a run of three).
Until last week, Spurs fought on four fronts, after they also qualified for the Europa League last 16, but since mid -November struggled with an injury crisis, with important players missing.
They missed 11 senior players for their journey to Villa Park, where Postecoglou started four teenagers and the 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonio Kinsky, who was to blame for the first minute Opener of Jacob Ramsey.
Archie Gray is even one of only three players who are currently 18 years or younger to have made 25 starts for a club in Europe's Big-Five Leagues this season (25th on Sunday, in all competitions), together with Barcelona Pair Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi.
However, oppressed Postecoglou was not satisfied with criticism aimed at Spurs after their defeat against Villa, claiming that it should be aimed at him, not on his team.
'People can judge me. They can say that I did badly; I am not sure about it or whatever. [But] You cannot be critical of players or players at the moment, “Postecoglou told reporters.
“Because if you do that, be just as critical of other clubs when they have 9 or 10 or 11 players. And none of them doesn't have that. It is not possible that people think that is an excuse.
“That is just nowhere near the objective analysis. Those are just agenda-driven things. If it is lost, that's fine. Good for you. Go ahead a million times.”
We leave the FA Cup. pic.twitter.com/djaxb1Ox
– Tottenham Hotspur (@spursofficial) February 9, 2025
Postecoglou also pointed to Liverpool's shock 1-0 defeat against Plymouth Argyle earlier on Sunday after Arne Slot had made 10 changes to his starting line-up in an attempt to rotate players during the hectic schedule.
“[Liverpool] Did that for one game. Do that two and a half months in multiple competitions. Every team, “he added.
“Why do you think Liverpool and others rotate 11 players? I wish I could do the same. As soon as we have the rest of the group, we will be an excellent team. I have no doubt about it.”
Spurs will return to Premier League promotion next Sunday when they are confronted with colleague thrusters Manchester United, with both parties toil in the bottom half of the table.
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