Ange Postecoglou was left frustrated after a “painful” loss to Chelsea was compounded by a double injury blow and questionable call following a dangerous challenge from Moises Caicedo.
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Pressure continues to build on Postecoglou after Tottenham’s latest loss, which saw Spurs blow an early 2-0 lead in a 4-3 defeat to the Blues.
While it was hardly a disastrous result given Chelsea’s standing in the league this season, it was another reminder of the bad habits that have continued to hold Tottenham back under Postecoglou.
While Spurs have typically been inconsistent from game to game, Tottenham rode those same highs and lows but all in the one match on Monday morning.
Injuries certainly didn’t help, with Tottenham losing both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven before halftime.
“It is a sore one, a painful one,” Postecoglou said after the game, speaking to BBC.
“We started the game really well but as our season has been going, we lose Romero after 20 minutes and that disrupts us a bit and they score straight after.
“We had moments to get our third and at halftime we were in a decent position. The second half is a ding dong, especially at the start, they scored but we had a big chance with Son, we didn’t take it and then they’re 3-2 up.
“I thought both penalties were poor decision by us, we have to show more discipline. In the end the critical moments got us.
“I think there were quality opportunities but I don’t think there was an abundance of them. I can’t remember the keepers making a load of top quality saves.
“We more than matched a good side in that department and when there is quality out there you are going to have moments. There were things we could have done better for sure.”
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Postecoglou said Romero “felt something in his quad after 20 minutes” while van de Ven battled “a bit of tiredness”, adding the plan was “always to try give him 60 or 70” minutes.
Spurs also lost winger Brennan Johnson, who Postecoglou said “wasn’t well” and tried to play through his complaint but was eventually ruled out.
Tottenham was also potentially unfortunate to not be facing a 10-man Chelsea after Caicedo collected Pape Sarr with a shin-high tackle, although referee Anthony Taylor only awarded a foul.
“I think it’s kind of where we’re at with, the current state of football, where people are just frozen to make big decisions,” Postecoglou said.
“I think referees don’t want to make them because they’ll go to VAR and VAR doesn’t want to intervene, so you’re kind of left in no man’s land.
“There’s a couple of decisions I thought today that definitely went against us. I thought the linesman put his flag up bizarrely for Deki when he was through, I don’t know what for. “Those are things that are out of our control. We can’t do anything about that. Hopefully the powers that be work that out.”
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