Tottenham Hotspur has faced a grueling 2.5-month period, grappling with a spate of injuries that left them playing with a significantly depleted squad. The team has been forced to compete on back-to-back schedules from Thursday to Sunday, resulting in a challenging season. Recently, Tottenham faced a significant setback with the absence of 11 first-team players during their defeat at Villa Park. Manager Ange Postecoglou has come forward to defend his young squad amidst mounting criticism, which he describes as "agenda-driven."
The injury crisis at Tottenham has compelled Postecoglou to rely heavily on young talents. In a recent match against one of the country's top teams, Tottenham had to field two 18-year-olds, a 17-year-old, a 19-year-old, and a 21-year-old goalkeeper. This lineup underscores the challenges the team faces without many of their seasoned players. Despite these adversities, Postecoglou remains steadfast in his support for his players and asserts that the criticism they face is unfair given the circumstances.
Tottenham's domestic trophy aspirations came to an abrupt halt when they were knocked out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup within a span of just four days. Their only remaining hope for silverware lies in the Europa League. The team's exit from the Carabao Cup was sealed by a loss to Liverpool in the semi-finals on Thursday. Yet, Postecoglou remains optimistic about their prospects and calls for patience and understanding as his team navigates these challenging times.
"Unless you don't think they're human beings. Unless you're super-human and think after playing Liverpool on Thursday night they should be flying today. It doesn't happen. They're human beings."
Postecoglou candidly highlights the physical and mental toll exerted on his players as they compete in multiple competitions, including the Premier League and Europa League, all while managing a depleted squad. He points to the extraordinary demands placed on his young players, who are asked to perform consistently under intense pressure and with little rest.
"I wish I could do the same to bring freshness to the team. Of course, they're not playing anywhere near the levels we want or expect but that's not because they're not trying, that's not because they can't. They can."
The manager's remarks underscore the resilience and determination of his squad, despite their recent setbacks. He emphasizes that these young players are giving their all, working tirelessly to uphold the club's standards despite the odds stacked against them. Postecoglou is unequivocal in his belief that the criticism leveled at his team is misplaced.
"I'm not talking about me. People can judge me, they can say I've done a bad job, I'm not up to it or whatever, that's fine."
Postecoglou deflects personal criticism and remains focused on protecting his squad from undue scrutiny. He calls for fair judgment of his team's performance, taking into account the extraordinary circumstances they have faced over recent months.
"I don't know how else to explain it. If you can't see that this team is trying its hardest to play under the most extreme two and a half months of asking 18-year-olds and 17-year-olds and senior players with no rest to play Thursday-Sunday, Thursday-Sunday, Thursday-Sunday, Thursday-Sunday for two and a half months."
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