Ange Postecoglou slams Timo Werner’s ‘unacceptable’ performance as Spurs draw 1-1 with Rangers in the Europa League.
The two sides went closer to reaching the knockout stages of the Europa League following an enthralling draw at Ibrox.
Hamza Igamane opened the scoring for the home team just 81 seconds into the second half, converting a well-placed cross from James Tavernier.
However, Dejan Kulusevski levelled for Tottenham with a left-footed shot on 75 minutes. Both teams had opportunities to secure a win, particularly when Cyriel Dessers saw his effort thwarted by Fraser Forster in the closing moments. Nevertheless, resolute defending and excellent goalkeeping ensured the match concluded at 1-1.
“He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should. His performance in the first-half wasn’t acceptable.”
Ange Postecoglou on his decision to substitute Timo Werner at half-time against Rangers ⤵️#BBCFootball #UEL pic.twitter.com/Lima50iLEj
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) December 12, 2024
🗣️ "I'm not going to go around worries about bruised egos"
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou says he has "no choice" but to play Timo Werner against Southampton because he is "pulling kids out of school" ⚽ pic.twitter.com/pJ8z142KAx
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 14, 2024
"I'm sick of that"
Ange Postecoglou on the "mythical" thing preventing success at the club and players giving excuses. pic.twitter.com/TXGWRwPG5H
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 13, 2024
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou said that Timo Werner’s performance hadn’t been “not acceptable” after replacing him at half time, with the 28 year old forward losing possession 16 times, and failed to win any of his five duels and only completed 69% of his passes.
Werner was replaced before the players came out for the second half by Dejan Kulusevski.
“When you’ve got 18-year-olds [in the squad], it [that performance] is not acceptable to me,” said Postecoglou.
“I said that to Timo, he’s a German international.”
On the match itself: “A tough game as expected, obviously with the atmosphere in the stadium.
“When they score straight after half-time the energy levels obviously go up and it’s going to be a tough one to claw back, but I thought we worked our way back in well.
“I thought the substitutes made a difference and we scored a good goal, had other good moments and a great save by Fraser [Forster] at the end.
“In the context of where we are in Europe, an important point.”
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: “I’m very proud about the performance because it’s the way we want to see football being played.
“Also if you see where this group of players is coming from, from a few months ago and making performances like this now, it is a big, big step forward.
“On the other side, I’m also disappointed we didn’t take the three points. That would have been the result we deserved with the performance the players gave.
“Football is about wanting to win, this club is about that. I saw the same thing in my dressing room, and there I am happy I felt they were not satisfied with the draw.”
Tottenham fans had been concerned after seeing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario break his ankle in the 4-0 win over Manchester City in November.
However 36 year old stand-in Fraser Forster has performed superbly.
Spurs have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions – however it could have been worse without the performance of the ex-Celtic keeper.
“I thought we worked our way back into the game well and the subs coming on made a difference,” Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said.
“We scored a good goal, had a couple of other moments, but in the end, a great save by Frase gets us, in the context of where we are in Europe, an important point.”
Twitter users reacted as Ange Postecoglou slams Timo Werner’s ‘unacceptable’ performance with Spurs going on to draw 1-1 with Rangers…
@markTHFC82: If Mikey and Odebert had not been unfortunate to be out I think Werner would not have played much. Always felt he was a stop gap for these two to establish themselves and for the young Korean lad to join
@Daniely79: He said he wouldn’t publicly criticise players it does that only apply to Romero when he’s calling out levy?
@Superspurs131: They asked him a question and he said he wasn’t putting in the effort of a seasoned pro… He didn’t flag him off or say he’s shit… People are so fucking soft I swear… It’s just another reason to have a loan about Ange…
@Daniely79: I’ve never rated Timo he’s absolutely abysmal but Ange said he would never criticise a player publicly regardless of how he dressed it up he did exactly that. Bottom line is he signed off on that useless clown he’s been terrible consistently this is on him
@BillyRWebb: Didn’t like it personally. All for it if he’s fair, but Werner the easy target. Son has been equally as bad since he took the job, then you have Maddison, Bissouma, Porro, Udogie, Johnson—the list could go on. If he wants to talk about levels, none of them have been at it.
@ojleech: I wonder if he has tried the arm around the shoulder approach and running out of excuses. Maybe trying the criticism will shock Timo into some sort of a performance. Understand his confidence is low but he plays like he feels sorry for himself. Got that pace then give it a go.
@RealTomHoskins: They should’ve know this when they signed him. He was exactly the same at Chelsea
@justfranklin: When you buy Timo Werner, you get what you deserve, Still, when the manager starts throwing players under the bus, you know he is on borrowed time. Will be a pundit by January.
@JoeSpurs3: Can’t be digging players out publicly like that. Poor from Ange.
@RyStyRS: Ange Wednesday: “Some of what he (Romero) said wasn’t right and shouldn’t have been done in the public… the same way I wouldn’t publicly criticise a player or anyone else. I don’t think we should be doing that in the public sense.” Ange Thursday: “That Werner’s shit.”
@paddyc91: Was werner poor..yes. Have every member of our squad been poor.. yes
@SteveCombo7: The Ange mask has slipped and looking for his scapegoat! It’s nothing new with Werner, but this timing feels very cowardly when Son and Johnson were just as bad!
@STEFANCOYS: Can’t believe people are arguing with this. Well done for saying it how it is
You must be logged in to post a comment Login