Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou delivered a passionate defense of his players following their FA Cup exit at Aston Villa, while accepting personal criticism amid mounting pressure at the North London club.
Just 57 seconds into Sunday's match at Villa Park, Postecoglou's resigned expression told the story as his team conceded early en route to a 2-1 defeat. The loss came mere days after a crushing 4-0 Carabao Cup elimination by Liverpool, leaving the Europa League as Spurs' only remaining chance for silverware this season.
Despite the team's struggles, Postecoglou has maintained unwavering support for his squad, which has been decimated by injuries. At one point in late January, up to 12 first-team players were unavailable for their Europa League victory over Elfsborg.
"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 stated firmly. "What I'm saying is you can't be critical of our players' performances at this time."
The Australian manager highlighted the extraordinary demands placed on his depleted squad, including teenagers and senior players competing in both domestic and European fixtures without adequate rest. "I think this group of players, once we get the rest of the group in, will be an outstanding team," he asserted.
While Postecoglou faces scrutiny, it's chairman Daniel Levy who has become the primary target of fan discontent. Supporters voiced their frustration with chants of "we want Levy out" during the match, reflecting anger over perceived insufficient investment in the squad. The club's only January signings were goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky for £12.5m and a loan move for French forward Mathys Tel.
BBC pundit Alan Shearer observed: "We talk about the pressure that Ange Postecoglou is under. If you speak to Spurs fans it is obvious what they want - and it's not to do with the manager."
Former Tottenham goalkeeper Joe Hart, who played under Postecoglou at Celtic, provided insight into the team's current state: "Tottenham mean well but they are playing with fear. It is a tough moment and you can see Postecoglou feels it. He is being tested in his belief, he is asking questions of himself."
The silver lining in their cup exits is a reduced fixture load, allowing time for injured players to return. Key figures including Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Brennan Johnson, and James Maddison are expected back within two weeks. The team now faces three league games against Manchester United, Ipswich Town, and Manchester City over the next three weeks.
As pressure mounts on both manager and chairman, with protests planned for next Sunday's home game against Manchester United, the question remains whether Postecoglou will get the time and resources needed to realize his vision for the club. For now, he remains resolute in defending his players while accepting personal criticism during this challenging period.
