Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur side were held to a 1-1 draw by Rangers in the Europa League, and the manager did not hold back in his criticism of striker Timo Werner’s first-half performance. Postecoglou substituted the German international at halftime, deeming his display “unacceptable.”
Postecoglou said after the match, “Timo did not deliver an acceptable performance in the first half.” “I told him that as a German international, I expect more. We need everyone giving their best, and that wasn’t an example I want to see. I expect a lot more from my senior players.”
Despite the disappointing performance, Postecoglou acknowledged the team’s ongoing challenges due to injuries. “We weren’t at our best, but in the context of the current run of games and a depleted squad, the point was important,” he added.
Tottenham sit in ninth place in the Europa League group stage but still have two matches remaining next month. With hopes of finishing in the top eight, Spurs aim to secure automatic qualification for the knockout rounds, avoiding the playoff stage in February.
Postecoglou, who previously managed Celtic, faced chants of “sacked in the morning” from the Rangers fans after Hamza Igamane’s first-half goal gave the hosts the lead. However, Spurs responded after the break, with Dejan Kulusevski coming off the bench to score the equalizer. Fraser Forster also made key saves, helping his team earn the draw.
Rangers’ manager Philippe Clement praised the performance of his side, despite the draw, calling it a “great advertisement for Scottish football.” Clement expressed his pride in his team’s performance, saying, “We deserved to win, but playing so well against a strong Premier League side was a big step up for us. My players showed great ambition and potential, making fast decisions and pressing forward.”
Tottenham’s injury-hit squad is currently facing a tough schedule, with upcoming games against Hoffenheim and Elfsborg in January. Postecoglou acknowledged the strain on his players: “We’re asking a lot from them, and it’s taking its toll, but they’re showing resilience and working hard to get through this tough period.”
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