LONDON — Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has responded to potential fan frustration after their 1-0 defeat against Chelsea on Thursday night. He clarified that his gestures were not directed negatively at the Tottenham fans in the stadium. Instead, he explained he was trying to encourage them to increase their support during the game.
After Pape Matar Sarr scored what appeared to be an equalizing goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the 70th minute, Postecoglou gestured towards the Tottenham supporters. This occurred shortly after some fans had been chanting “you don`t know what you`re doing” regarding his substitutions of Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert for Sarr and Brennan Johnson. The Tottenham manager`s apparent satisfaction was short-lived as the goal was disallowed due to a foul by Sarr.
There was a noticeable tension after the disallowed goal. Captain Son Heung-min had to guide Sarr towards the away fans to ensure he acknowledged them, even though the goal didn`t stand. However, Postecoglou insisted that his actions were purely to motivate the fans, believing that their support could help the team win the match.
Postecoglou explained, “It`s amazing how things are misunderstood. We had just scored a goal. I simply wanted to hear the fans cheer. We have been going through a difficult period, and I thought it was a fantastic goal. I wanted to create excitement among the fans.”
He continued, “At that moment, I felt we had the opportunity to win the game. I felt the momentum was shifting in our favor. The booing doesn`t bother me. It’s not the first instance of fans booing my substitutions or decisions. They are entitled to do so, but we had just scored a goal.”
“I was just hoping to generate some enthusiasm. If people want to interpret my actions as making a point about something, they are free to do so. We`ve faced challenges recently, but I sensed a change in momentum. With the fans` full support, I believed we could gain the upper hand,” Postecoglou added.
The defeat at Stamford Bridge marked Tottenham`s fourth consecutive Premier League game without a victory, leaving them in 14th place, close to the relegation zone. This loss was their 20th across all competitions this season, matching the number of losses they experienced between August 2016 and September 2018 under Mauricio Pochettino. While there has been some criticism of Postecoglou lately, the chants directed at him during the Chelsea game were particularly noticeable.
“It genuinely doesn`t affect me,” Postecoglou stated. “If the fans hold that view, and if they believe I am not performing well, they have every right to voice their opinion. They spend their money to support the club.”
He concluded, “They will be here supporting Tottenham long after I have left. So, it doesn`t bother me. I try to concentrate on the aspects I can control. I cannot control the fans, or many other things, but I can influence our football, our playing style, and our conduct. That is where my focus lies.”
Postecoglou reiterated his concerns about VAR after the lengthy review that led to the disallowance of Sarr`s goal. He criticized the extensive review process, describing officials as “sitting around for six minutes with a microscope,” and stated that the legitimacy of Sarr`s foul was “irrelevant” in the context of the prolonged delay.
