Ange Postecoglou slams Timo Werner for ‘unacceptable’ performance against Rangers
Ange Postecoglou described Timo Werner’s performance for Tottenham against Rangers as ‘not acceptable’ in a stinging assessment of his own player. The Spurs boss singled out the German forward for criticism after an ineffectual first-half display in the 1-1 Europa League draw at Rangers. Werner was woeful against the Scottish side on Thursday nightGETTY His performance left Postecoglou fuming as Spurs’ winless run extended to five gamesGetty It’s been a struggle all season for the ex-Chelsea man Werner, on-loan from RB Leipzig, was taken off at half-time having lost possession of the ball 16 times and failing to win a single duel. “He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference. “When you’ve got 18-year-olds it’s not acceptable to me. I said that to Timo. He’s a senior international, he’s a German international. “In the moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many options. I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves. “His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.” Postecoglou added: “We need everybody including him to be contributing, because we don’t have the depth to leave people out if they’re performing poorly. “We need them to play their part. Especially the senior guys. When I’m asking younger guys to do massive jobs. “I expect a level of performance from some of the senior guys and today wasn’t that.” Werner’s blank against Rangers meant his goal tally this season remained at just one from 19 appearances across all competitions. Dejan Kulusevksi – who replaced Werner at half-time – struck in the 75th minute to earn Spurs a point at Ibrox after Hamza Igamane had opening the scoring. It was far from a perfect performance from Tottenham, whose defensive issues were exposed once more. In fact, Igamane’s strike ensured Postecoglou’s side had kept just one clean sheet from their last 11 games. Rangers also finished the contest with more shots and shots on target than their Premier League counterparts despite having 41 per cent possession. Match Stats The display, especially defensively, left former Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara feeling like he’s ‘had enough’. “My patience is wearing thin,” O’Hara said on The Sports Bar. “Patience is wearing thin. Ange Postecoglou, mate. I’ve had enough. “You know, we go on and like, oh yeah, the football’s great. Is it? Is it great? “I’m not watching Barcelona. I’m just watching a good team, you know, in moments, have some decent spells, but you know, every team plays good football. “It’s not like I’m watching Barcelona play, but can’t defend, but when we’ve got the ball, it’s just, you know, it’s brilliant to watch. All I’m watching is a Tottenham team that I’ve watched a million times before. Boring. There’s nothing special.” Postecoglou will hope Tottenham’s winless run doesn’t stretch to a sixth game on Sunday as they travel to lowly Southampton. That is followed by a Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester United before Premier League leaders Liverpool visit on December 22 to round off a packed ten-day period. Postecoglou added: “It’s a big week for us this week. Southampton on Sunday is a massive game away and then we have Carabao Cup quarter-final at home against Man United and then Liverpool. “It is a great week for us to build into. Thankful tonight everyone got through unscathed and we’ll focus on Sunday now.”
Ange Postecoglou described Timo Werner’s performance for Tottenham against Rangers as ‘not acceptable’ in a stinging assessment of his own player.
The Spurs boss singled out the German forward for criticism after an ineffectual first-half display in the 1-1 Europa League draw at Rangers.
Werner, on-loan from RB Leipzig, was taken off at half-time having lost possession of the ball 16 times and failing to win a single duel.
“He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference.
“When you’ve got 18-year-olds it’s not acceptable to me. I said that to Timo. He’s a senior international, he’s a German international.
“In the moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many options. I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves.
“His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.”
Postecoglou added: “We need everybody including him to be contributing, because we don’t have the depth to leave people out if they’re performing poorly.
“We need them to play their part. Especially the senior guys. When I’m asking younger guys to do massive jobs.
“I expect a level of performance from some of the senior guys and today wasn’t that.”
Werner’s blank against Rangers meant his goal tally this season remained at just one from 19 appearances across all competitions.
Dejan Kulusevksi – who replaced Werner at half-time – struck in the 75th minute to earn Spurs a point at Ibrox after Hamza Igamane had opening the scoring.
It was far from a perfect performance from Tottenham, whose defensive issues were exposed once more.
In fact, Igamane’s strike ensured Postecoglou’s side had kept just one clean sheet from their last 11 games.
Rangers also finished the contest with more shots and shots on target than their Premier League counterparts despite having 41 per cent possession.
The display, especially defensively, left former Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara feeling like he’s ‘had enough’.
“My patience is wearing thin,” O’Hara said on The Sports Bar.
“Patience is wearing thin. Ange Postecoglou, mate. I’ve had enough.
“You know, we go on and like, oh yeah, the football’s great. Is it? Is it great?
“I’m not watching Barcelona. I’m just watching a good team, you know, in moments, have some decent spells, but you know, every team plays good football.
“It’s not like I’m watching Barcelona play, but can’t defend, but when we’ve got the ball, it’s just, you know, it’s brilliant to watch. All I’m watching is a Tottenham team that I’ve watched a million times before. Boring. There’s nothing special.”
Postecoglou will hope Tottenham’s winless run doesn’t stretch to a sixth game on Sunday as they travel to lowly Southampton.
That is followed by a Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Manchester United before Premier League leaders Liverpool visit on December 22 to round off a packed ten-day period.
Postecoglou added: “It’s a big week for us this week. Southampton on Sunday is a massive game away and then we have Carabao Cup quarter-final at home against Man United and then Liverpool.
“It is a great week for us to build into. Thankful tonight everyone got through unscathed and we’ll focus on Sunday now.”
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