In a recent Europa League match, Tottenham Hotspur faced Rangers at Ibrox Stadium, ending in a 1-1 draw. However, the game was marred by Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou’s scathing criticism of striker Timo Werner’s performance.
Postecoglou, who replaced Werner at halftime, expressed his disappointment, stating, “He wasn’t playing at anywhere near the level he should be. Timo’s first-half performance was not acceptable to me.” The Australian manager emphasized that as a German international, Werner needed to give his best, which he failed to do.
The decision to substitute Werner paid off when Dejan Kulusevski, who came on in his place, scored the equalizing goal for Spurs. Despite avoiding a third successive defeat following their Premier League loss to Chelsea, Postecoglou was far from satisfied with his team’s overall performance.
Postecoglou highlighted the challenges his squad faced, including injuries and a demanding schedule, but maintained that senior players like Werner must step up. “I expect a lot more from the senior guys but we weren’t anywhere near our best. It’s fair to say that we’re in a period of games that we’re grinding through at the moment.”
Despite the criticism, Postecoglou praised his substitutes and the team’s resilience in a hostile environment. “Rangers are difficult to play against, especially here at Ibrox on European nights,” he said. “With the nature of the competition and the atmosphere, not many teams can come here and win so you expect a tough game.”
The draw keeps Tottenham in ninth place in the Europa League standings, with hopes still alive to finish in the top eight and advance to the knockout stages.
Postecoglou’s comments underscore the high expectations he has for his players and the need for consistent performance, especially from experienced players like Werner.
Tottenham Hotspur performance and stats
Tottenham Hotspur is currently 9th in the Europa League with 11 points.
In the last 6 games, it has won 3 times, drew twice, and lost once. In its last match, Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1 against Rangers.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 11 goals and conceding 7.
