Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou insists he is not affected by criticism from some Spurs supporters and remains committed to fighting for his team.
Spurs suffered their 16th defeat in 30 Premier League matches this season with a 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Thursday, further fueling frustrations among the club’s fanbase.
Postecoglou drew attention when he cupped his ear towards the traveling Spurs fans after substitute Pape Sarr—who had been booed upon his introduction just four minutes earlier—scored what appeared to be an equalizer. However, the goal was later disallowed following a VAR review.
Asked on Friday whether fan abuse had gone too far, Postecoglou responded: “No, I am fine. I don’t get affected by that. I will continue fighting my whole career.”
He acknowledged the supporters' frustrations but defended his players’ commitment. “I get that they are frustrated and angry. I understand the criticism towards me. But if anyone suggests the players aren’t trying, then I’m sorry—they’re not watching the right game.”
Spurs Facing Historic Low in League Standings
Tottenham currently sit 14th in the Premier League with eight matches remaining—just one place above their worst-ever finish in 1994. If their struggles continue, they could finish outside the top 10 for the first time in 17 years.
Postecoglou: ‘My Mistake Was Celebrating a Goal’
Tensions at Stamford Bridge escalated when Spurs fans chanted “You don’t know what you’re doing” after Postecoglou substituted Lucas Bergvall for Sarr in the 65th minute.
When Sarr then appeared to equalize, Postecoglou turned toward the supporters and cupped his ear in response, only for the goal to be overturned due to a foul in the buildup.
Reflecting on the moment, Postecoglou admitted: “I made a mistake last night—I celebrated a goal.”
“Since VAR came in, I told myself I wouldn’t celebrate goals. I just felt we needed something. It was a cracking goal from Pape, I heard the fans weren’t happy, and I thought it could be a real momentum shift. My mistake was celebrating it—VAR defeated me. I won’t be doing that again.”
VAR ‘Killing the Game’
Postecoglou reiterated his strong opposition to VAR, stating that its prolonged delays are harming football.
Thursday night’s match saw two major VAR interventions—one ruling out Moisés Caicedo’s strike for offside and another disallowing Sarr’s goal—which took a combined seven minutes to resolve. The stoppages contributed to 12 minutes of added time.
“There were 12 minutes of extra time yesterday. That’s not why VAR was brought in,” he said. “I feel like I’m the lone voice on this. I don’t hear anyone else saying it. Maybe I’m just disconnected.”
“When I retire, I’ll probably watch less football and find another hobby.”
Spurs’ Europa League Hopes Remain
Despite their domestic struggles, Tottenham still have a chance to end a 17-year trophy drought, with their focus now shifting to the Europa League. They host Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their quarter-final next Thursday before the return fixture on April 17.
Postecoglou has accumulated just 44 points from his past 39 league matches, dating back to last season. While he has cited an extensive injury list as a factor in the team’s poor form, speculation over his future continues.
This week, he acknowledged that “outstanding candidates” are available to replace him should the club decide to make a change. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, and Brentford’s Thomas Frank have all been linked with the Spurs job.
Postecoglou, who signed a contract until 2027 after joining the club in June 2023, remains focused on the task at hand—but his long-term future at Tottenham remains uncertain.
