December 14th 2024.
After Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Rangers in the Europa League, Ange Postecoglou had a conversation with Pedro Porro on the pitch. In an interview, Postecoglou shared that he was not pleased with Porro's performance, specifically his actions that put teammate Fraser Forster "under pressure" during the closing minutes of the match.
Despite their third consecutive draw, it seemed that Spurs were headed for another defeat after Hamza Igamane scored for Rangers early in the second half. However, Dejan Kulusevski's goal in the 75th minute saved them from a loss. Postecoglou was seen talking to Porro on the pitch after the game, and when asked about it, he explained that it was just "feedback" he was giving to the right-back.
He mentioned that Porro's positioning during Rangers' goal was a cause for concern and that he had to remind him to make better decisions. In particular, a back-pass to Forster in injury time put the goalkeeper in a tough position as Rangers were pushing for a winning goal. Postecoglou emphasized the importance of staying calm and clear-headed in these crucial moments, especially when the team had worked hard to get back into the game.
The manager's role, as he described it, was to give players feedback, and that's what he did with Porro. He also addressed Antonio Conte's previous rant about Tottenham's squad. In March 2023, Conte accused the players of not being able to handle pressure and stress, following a 3-3 draw with Southampton. He left the club a week later, and Postecoglou was asked for his thoughts on the matter.
Postecoglou acknowledged being aware of the situation and said that when a manager reaches a point of frustration, there are usually underlying issues. He also praised Conte as a top and world-class manager and suggested that his actions were a way to get a reaction from the team. As a manager himself, Postecoglou understood that sometimes, sending a message through the media could have a positive impact on the players. He believed that in challenging moments, leaders should take action instead of letting things drift along.
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