Ange Postecoglou’s unbeaten start with Tottenham is over (Photo: Getty)
Ange Postecoglou has defended persisting in using a high defensive line even though it cost Tottenham dear in their loss to Chelsea.
Nine-man Spurs were defeated 4-1 on Monday night in a chaotic London derby that saw the end of Postecoglou’s unbeaten Premier League start.
Red cards for Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie either side of the break cost the home side dearly, but even with that Spurs continued to play well and create good chances.
However, despite the disadvantage in numbers, they surprisingly kept playing a high-line, which Chelsea took advantage off, as their players continually broke through to get one-on-one with Guglielmo Vicario.
Though the goalkeeper made some great saves he was powerless to stop Nicolas Jackson who bagged a late hat-trick of three very similar goals to win the game for the visitors.
The decision to keep playing the high-line was criticised but Postecoglou defended the tactic, telling Sky Sports: ‘It is just who we are mate, it is who we are and who we will be for as long as I am here.
‘If we go down to five men we will have a go. It is pretty hard to process.
‘It is almost impossible to analyse the game because it just seemed to get out of control for large parts of it. Disappointed by the result but really proud of the players, they gave everything and that is the positive we will take.
‘We were very close to getting an equaliser a couple of times and it shows their spirit. It was just a bridge too far today.’
VAR was continually involved in the game, analysing red cards, penalty incidents, offsides and countless disallowed goals.
Cristian Romero was sent off after a VAR intervention (Photo: Getty)
Postecoglou, while not vocally disagreeing with the decisions made, was once again unhappy at the process being out of the on-pitch referee’s hands.
‘There will be a forensic study of every decision out there, I think that is the way the game is going and I don’t like it. If you look at all that standing around we did today, maybe people enjoy that sort of thing but I’d rather see us playing football,’ the manager added.
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‘You have to accept the referee’s decision, that is how I grew up. This constant erosion of the referee’s authority is where the game is going to get – they are not going to have any authority. We are going to be under the control of someone with a tv screen a few miles away.
‘The decision is the decision. In 26 years I have had plenty of bad decisions, I have had plenty fall in my favour. It is what it is.’
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‘It is just who we are mate.’