Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Sonny and Richy will be available after the international break
Postecoglou’s criticism of Spurs after their Brighton collapse had striking parallels with Conte’s now-infamous rant at Southampton
As a grim-faced Ange Postecoglou laid into his Tottenham players at the Amex Stadium on Sunday, it was impossible not to think back to another Spurs manager eviscerating his squad following a collapse on the South Coast.
Postecoglou’s criticism of his side after they threw away a 2-0 half-time lead to lose 3-2 to Brighton was nowhere near as explicit nor vitriolic as Antonio Conte’s parting tirade following the 3-3 draw with Southampton in March 2023, but there were striking parallels in their messages.
Both Conte and Postecoglou described the situations as “unacceptable” and both were critical of the fight and “competitiveness” of their Tottenham players.
“We didn’t do what you need to do at this level, it’s kind of non-negotiable,” Postecoglou said in his post-match press conference. “We just weren’t competitive. We didn’t win our duels, we lacked intensity, we didn’t deliver the things you need to at this level, the basics of the game, and paid the price for it.”
Compare and contrast with Conte, who said 18 months ago at St. Mary’s: “I can tell you that if you want to be competitive, if you want to fight, you have to improve this aspect.”
For the avoidance of doubt, Conte was far more extreme than Postecoglou and the Italian would go on to suggest that his players’ lack of fight was a symptom of the club’s culture under chairman Daniel Levy, in a now-infamous rant following what would prove to be his final game in charge of Spurs.
For Conte, Spurs squandering a two-goal lead with 16 minutes to play to draw 3-3 was the breaking point, the culmination of what he felt was a season of cowardly performances.
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