Ange Postecoglou was furious with Timo Werner’s performance for Tottenham against Rangers, slamming the forward’s display before being hooked at half-time as ‘unacceptable’.
Werner struggled to get into the game in the first half. His performance was epitomised by a loose touch which ran out for a throw-in, ruining a promising Spurs attack.
Postecoglou wanted far more from the Germany international, who he said should have been setting a standard in a team which included teenager Archie Gray. The livid Australian said he expects more from a player of Werner’s calibre.
“He wasn’t playing anywhere near the levels he can. When you’ve got 18-year-olds, it’s not acceptable to me. I told him that. He’s a senior international, a German international,” Postecoglou said after the 1-1 draw in Glasgow.
“In the moment we’re in now, I need everyone to be at least going out there and giving the best they can. What he produced wasn’t acceptable. When I’m asking the younger players to do massive jobs, I expect more from the senior players like him.”
Werner was replaced by Dejan Kulusevski at half-time with the score goalless. Hamza Igamane’s excellent finish put Rangers ahead two minutes into the second half, as Postecoglou stood on the brink of another horror defeat.
However, Kulusevski equalised with 15 minutes remaining. Spurs and Rangers both have 11 points from their opening six matches, with the Scottish Premiership side a place above Ibrox’s visitors. Rangers occupy the final automatical qualification spot for the knockout rounds.
Former Celtic boss Postecoglou reflected to TNT Sports: “They’re always difficult to play against here at Ibrox, especially on European nights.
“The nature of the contest, the atmosphere, not many teams come here and win so you kind of expect it to be a tough game.
“We weren’t anywhere near our best which I think is fair to say and at the same time, we’re in a period of games where we’re grinding through at the moment. Obviously [we are playing] with a fairly depleted squad. So, in the context of that, in the end, I think it was a good outcome for us.”
Spurs face Hoffenheim and Elfsborg in their final two European league phase fixtures. Rangers – who have a crunch League Cup final showdown with Celtic this weekend – have Manchester United and Union Saint-Gilloise.
Postecoglou has faced pressure over Spurs’ results this season. The north Londoners are 11th in the Premier League and collapsed in their 4-3 defeat against Chelsea last weekend, having led 2-0 in the first half.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk