Ange Postecoglou is ‘checking out’ of his job as Tottenham manager and is desperate to ‘move on’, according to a body language expert. The 59-year-old was particularly downbeat after his side were beaten by Chelsea, with Enzo Fernandez scoring the only goal of the game. It saw Spurs suffer their 16th defeat of the Premier League campaign, leaving them mired in the division’s bottom half.
Pape Matar Sarr thought he had equalised for the visitors in the second half, minutes after he came off the bench. The travelling supporters directed jeers at Postecoglou as the change was made and he responded after the goal by cupping his ear to the away end. He was left red-faced when it was ruled out following a VAR intervention for an offside in the build-up.
After the match, Postecoglou fumed at the application of VAR in general and said he felt increasingly ‘disconnected’ from football. He also claimed it was a ‘mistake’ to celebrate Sarr’s goal and vowed to ‘find another hobby’ when his managerial career is over.
Beth Dawson, a body language expert, believes Postecoglou displayed ‘a noticeable sense of detachment’ in addition to signs of being disillusioned with life at Tottenham.
She told Grosvenor Sport: “There is actually no genuine sense of disappointment, which we would see with a lower, heavier tone of voice. There is more of a sense of ‘this was expected’.
“The way he scratches his face signals irritation. While many of us might touch our faces for comfort, his gestures seem more driven by annoyance, likely a reaction to the questions and the overall situation.”
“He appears fed up, detached, and disconnected. His eye contact with each journalist and using the journalist’s first name, shows that he is listening and present, doing his duty to answer questions.
“But there is still a sense of disconnection and detachment with the overall situation and the match results, that is evident in his responses.”
Dawson also noted Postecoglou’s facial expression and short, quick breaths, adding: “These nonverbal cues highlight a deep sense of being out of sync with what is happening. It feels like he’s checking out of the situation.
“Moreover, he is wiping his face, suggesting he is sweating, another indication of discomfort. However, it’s worth noting that we don’t know how hot it is where he is being interviewed.”
“He’s fed up but not just because they lost; he’s checking out and wants to move on. At the end of the interview, he is very eager to leave. He can’t get up quickly enough.
“This behaviour strongly suggests that he wants to distance himself physically from the situation and it’s backed up by his earlier language and comments about disconnection.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk