Ange Postecoglou is happy to take criticism of himself, but staunchly defended his depleted Tottenham squad, insisting they should be left out of the blame. (More Football News)
Spurs suffered a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth-round o💮n Sunday, just days after being knocked🦋 out of the EFL Cup semi-final by Liverpool.
Having also lost in the fourth round last term, Tottenham havꦬe been eliminated from the FA Cup prior to the fifth round in back-to-back seasons for the first tim🌟e since 2014-15 (a run of three).
Until last week, Spurs were fighting on four fronts, having also qualified for the Europa League last 16, but have struggled with an injury crisis since mid-November, wiౠth key players missing.
They𒁃 were missing 11 senior players for their trip to Villa Park, with Postecoglou starting four teenagers as well as 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonio Kinsky, who was at fault for Jacob Ramsey's first-minute opener.
𓂃In fact, Archie Gray is one of only three players currently aged 18🤡 or under to have made 25 starts for a club in Europe's big-five leagues this season (25th on Sunday, across all competitions), along with Barcelona pair Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi.
Under-pressure Posteꦏcoglou was not pleased with criticism aimed at Spurs following their defeat to Villa though, claiming it should be aimed at him, not his squad.
"People can judge me. They can say I have done a bad job; I'm ꦏnot up to it or whatever. [But] you can't be critical of players or players' performances at this time,"🌱 Postecoglou told reporters.
"Because if you do, then be as critical of other clubs when they've got 9 or 10 or 11 players out. A🐲nd none of them have. It can൩'t be that people think that's an excuse.
&qu☂ot;That's just not anywhere near close to objective analysis. That's j🥃ust agenda-driven stuff. If it's to get rid of me, that's fine. Good on you. Go for it a million times."
Postecoglou also pointed to Liverpool's shock 1-0 defeat to Pl🦩ymouth Argyle earlier on Sunday after Arne Slot had made 10 changes to his starting line-up in an attempt to rotate players durin🌱g the hectic schedule.
"[Liverpool] di🃏d that for one game. Do 🍌that for two-and-a-half months in multiple competitions. Any team," he added.
"Why do you think Liverpool and others rotate 11 players? I wish I coul🅘d do the same. Once we gℱet the rest of the group in, we will be an outstanding team. I have no doubt about that."
Spurs return to Premier League action next Sunday when they fa🐎ce fe꧃llow strugglers Manchester United, with both sides toiling in the bottom half of the table.
