Ange Postecoglou discusses Tottenham’s illness issues and surprising lineup decisions after their loss to Newcastle
London: So, Ange Postecoglou had a lot to say after the match against Newcastle. He mentioned that Radu Dragusin and Archie Gray literally got off their sickbeds to play. Can you believe that? They were both feeling pretty rough but still showed up for the team.
Tottenham’s injury woes just keep piling up. They were already missing a bunch of players, and then this sickness bug hit the squad right before their first Premier League game of 2025. Talk about bad luck!
With so many players out, including their first and second-choice goalkeepers, it was a tough situation. Brandon Austin, the third-choice keeper, had to step in for his first senior game after being with the club for nine years. That’s a long wait!
Dragusin, who was the last senior center-back available, had to be subbed off at halftime. It was a bit chaotic, with Djed Spence and Gray having to fill in as a makeshift defense. Not ideal, right?
Postecoglou was pretty frustrated after the game, saying it was the angriest he’s ever been in his career. The loss to Newcastle was tough, especially since it extended Tottenham’s rough patch to just one win in eight league matches.
When asked about the illness affecting the team, he simply said it was just a bug. Radu and Archie had been bedridden all week, and Fraser Forster was still struggling too. It’s a real mess over there!
Despite the challenges, it was surprising to see key players like Son, Maddison, and Bissouma on the bench. They eventually came on in the second half, but it seems like they were being saved for the upcoming Carabao Cup match against Liverpool.
Postecoglou explained that he wanted to start with fresh legs and then bring in the experienced players later. He felt it worked out well, especially since they finished strong. It’s all about keeping the players fresh, both mentally and physically.
