Ange Postecoglou Calls Out Timo Werner After Subpar Performance in Europa League Draw
Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou didn’t mince words when discussing Timo Werner’s performance in Thursday’s 1-1 Europa League draw against Rangers. The German international was substituted at halftime after a lackluster first half at Ibrox, and Postecoglou made it clear that he expects much more from a player of Werner’s caliber.
“I think when you’ve got 18-year-olds, it’s not acceptable to me,” Postecoglou said after the match. “I said that to Timo, he’s a senior international, a Germany international. In the moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many, kind of, options. I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.”
Werner’s early exit paved the way for 18-year-olds Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall to step up and help Spurs salvage a point in Glasgow. Their contributions didn’t go unnoticed by Postecoglou, who highlighted the stark contrast between the teenagers’ efforts and Werner’s underwhelming display.
Postecoglou Doubles Down on Criticism
Speaking the morning after the game, Postecoglou didn’t backtrack on his comments. Instead, he reiterated that senior players like Werner need to rise to the occasion, especially with Tottenham’s squad currently depleted by injuries.
“It wasn’t criticism, it was assessment,” Postecoglou clarified during a Friday news conference. “I mean, if we played poorly, we played poorly. And I said with Timo, it wasn’t about whether he played well or not, but we had a real difficult game last night. I’m asking 18-year-olds to do some massive jobs, and you’ve got senior players — and he’s a senior player, he’s an international, he’s won a Champions League — that there’s a level of application and performance you need to, sort of, rise to or to help the team, and he didn’t reach that.”
Postecoglou also pointed out that substituting Werner at halftime was a statement in itself. “It wasn’t criticism, it’s just an assessment of his performance, and on a really challenging night for us, which we knew going into it, it needs to be better,” he added.
No Time for Bruised Egos
When asked how Werner might have reacted to his manager’s blunt comments, Postecoglou didn’t hold back. “Look, I’ve got no time for that sort of stuff anymore. We are in a fight here, you know? Collectively, we’re in a fight,” he said. “I’m not going to go around worrying about people’s bruised egos. This football club, we want to achieve things, we want to be successful, and we’re down to the bare bones in players.”
Postecoglou emphasized that he needs players who understand the gravity of the situation and are willing to give their all. “I need guys who — and we had some last night — who understand the situation we’re in. We’ve got 15 fit players. In some positions, we’ve only got two players. So, I am not going to go around trying to get extra out of people if they don’t give extra right now. Well, it kind of gives me an indication of where they’re at,” he said.
Tottenham’s Struggles on the Road
Tottenham’s away form in 2024 has been less than stellar, with just four victories in the Premier League. These include a 4-0 win over Aston Villa and a 3-0 success over Sheffield United in the 2023-24 campaign, as well as a 3-0 victory over Manchester United and a 4-0 triumph over Manchester City this season. However, the team’s inconsistency has left them sitting 11th in the Premier League table, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
Spurs will travel to face bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Sunday, a match that feels like a must-win for Postecoglou’s side. Southampton are currently eight points from safety, and Tottenham will be looking for a comprehensive victory to regain some momentum.
Attacking Football Under Scrutiny
Postecoglou’s attacking style of play has come under scrutiny, particularly in away matches. When asked by ESPN whether his approach is harder to implement on the road, the Spurs boss defended his philosophy. “No, not necessarily. I don’t think so,” he said. “Look, again, I get that people kind of think that attacking football means you never defend or you don’t care about defending, but it’s not. It’s just like I said, it’s more about your intent when you go into every game, and our intent is to go and try and win every game, not to treat games in a different manner.”
Postecoglou added, “Now, is that more difficult? Well, what’s the opposite? The opposite is that you go into a game trying not to lose. Well, that’s not guaranteed success either. So the only guaranteed success is when you get it all right.”
With the pressure mounting, all eyes will be on Tottenham as they look to turn their season around. Whether Werner can bounce back and prove his worth remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Postecoglou won’t be sugarcoating his expectations anytime soon.
Originally Written by: Tom Hamilton
