Ange Postecoglou’s Love for Football Tested by VAR Controversy

Ange Postecoglou’s Love for Football Tested by VAR Controversy

In a candid moment that has resonated with many football fans, Ange Postecoglou, the manager of Tottenham, has expressed his growing disillusionment with the sport he once adored. The catalyst for this sentiment was a recent incident involving a disallowed goal by Pape Matar Sarr during a match against Chelsea. Postecoglou admitted to celebrating the goal, only to have it ruled out by VAR, a decision that left him questioning his connection to the game.

Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea on Thursday was a bitter pill to swallow, especially with Sarr’s second-half strike being nullified after a lengthy VAR review. The decision to substitute Sarr for Lucas Bergvall was met with boos from some of the traveling Tottenham supporters, who even chanted “you don’t know what you’re doing” at the 59-year-old manager. In response, Postecoglou cupped his ear towards the fans when Sarr scored, a gesture that was rendered moot by the VAR decision.

This defeat marked Tottenham’s 16th league loss of the season, and Postecoglou’s reluctance to engage with the away fans at full-time hinted at a strained relationship that could further jeopardize his position. However, during a news conference on Friday, Postecoglou chose to focus on the broader impact of VAR on the game, rather than his personal predicament.

He lamented the 12 minutes of added time at the end of the match, which also saw a Chelsea goal disallowed when replays showed Levi Colwill was offside in the build-up to Moisés Caicedo’s volley. “Maybe I was influenced by England and the old First Division,” Postecoglou reflected. “What I loved about it as opposed to other leagues was the frenetic pace of it. In English football, there was always something happening.”

Postecoglou’s passion for the game was evident as he described his love for the end-to-end action and the high tempo that characterized English football. “I’ve tried to design a gameplan that has tempo and energy because I feel if you want people in there for an hour and a half of entertainment and engagement, you want them off their seats,” he explained. Yet, the intrusion of VAR has dampened this excitement for him. “There was 12 minutes of extra time last night. VAR was not brought in last month. It has been here for a long time and it is still taking 12 minutes.”

He continued, “Everyone says ‘they came to the right decision’, well, yeah. That’s what people want then. Let’s continue. I don’t like it. I am falling out of love with the game because I love celebrating goals. Last night I did and I’m paying a massive price for it. I’ll make sure I don’t do it again but I reckon that’s kind of sad.”

Postecoglou’s frustration is palpable as he feels like a “lone voice” in his criticism of VAR. “I don’t hear anyone else saying it. That’s why I am sat here and saying maybe I am disconnected. I don’t think anyone else cares. We’re just so accepting. Maybe I come from a different generation where we used to rail against anyone who tried to change the fundamentals of our life.”

Despite his personal discontent, Postecoglou remains committed to his role. “I’ve been fighting my whole career. I’ll continue to fight until I’m told to stop by someone. I still believe we’ve got a massive opportunity for ourselves this year and I’m not going to let that slip away whether that’s from external or internal pressure. I’m focused on that.”

He acknowledged the fans’ frustration but emphasized the team’s efforts. “It is not unusual they are frustrated and angry at the moment but at the same time if anyone looked at that game and thought they weren’t trying, that they had resigned themselves to their fate, I’m sorry, they are not watching the right game.”

As Tottenham prepares for their Europa League quarterfinal clash against Eintracht Frankfurt, Postecoglou’s future hangs in the balance. Sources have indicated that his job could be at risk if Spurs fail to progress. Yet, his focus remains on the task at hand, determined to rally his team and the fans behind a shared vision of success.

• Tottenham’s 16th league defeat of the season
• VAR controversy with Pape Matar Sarr’s disallowed goal
• Postecoglou’s strained relationship with fans
• Upcoming Europa League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt

In the end, Postecoglou’s story is one of a passionate manager grappling with the evolving nature of football, striving to maintain his love for the game amidst the challenges posed by modern technology.