Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has emphasized the importance of commitment and performance from his players, especially in light of the club’s ongoing injury crisis. Following a 1-1 draw with Rangers in the Europa League, where Dejan Kulusevski salvaged a point for Spurs with a late equalizer, Postecoglou addressed the underperformance of senior player Timo Werner. The German forward, who was substituted at halftime, received Postecoglou’s critical assessment, with the manager stating that Werner’s performance “wasn’t acceptable.” Despite the challenging circumstances, Postecoglou made it clear that he wasn’t criticizing Werner personally, but rather assessing his performance in a difficult match.
Postecoglou explained that the team, already hit by numerous injuries, needed senior players like Werner to step up. “I’m asking 18-year-olds to do some massive jobs, and you want senior players – and he’s a senior player, he’s an international and he’s won the Champions League – there’s a level of application and performance you need to rise to,” said Postecoglou. “He didn’t reach that.” The decision to substitute Werner at halftime, according to Postecoglou, was a clear statement of his expectations for the player’s contribution to the team.
The Spurs manager further emphasized that with so many players unavailable, including key figures like Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, and several defenders, the remaining fit players needed to show a high level of commitment. “We are in a fight, we’ve got a limited number of players to call upon, and we’ve got some big games that can set up our season,” he said. Postecoglou made it clear that he wasn’t going to cater to “bruised egos,” stressing that the focus had to be on achieving success and navigating through the challenging period.
Spurs’ injury woes have left them with just 15 fit players, and Postecoglou has been forced to rely on a small squad. He explained that the club’s current situation demands players who are ready to give everything, especially with key games ahead. The manager pointed out that if players aren’t prepared to contribute at the highest level, it will show, and he would have to reassess their place in the squad.
Meanwhile, at Arsenal, manager Mikel Arteta expressed confidence that the club’s search for a new sporting director would not disrupt their transfer plans. The club is currently operating with Jason Ayto as the interim sporting director, following the departure of Edu, who had been overseeing transfers. Arteta was quick to reassure fans and the media that the process of finding a permanent replacement was underway but emphasized that it would not affect Arsenal’s ability to make moves in the upcoming January transfer window.
Arteta also suggested that January might not be as busy as some expect, as the team focuses on recovering from injuries. The manager noted that the availability of players should improve in the coming weeks, which could provide more options for the squad. Despite the ongoing search for a new sporting director, Arteta remained calm, stating that the club would take its time to ensure they appoint the right person to lead the club’s football operations.
On the injury front, Arsenal is currently dealing with a long list of absentees, including defenders Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, though Gabriel is expected to return soon. Arteta has shown trust in younger players like Myles Lewis-Skelly, who impressed in the Champions League against Monaco, and the teenager is likely to continue in the starting lineup. Arteta reiterated that while he would prefer the sporting director situation to be resolved sooner rather than later, the focus remains on getting the best out of the squad and making decisions that will benefit the club in the long term.
