Tottenham Hotspur’s owner cannot be blamed for the club’s problems, said manager Ange Postecoglou, after a series of inconsistent form saw his team drop to 11th place in the Premier League after 15 games.
Spurs have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions, with defender Cristian Romero publicly criticizing the club’s hierarchy following last weekend’s 4-3 defeat to Chelsea and later apologizing for his comments.
“I’m fed up with this. For me it’s an excuse, even considering Cristian’s comments, I just think it’s an excuse. I’m here at the moment, I take responsibility for these players, we are here,” the Australian manager told reporters ahead of the Premier League’s visit to Southampton on Sunday.
He said negative sentiment around the club’s culture and hierarchy was not the cause of Spurs’ 16-year trophy drought, which dates back to a League Cup victory in 2008 and their last league title in 1961.
If we think there is some mythical thing about this club that is preventing you from being successful, change it. What is the other meaning? Don’t come here. I just don’t buy it,” the 59-year-old said.
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“We are in a difficult situation due to the staffing situation. There are a million excuses why we can’t succeed, but if that’s your crutch, especially in difficult times, then what’s the point? So leave and go somewhere else.
Postecoglou is under similar pressure to that felt by former coach Antonio Conte during the team’s last visit to Southampton in March 2023, when Tottenham blew a two-goal lead to draw 3-3.
Conte was fired a few days after this match after making post-match criticism of his players and the club’s history and ownership.
“Conte had his own way of doing things and his own reasons… I am in the fight and for better or for worse I am not going anywhere at the moment because everything is still in my power and my responsibility,” Postecoglou said.
“I love being in the middle of the storm when everyone is doubting because I know what’s waiting on the other side when you walk through it. My job is to get through this.”
