Tottenham Hotspur winger Dejan Kulusevski has opened up on Ange Postecoglou’s anger at half-time against Manchester City on Sunday.
Ange Postecoglou was ‘very angry’ after seeing Tottenham Hotspur’s first-half display at Manchester City.
That is according to Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski, who has spoken to BBC Sportabout Postecoglou’s reaction.
Spurs took the lead on Sunday as Son Heung-min scored, but Tottenham gave up a host of first-half chances and went into the break 2-1 down.
Tottenham twice battled back from behind though and claimed a 3-3 draw having improved in the second half.
Dejan Kulusevski shares Ange Postecoglou reaction in Tottenham draw
Tottenham started so well but then struggled with their daring approach under Postecoglou causing some problems.
The Australian has made it clear that Tottenham will not budge from his vision – even away at the Premier League champions.
Spurs didn’t execute that vision as well as they could have done in the first half and there was a noticeable improvement after the break.
The introduction of Pierre-Emile Hojbjergcertainly helped and Dejan Kulusevski – the man who headed in Tottenham’s second equaliser – has opened up on Postecoglou’s half-time reaction.
Kulusevski claims that Postecoglou was ‘very angry’ at the break having witnessed a difficult first-half performance.
The Swede added that Postecoglou gave a fairly simple five-word message too – ‘guys stop thinking, just play’.
Postecoglou clearly felt that Tottenham were overthinking everything against City and would improve by playing a more natural game – as it played out in the second half.
“I think the team itself has a strong belief but first half was not good enough,” said Kulusevski. “The coach was very angry at half-time. He said ‘guys stop thinking, just play’ and we came out better so I think we have to grow mentally – that’s the only problem.”
“The football is there, the coach is there and we can be at the top in the future,” he added.
Postecoglou style may divide opinion but he won’t budge
How many managers – whilst missing a host of key players – would go and play that style of football away at City?
Postecoglou is probably one of very, very few.
The Spurs boss will be told that he is being naive by playing his style but he is looking at the long-term picture.
Postecoglou wants to build an approach and a culture for years to come rather than compromising on his principles this early into his reign.
Maybe that will work in the long run and maybe it won’t, but Postecoglou is giving a very clear message to his players.
That clarity appears to be helping with Kulusevski and co stepping it up in the second half to claim a point in testing circumstances.
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