Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the press after this evening’s Europa League defeat to Galatasaray, and had plenty to say about Spurs and their poor composure.

Spurs were all over the place against Galatasaray

Tottenham Hotspur entered RAMS Park tonight knowing they would be in for a rough ride against a Galatasaray side who have not lost a game all season.

However, Ange Postecoglou very likely expected much, much better from his team, as he witnessed a makeshift back four give the ball away time and time again.

Ultimately, Spurs were punished by their failure to mark Victor Osimhen effectively, with the Nigerian striker bagging two goals on the night.

While Tottenham did claw their way back and come away on the wrong end of a fairly respectable 3-2 scoreline despite being down to ten men after Will Lankshear‘s red card, the number of mistakes made by the Lilywhites is real cause for concern.

Ange Postecoglou not happy with carelessness in possession

Speaking after the game (via Football.London), Ange Postecoglou discussed his Spurs vs Galatasaray and their shortcomings on the night. He insisted that the first-half performance in particular is what really cost them the game.

He said: “In the first half we gave the ball away too much. We lacked composure and we allowed Galatasaray to get a foothold in the game and we paid the price for that.

It just felt it was self-inflicted. We had really simple solutions out there to keep the ball. It wasn’t that hard. We showed it with 10 men. We just needed to be stronger on the ball and play the kind of football we play every week.

“Maybe it was a little bit the changes I made and the environment and atmosphere, but the moments that stick out to me was giving the ball away. We were playing through them quite easily with 10 men but with 11 men we had nowhere near that conviction and that was disappointing.”

Too little too late for Spurs

It is pretty frustrating that, by the end of the game, we should really have gotten at least a point from that game, and if it wasn’t for really disappointing mistakes in the first half, we would have pulled off a brilliant result in an incredibly difficult game.

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Ange Postecoglou points finger as Tottenham humbled in Galatasaray Europa League losS

Ange Postecoglou’s rejigged defence gifted Galatasaray endless opportunities in a harrowing showdown, marred by Dejan Kulusevski’s agonising miss in the dying moments that nearly salvaged a point for Tottenham.

The Swedish substitute failed to hit the target in the 93rd minute with Galatasaray’s goalkeeper Fernando Muslera stranded – capping off a night where Spurs could have embarrassingly conceded into double digits against the Turkish titans who amassed 29 shots.

Despite Tottenham’s sloppy performance and missed chances from the opposition that bordered on comical, the Premier League side narrowly avoided utter humiliation. Victor Osimhen capitalised on Spurs’ incessant blunders with a brace before halftime, shadowing Yunus Akgun’s sublime six-minute opener.

Although youngster Will Lankshear struck gold with his maiden senior goal before receiving his marching orders at the hour mark, it was evident Postecoglou’s backup defence was out of their depth in what was billed as Tottenham’s sternest test.

That is despite three initial victories offering some leeway for an injury and illness-hit squad. The defensive naivety, from opening whistle to the crushing finale, left the coach deeply concerned.

Postecoglou lamented his team’s generosity, stating bluntly, “It was self-inflicted,” pinpointing their habit of relinquishing possession.

“It was self-inflicted,” Postecoglou said. “The moments that stick out to me was giving the ball away.”

The hotly-tipped Osimhen could have walked away with a double hat-trick had he not been thwarted by Fraser Forster, the offside flag and some rare wayward attempts.

His brace came thanks to defensively shambolic play that wouldn’t pass in Sunday league football, especially from Radu Dragusin, who crumbled under pressure, setting up Osimhen’s opener.

The Romanian defender was also caught flat-footed when Osimhen breezed by for his second after a slick pass from Dries Mertens. “In the first half we gave the ball away too much,” lamented Postecoglou.

We lacked composure and we allowed Galatasaray to get a foothold in the game and we paid the price for that.”

Forster seemed to be the only player on the visiting team worth his salt as a half-time switch, which saw captain Heung-min Son withdrawn, did little to stem the tide of Galatasaray’s relentless assault post-break