Ange Postecoglou reveals Cristian Romero apology, gives Tottenham injury update ahead of Rangers UEFA Europa League trip
Published 11/12/2024 at 20:31 GMT
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Ange Postecoglou has commented on the fallout from his side's dramatic 4-3 defeat to Chelsea last weekend, as controversy surrounded an interview with Cristian Romero. Meanwhile, Postecoglou has defensive injuries to contend with ahead of key games against Rangers and Southampton in the UEFA Europa League and Premier League, respectively - both live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Ange Postecoglou has revealed Cristian Romero apologised for his comments following Tottenham Hotspur's 4-3 defeat to Chelsea last week.
The defender suggested Spurs had not adequately strengthened their squad in an interview with Telemundo Deportes, insisting the players and staff were not "the true responsible ones" for the club's recent struggles.
And Postecoglou explained Romero's comments as an "emotional" reaction to the Chelsea defeat.
"In the context of the day, he was very emotional, he wants to be able to help us and injuries have meant he can't," the Spurs boss said, ahead of his side's trip to Rangers in the UEFA Europa League - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"He's a leader of the club and passionate about success, but the way he expressed that probably wasn't the right way. Our challenges are not because of one thing or one person, but success will only happen if we stay united as a group.
"He realises what he said, some things shouldn't be said in public, but we deal with it in our four walls. We deal with it internally.
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"I've spoken to Cristian and he's apologised about saying things publicly - he does care but there's a way to do things."
Postecoglou also gave an injury update, confirming Romero and Micky van de Ven will both be absent on Thursday night.
"With the weekend's fallout, Romero and Van de Ven - we're still getting clarity over the injuries - but we're going to be without them again," Postecoglou said.
"At the moment we're still trying to get timelines on those guys, so I wouldn't put a time on it yet.
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"It's no secret we're thin on numbers, we can't change that. We've got big games coming up and we'll deal with what we've got, and I'm still confident we can get the job done."
With an injury crisis in defence, Postecoglou said teenager Archie Gray - who typically operates in midfield - could be trusted at centre-back.
"I have to get creative. I think Archie is probably the one for us at the moment that we need to try and get to fill in there," he said.
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"He's done right-back, left-back for us, had to play at centre-back a little bit this year, he did during the pre-season. With him and Radu [Dragusin], they're the two main sort of defenders.
"We've still got five or six games to navigate, so we may have to get creative at some point and deal with it in a different way."
After facing Rangers in the Europa League, Tottenham play Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday - also live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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