Tottenham Hotspur’s players have come under fire for allegedly giving up on manager Ange Postecoglou during their disappointing Carabao Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Liverpool. The defeat, which saw Spurs squander their narrow first-leg advantage, has sparked criticism from pundits, with some questioning the squad’s mentality and commitment.
A Crushing Defeat at Anfield
Heading into the second leg at Anfield, Tottenham held a slim 1-0 aggregate lead thanks to Lucas Bergvall’s winner in the first match. However, once Cody Gakpo struck in the first half to level the tie, Spurs appeared to crumble under pressure.
Liverpool took full control in the second half, with Mohamed Salah converting a penalty to put them ahead on aggregate. The Reds didn’t stop there, as Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk added further goals, securing a resounding 4-0 victory on the night and a 4-1 win on aggregate. With that, Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup final, where they will face Newcastle United, who triumphed over Arsenal in the other semi-final.
For Tottenham, the defeat added to their recent struggles. The team remains stuck in the bottom half of the Premier League table, and the lack of fight shown in such a crucial match has drawn the ire of fans and pundits alike.
Troy Deeney Slams Spurs’ Mentality
Former Watford striker and current pundit Troy Deeney was particularly scathing in his assessment of Tottenham’s performance. Writing in The Sun, Deeney accused many Spurs players of mentally checking out during the match, particularly in their support of Postecoglou.
“Anyone who has played the game will tell you most of those Spurs players quit, gave up,” Deeney wrote. “Not on each other or themselves, but quit on the manager, the fan base, everything.”
The outspoken pundit, who famously questioned Arsenal’s mentality in the past by claiming they lacked “cojones,” didn’t hold back in his criticism of Tottenham.
“I made headlines by once saying Arsenal lacked ‘cojones,’ but just look at this Tottenham team,” Deeney continued. “They bottled it. They collapsed through fear. If that group looks at themselves in the mirror and says: ‘We gave it everything,’ then they’re liars. They’re lying to themselves and they’re lying to the fans.”
One of Deeney’s biggest criticisms was the players’ apparent reluctance to take responsibility in the aftermath of the loss. He noted that only club captain Son Heung-min stepped up for post-match interviews, while Postecoglou was left to field most of the questions himself.
“Where are the leaders?” Deeney asked. “I was in the tunnel at full-time around all the post-match interviews. I only saw one player do one, and that was Son. Other than that, Ange did all of them. That, to me, says it all. One of the experienced lads should have taken a few of those off the manager’s hands. Take ownership.”
Postecoglou’s Honest Admission
Speaking to Sky Sports after the defeat, Postecoglou didn’t make any excuses for his team’s performance, conceding that Liverpool were simply superior on the night.
“I guess that Liverpool deserved the victory,” the Spurs boss admitted. “They were the far better team – we were not able to get a grip of the game. They were too good for us.”
The Australian coach also lamented his team’s lack of aggression and composure, acknowledging that Tottenham failed to impose themselves from the start.
“We allowed them to get into the game, and we were not as aggressive as we needed to be,” Postecoglou explained. “We didn’t get the game started off on the right footing. It was very difficult for us to wrestle that control back.”
The manager stressed the need for greater bravery from his players, both with and without the ball.
“We definitely needed to be braver with and without the ball,” he added. “They’re a very good Liverpool team in a good spell of form, and they’re very settled.”
Where Do Spurs Go From Here?
The Carabao Cup exit is the latest setback in what has been a challenging season for Tottenham under Postecoglou. While the team showed promise earlier in the campaign, injuries and inconsistent performances have derailed their momentum.
With Spurs struggling in the league and now out of a major cup competition, Postecoglou will need to rally his squad and ensure they rediscover their early-season form. However, if the accusations of players “giving up” are accurate, the manager could face a much bigger challenge in re-establishing belief and unity within the team.
As Tottenham look ahead, the pressure is mounting. A strong response is needed, both on and off the pitch, to silence critics and get their season back on track.
Tottenham players ‘quit on Ange Postecoglou’ as post-match decision revealed
