After the high of their Europa League victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, Tottenham Hotspur and head coach Ange Postecoglou were swiftly brought back to earth with a humbling 2-0 defeat against Fulham on Sunday.
Late strikes from Rodrigo Muniz and former Spurs player Ryan Sessegnon – who was released by the club – condemned Tottenham to their 15th Premier League loss of the season, a result that leaves them languishing in 13th place. The defeat was met with frustration from the travelling supporters, with Mathys Tel even clashing with some of them after the final whistle as emotions ran high.
However, the biggest talking point came from Postecoglou’s post-match comments, as the Australian manager broke a pledge he had previously made to his squad by publicly calling out Yves Bissouma’s underwhelming performance at Craven Cottage.
Postecoglou Breaks His Promise on Public Criticism
Earlier in the season, Postecoglou had taken a firm stance on protecting his players from public scrutiny. In December, amid criticism of Cristian Romero, the 59-year-old declared:
“Cristian, he realises that a lot of what he said was good, but some wasn’t the right way of dealing with it. The same way I wouldn’t criticise a player publicly.”
Yet just months later, the Spurs boss has seemingly gone back on his word, choosing to single out Bissouma following the loss to Fulham.
Speaking candidly about the Malian midfielder, Postecoglou said:
“I feel Biss sometimes lets the game drift by him, he needs to be more dominant. Today, we needed more in that position. I had needed him to play because he hasn’t played a lot. At the same time, I need him to perform. It is safe to say maybe Biss and a few guys lack a bit of confidence but at this stage of the season, we need people to perform.”
Bissouma’s display was undeniably poor. The 27-year-old registered a SofaScore rating of just 6.3 – the lowest of any Tottenham player on the pitch. His struggles were evident in key statistical areas, as he won just two of his six duels and completed only 18 passes throughout the match.
Has Bissouma’s Time at Tottenham Run Its Course?
Bissouma’s relationship with Postecoglou has appeared strained for months, and Sunday’s events may have been the final straw. The midfielder’s struggles under the Australian date back to December’s chaotic 4-3 defeat to Chelsea, where he conceded a needless penalty after already being warned by his manager that he needed to work for “redemption.”
That night, Postecoglou’s trust in Bissouma seemed to waver, and since then, the Mali international has struggled to regain his manager’s confidence. The tension resurfaced again in May 2024 during another clash with Chelsea, when Postecoglou was seen furiously shouting at Bissouma on the sidelines. Now, with the Spurs boss publicly voicing his frustration, it seems increasingly likely that Bissouma’s days in north London are numbered.
With Tottenham expected to undergo significant squad changes in the summer, the former Brighton midfielder could well be one of the first names on the chopping block. His inability to deliver in key moments, coupled with Postecoglou’s clear frustrations, suggests that a parting of ways might be inevitable.
As Spurs look to regain momentum and build towards a more consistent future under Postecoglou, Bissouma’s struggles serve as a stark reminder that time waits for no player at a club with ambitions of returning to the top.
Ange Postecoglou just broke a promise he made to Tottenham players in December after 2-0 loss at Fulham
