Ange Postecoglou has stood by his "assessment" of Timo Werner's performance in Tottenham's 1-1 draw at Rangers but called on other senior players to join him in the fight to lead the club through choppy waters.
Injury-hit Spurs were able to fight back through Dejan Kulusevski's 75th-minute leveller to leave Ibrox with a point and stay ninth in the Europa League after six matches. Postecoglou insisted the display of Werner, who was replaced at half-time, "wasn't acceptable" and reiterated his view before tomorrow's trip to Southampton in the Premier League, but admitted the RB Leipzig loanee will be required with nine players unavailable.
"It wasn't criticism. It was assessment," Postecoglou said.
"With Timo it wasn't about whether he played well or not. It was a difficult game last night.
"I'm asking 18-year-olds to do some massive jobs and you want senior players, and he's a senior player, he's an international and he's won the Champions League, there's a level of application and performance you need to rise to to help the team. He didn't reach that.
"Me taking him off at half-time was a statement enough. The same way I won't be hiding behind poor team performances, the same with and no different for the players or anyone else.
"It wasn't criticism, it was just an assessment of his performance and on a really challenging night for us, which we knew going into it, it needs to be better. We're in a fight here, collectively we're in a fight. I'm not going to go around worrying about people's bruised egos. This football club, we want to achieve things and be successful. We're down to the bare bones in players. If there's somebody in the dressing room who's fit, able to contribute but who feels he needs something extra in this moment, he's probably not the right type.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Postecoglou claims coach's life is harder than being PM
A Premier League manager has a tougher job than the prime minister, according to Ange Postecoglou.
Rashford rebuked Players must talk to manager not media - Amorim
Ruben Amorim has said when he was a player he would have spoken to his manager about being dropped rather than react in the media, as Marcus Rashford has done.
Tonali double puts rampant Newcastle into last four
A sticking plaster for Newcastle's internal tensions or a potential long-term cure for their problems? Whatever the reality Eddie Howe's inconsistent team are a two-leg semi-final away from a potentially transformative Wembley showpiece after two stellar first-half goals from Sandro Tonali and another from Fabian Schär undid an immensely disappointing Brentford on Tyneside.
Jesus hat-trick delivers early Christmas gift as Arsenal topple Palace
It seems fitting that Gabriel Jesus should have chosen this time of year to end his goalscoring drought.
Elliott the difference as Rusk's Southampton put up late fight
It was a night that Simon Rusk will never forget, the one when he took charge of Southampton for the first time in the wake of Russell Martin's sacking and carried the fight to Arne Slot and Liverpool.
United circus has derailed Rashford but fresh start is no guarantee of success
It was two years ago yesterday that Argentina won the World Cup. England had gone out to France in the quarterfinals and, beyond the usual kneejerk attacks on Gareth Southgate, there was a sense of general optimism.
Maresca still 'trusts' Mudryk after failed drugs test
Enzo Maresca has thrown his support behind Mykhailo Mudryk, saying he believes the Chelsea winger's insistence that he is innocent of taking a banned substance.
Caldentey's late spot-kick secures first place for Arsenal
A late Mariona Caldentey penalty powered Arsenal to the top of Group C in the Champions League at Bayern Munich's expense after a Magda Eriksson double looked to have secured a draw for the visitors.
Taylor 'desperate' for a break as brilliant Barça take top spot from City
Manchester City's head coach, Gareth Taylor, says his team desperately need the upcoming winter break to bolster their squad, after they were comprehensively outplayed by a Barcelona side who reminded everybody why they are the reigning European champions with an emphatic win.
Freddie calls up Flintoff as teen makes the grade for Lions tour
Rocky Flintoff has been called up to his father's Lions squad for next month's tour of Australia, with England using the trip to give young bowlers who are already in contention for a place in the senior Test squad experience of local conditions before next winter's Ashes.
