Ange unconcerned about hurt egos of players

TOUGH TALK

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur are struggling in the English Premier League with only one win in their last five games and manager Ange Postecoglou said he is not afraid of slamming his players ahead of the league game at Southampton on Dec 15.

After calling Timo Werner out in Spurs' Europa League 1-1 draw against Rangers on Dec 12, he said the following day "it wasn't criticism, but his assessment" that the 28-year-old did not meet the team's expectations.

Spurs were 11th in the Premier League standings with 20 points from 15 games ahead of the Dec 14 fixtures and, with important matches coming in the next few weeks, the Australian manager urged his players to be ready for tough challenges.

"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. We want to achieve things, we want to be successful," Postecoglou said.

"We're down to the bare bones in players. If there's somebody in that dressing room who's fit, able to contribute and feels like he needs something extra in this moment, he's probably not the right type.