Ange Postecoglou is coping with Tottenham's injury issues.
Ange Postecoglou is coping with Tottenham's injury issues.
Ange Postecoglou is refusing to blame Tottenham’s lengthy injury list on a packed calendar.
Spurs face Fulham this afternoon with a squad stretched so thin there were three schoolboys on the bench against Roma on Thursday night.
But after spending last season bemoaning the lack of European football, Postecoglou reckons it would be a touch hypocritical to complain about having too many games now.
Defender Sergio Romero has a slim chance of returning today but six senior players remain out including stricken first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, centre half Micky van de Ven and striker Richarlison.
"It is a challenge for sure,” Postecoglou said. “Where we sit right now I think we have handled it okay considering the issues we have had.
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“We haven't had the luxury of a massive squad. We've put big tasks to 18-year-olds, 17-year-olds and we are in a decent position in all competitions.
“It will challenge us – particularly with the way we play. We want to play a high-energy, high-intensity game which takes a lot out of you physically and mentally.
“These are the challenges we've got to face and hopefully we'll get a couple of players back in the period between now and Christmas.
“We will have to be really careful how we manage the team through that and the players' loads to make sure we can be in a good space come the New Year to challenge in the competitions we are in."
But Postecoglou does not think moving league games involving teams who play in Europe on a Thursday to the following Monday night would not make “too much of a difference.”
Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario broke an ankle last week.
He added: “We are at the mercy of broadcasters as well and you have to understand that. It is not going to always be ideal in the way the fixtures come out.
“I sat here bemoaning we weren't in Europe last year and the lack of games so I can't sit here and say we've got too many now.
“It's just the balance. I don't think it's just anecdotal but injury rates are going up across the board in elite football and at some point that needs to be addressed."
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