Paul Merson has delivered his honest thoughts on Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham after the 4-3 Premier League defeat to Chelsea. Despite going two goals in front after just 11 minutes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs conceded the following four with Son Heung-min grabbing a late consolation in the seven-goal thriller.
The Lilywhites started the game at a relentless speed with Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski on target in the first quarter of an hour. Jadon Sancho swiftly pulled one back with the Blues then dominating the second period which saw Enzo Fernandez and two Cole Palmer penalties turn the game on its head.
Following the clash, Merson issued a rather brutal message to Postecoglou when giving his verdict on Tottenham's performance. "I don’t want to have a go because I like Ange and I like watching Tottenham play," he admitted on Sky Sports.
"But I’m watching the game and it’s like: ‘We’re 2-0 up against Chelsea, let’s just keep on going.’ It’s like they’re playing against Kilmarnock or St Mirren and ‘I’m the Celtic manager and I’ve got the best players.
“I haven’t got the best players at Tottenham. I haven’t got the best players, so I have to change. I’m not Man City when I can go: ‘You have a shot, we have a shot and we will destroy you,’ like they have over the years.” You’ve got to be cute. you’ve got to say: ‘Right, we’re 2-0 up here. Sit back and let’s counterattack.’
"Solanke was ruining the centre halves, holding it up and bringing people in. They couldn’t live with him.” Despite leading for the majority of the first period, Tottenham struggled to control the game with Romeo Lavia delivering an excellent display in the centre of midfield for the visitors.
On exactly that, Merson added: "They were charging all over the place and all of a sudden Lavia, the ball comes in and he just put it round the corner to Enzo Fernandez or Palmer and then they’re running the defenders. It’s so naive.”
“I don’t want to have a go at Ange because I do like him. But it was too easy for Chelsea and that’s why I said at half-time that there was no doubt that Chelsea with this football match because I just know what Tottenham are going to do.” Ironically, given Merson's comments, Postecoglou will be returning to Scotland on Thursday.
Up next for Spurs is a Europa League clash against Rangers at Ibrox with the Lilywhites winless in their last two European games and their last victory being back in late November.
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