PA Media/dpa
London
Ange Postecoglou dismissed questions over his future after Tottenham hit a new “low” with a 2-1 defeat to Leicester, but retains belief the club can still achieve something special this season.
Spurs slipped to a sixth defeat from their last seven matches in the Premier League to increase the pressure on Postecoglou, who was again without 10 first-team players.
A 3-2 loss at Everton ramped up the speculation around Postecoglou’s job, but he masterminded victory by the same score away to Hoffenheim on Thursday to keep the club on track to make the Europa League last-16, while next month will bring a Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Liverpool.
Richarlison’s 33rd-minue header had Tottenham on course to return to winning ways in the division for the first time since December 15, but Jamie Vardy levelled for Leicester within a minute of the second period before Bilal El Khannouss fired in what proved the winner after 50 minutes.
Home fans turned on Spurs chairman Daniel Levy during the second period and while boos greeted full-time after this latest defeat leaves them 15th, Postecoglou feels his depleted squad continue to give everything during a period of 17 fixtures in two months amid a continuously growing injury crisis.
“I really believe in this group of players. Even today, what I asked of them, some of the performances were outstanding considering what they’ve been through. To me that’s all positive, but ultimately, the fact that we’ve lost another game of football, the focus is on that,” Postecoglou reflected.
“This is probably as low as we’ve been so far this year but I still think that in these last three months we can do something really special and I think these players believe that.
“All these little things that are not allowing us to get any momentum, I’m sure will change and when they change, I’m really confident we can make an impact.”
First-choice defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven returned to training this week, while Spurs continue to chase additions in the transfer window.
Asked if he will be here to welcome back key personnel, Postecoglou admitted: “Who knows. I reckon there is probably a fair chunk that will say no.
“I feel like this group of players, not for me, are giving everything for the club. I have a group of staff that is really committed. I focus on that.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy had faced speculation over his position following a run of seven straight league losses, but watched his team produce an excellent comeback to win in the division for the first time since December 3.
This victory moved Leicester out of the bottom three and Van Nistelrooy praised his squad.
He said: “We got 1-0 behind but we were playing well and I said that before in previous games. I saw today a team that was 1-0 behind, but we weren’t affected mentally.
“At half-time the players were calm. They knew the game-plan was going accordingly. We had chances and we wanted to start the second half really well, which they went out and did extremely well to be fair.”
Villa falter again
Aston Villa endured another Champions League hangover after they drew 1-1 with West Ham.
Jacob Ramsey’s early opener at Villa Park was cancelled out by Emerson Palmieri’s second-half header to leave Villa without a Premier League win after each of their last six European games.
This was a big chance missed to close the gap on the top four while more worrying was the sight of Tyrone Mings leaving the pitch in tears after suffering a first-half knee injury.
It was just his 10th appearance back after missing 445 days with an ACL but he did emerge after the break to watch from the dugout, donning a smile and giving the crowd a thumbs up.
Villa had chances to kill the game in an early blitz of chances but Mings’ withdrawal changed the dynamic and in the end West Ham may consider themselves unlucky not to earn a first away win under Graham Potter.
Premier League
Sunday Results
Crystal Palace 1 Brentford 2
Tottenham 1 Leicester City 2
Aston Villa 1 West Ham 1.
