What Ange Postecoglou's nuclear rant at his Tottenham squad reveals about where the club are going - and the star players he has charged with saving his season
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There are timely echoes of Antonio Conte’s scathing critique of all that is inherently wrong with Tottenham as they prepare to return to Southampton with Ange Postecoglou on the warpath. 'You can change a lot of managers but the situation cannot change, believe me,' was the emphatic parting shot from Conte at the end of a blistering character assassination of players during which he accused them of lacking fire in their heart or their eyes in March 2023, when they let a 3-1 lead with a little over 10 minutes to play become a 3-3 draw on the south coast.
![[Like Conte, Ange Postecoglou now finds himself in the midst of a dismal run of form following a promising start at the club]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/11/93117205-14189507-image-a-25_1734089668603.jpg)
Spurs are back at St Mary’s for the first time on Sunday on a miserable run of one win in eight games and Postecoglou is turning his ire on the players. Timo Werner was selected for public criticism after a draw at Rangers on Thursday and, in the privacy of the Ibrox dressing room, he ordered more from other senior players including captain Son Heung-min, vice-captain James Maddison and Pedro Porro. Postecoglou and Porro were in animated conversation on the pitch after the final whistle.
![[Tottenham go into the clash with just one win in their last eight games in all competitions]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/11/93117011-14189507-image-a-22_1734089358318.jpg)
In his press conference on Friday, Postecoglou went on to question his squad's character, saying he was ‘sick of excuses’ and did not have time to worry about ‘bruised egos’ when the club was locked in a fight. Werner’s display at Ibrox was ‘unacceptable’, according to Postecoglou, the same gambit used by his predecessor to kick-start his infamous nine-minute rant.
![[Timo Werner was singled out for criticism after the club were held to a draw by Rangers]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/13/11/93117023-14189507-image-a-21_1734089348306.jpg)
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