Defiant Ange Postecoglou declares Tottenham will always ‘have a crack’ regardless of the situation

Ange Postecoglou isn’t about to change his ways despite his Tottenham team losing in the Premier League for the first time this season.

Ange Postecoglou tries to calm the situation during his Tottenham side’s 4-1 loss to Chelsea. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has made no apologies for his nine-man Spurs outfit’s risky defensive tactics in their 4-1 loss to Chelsea, declaring: “It’s just who we are, mate.”

Former Socceroos boss Postecoglou suffered his first English Premier League defeat on a wild and VAR-dominated night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs pair Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie were both sent off, with Udogie’s second-half dismissal leaving Tottenham with two players less than Chelsea for the final 44 minutes of a game that included nine minutes of stoppage time.

At that stage the score was 1-1, but rather than change his tactics by adopting a more defensive approach to perhaps give his depleted side its best chance of holding on for a draw, Postecoglou maintained a high line in defence, with Spurs continuing to press their London rivals in search of more goals.

However, Chelsea used its numerical advantage to get behind the Spurs defence and score three more times on a night that also included numerous VAR checks for potential goals and fouls.

A defiant Postecoglou praised his players for their bravery and promised nothing would change if Spurs were in similar situations in the future.

Ange Postecoglou shows his frustration during Tottenham’s loss to Chelsea. Picture: Glyn KIRK / AFP

“It’s just who we are, mate – it’s just who we are,” he told Sky Sports,

“It’s who we’re going to be as long as I’m here. We go down to five men, mate, we’ll have a crack.

“We were very, very close to getting an equaliser a couple of times. It goes to show (our) spirit and character, which to be fair to the lads, they’ve shown that from day one.

“We’ve had all sorts of challenges to overcome – it was just a bridge too fat today.”

The two red cards weren’t Spurs’ only problems, with key pair James Maddison (ankle) and Micky van de Ven (hamstring) forced off with injuries before half-time.

Postecoglou was also yellow carded, claiming it was for stepping outside his technical area to question a decision.

The former Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar coach was also frustrated by a “lot of standing around” while waiting for VAR decisions.

“I don’t like it,” he said of the time it was taking for technology to rule on on-field decisions made by match officials.

“It is the way the game is going. Some of it is self-inflicted because if we come out every week complaining about decisions, that is what will happen.

“Every decision gets forensically checked and we will be sitting around for a long time in every game trying to figure out what is going on.

“I am too old school. I’ll respect the referee’s decision right or wrong, but it is the way the game is going.”

Spurs have dropped to second on the Premier League ladder, one point behind first-placed Manchester City, after the completion of the round.