If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry. Despite all the scrutiny on the Tottenham Hotspur boss, Ange Postecoglou still has jokes.
In the second half of their final league stage match in the Europa League against Swedish outfit IF Elfsborg, the ball rolled out near where he was standing on the touchline. He attempted to knock the ball back into play but didn’t get there in time, so turned around and then clutched at his hamstring, smiling.
It was a reference to what had happened minutes earlier: Radu Dragusin went off injured after twisting his knee awkwardly while playing for the ball. Dragusin had just come on at half-time to replace Micky van de Ven, the team’s star centre-back whose 45-minute return from a hamstring problem, after nearly two months out, went according to plan. But the plan wasn’t to have another centre-back go down, too. They already had 12 first-teamers unavailable.
Damola Ajayi celebrates.Credit: Getty Images
Depending on the severity, Dragusin’s injury could have far-reaching implications for the remainder of Tottenham’s season and, in turn, Postecoglou’s future in the job. With Cristian Romero still sidelined and van de Ven needing to be managed carefully given his history, Spurs’ capacity to rotate their central defenders ahead of a critical stretch of games, including next week’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool, remains ... well, hamstrung.
“I don’t have any further information, but it didn’t look good as he was coming off,” Postecoglou said post-match. “We’ll just have wait and see, but it’s disappointing.”
By full-time, tears of pain became tears of joy as Spurs romped to a 3-0 victory over Elfsborg, with all three goals scored by academy products who released the pressure valve - first Dane Scarlett, who replaced Dragusin, then debutant Damola Ajayi, and then with the last action of the match, Mikey Moore, the club’s most exciting prodigy since Harry Kane, according to some observers.
The result confirmed a fourth-placed finish in the league phase and a spot in the Europa League’s round of 16, which begins in March; they’ll face one of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, FC Midtjylland or AZ Alkmaar. For all the rightful concern about their position in the Premier League, they remain a live chance in all three cup competitions. And while it is difficult to be overly optimistic about their chances if senior players keep dropping like flies, the kids may have something to offer.
Scarlett had spent the first part of the season on loan at second-tier Oxford United but was recalled in January and will now see out the season with Tottenham, since FIFA rules block players from featuring for three different clubs in the one season. Ideally, it will be the first of many impactful moments from the 20-year-old striker, who joined the academy when he was six, and has now scored for his boyhood club in their hour of need.
Spurs had totally dominated the first half for no reward, but it was clear the sheer presence of van de Ven made them a better team in almost every aspect, while on the left flank, Son Heung-min turned back the clock with a performance that suggests he is far from the spent force that some believe he is.
Much-needed reinforcements are hopefully on the horizon. Spurs are reportedly making a strong play for French sensation Mathys Tel, who has requested to leave Bayern Munich, and a €60m transfer fee has been agreed. It is now up to the 19-year-old, who has been likened to a young Thierry Henry, to make his decision, but other Premier League clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea are lurking.
Though it has taken far too long for any action in the transfer market - Tottenham’s only signing thus far has been for a back-up goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky, despite the clear and immediate need for outfield reinforcements - Tel might just be worth the wait.
His signature would be a massive boon for Postecoglou, and give him not only an excellent attacking option for now, but a player to potentially build around for the future.
But he, too, remains in the dark on where discussions sit.
“I can’t tell you anything about Tel,” he said.
“I’ve been focusing on getting the team prepared tonight. Other people are working in the background. As I’ve said all along, I’m allowing them to get on with it and when and if there’s any news, I’m sure I’ll find out.”
