While a significant week in Tottenham’s season ultimately ended in bitter disappointment, it will at least spare Postecoglou’s bruised squad from repeatedly playing twice a week, allowing them to get players back and concentrate their efforts on Europa League success and climbing the Premier League table.
With the Europa League last 16 not taking place until March, Spurs have three league games against Manchester United, Ipswich Town and Manchester City spread over the next three weeks.
Postecoglou will hope to see signs of recovery during that run, from a squad currently devoid of confidence.
“Tottenham mean well but they are playing with fear,” former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who played under Postecoglou at Celtic, said on BBC One.
“It is a tough moment and you can see Postecoglou feels it. He is being tested in his belief, he is asking questions of himself. But that is where you need support.
“You need everyone on the same page. You have the fans pulling in one direction, Postecoglou fronting up talking about injuries, and players who know they should be playing better. It’s not a good recipe.”
Despite Postecoglou’s praise, fellow pundit Dion Dublin said he believed members of the Tottenham team were currently “hiding”.
“The players who should be giving options don’t have the confidence to have the ball in positions where they should receive it, they don’t back themselves,” Dublin said.
“We used to call it hiding, going into a position where you can’t receive it. Son Heung-min, he is their best player and he is going through that phase.”
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