Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has fiercely defended his young squad following their FA Cup elimination at the hands of Aston Villa, calling out what he described as “agenda-driven” criticism.
Spurs’ cup campaign ended in disappointment just days after their Carabao Cup semi-final loss to Liverpool. Against Villa, they suffered an early setback when Jacob Ramsey’s shot slipped past 21-year-old goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, leading to widespread criticism.
Premier League icon Alan Shearer, commenting on the match, was particularly harsh, questioning Kinsky’s error with, “What on earth is he doing?”
Postecoglou, however, refused to let the blame fall on his young players, pointing out the severe injury crisis plaguing the squad.
Key names like Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner, Guglielmo Vicario, Radu Dragusin, Destiny Udogie, and James Maddison remain sidelined. Even defensive stalwarts Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have struggled with injuries, leaving Spurs short on experience.
With 11 first-team players unavailable, the Australian coach made an impassioned plea to critics. “People will judge me, and that’s fine,” he said in his post-match conference. “But you can’t judge these players on this.
They’ve given everything—two 18-year-olds, a 17-year-old, a 19-year-old, and a 21-year-old goalkeeper against one of the best teams in the country.”
Postecoglou also pointed out Villa’s advantage, having had a full week’s rest, unlike Spurs, who played a grueling semi-final just days earlier. “It’s too easy to be critical of them,” he continued. “I have nothing but admiration and respect for this group.”
Despite their exit, the Tottenham boss remains steadfast in backing his players, insisting their efforts should not be overshadowed by results.