Ange Postecoglou was furious with Timo Werner’s performance for Tottenham against Rangers, slamming the forward’s display before being hooked at half-time as ‘unacceptable’.
Werner struggled to get into the game in the first half. His performance was epitomised by a loose touch which ran out for a throw-in, ruining a promising Spurs attack.
Postecoglou wanted far more from the Germany international, who he said should have been setting a standard in a team which included teenager Archie Gray. The livid Australian said he expects more from a player of Werner’s calibre.
“He wasn’t playing anywhere near the levels he can. When you’ve got 18-year-olds, it’s not acceptable to me. I told him that. He’s a senior international, a German international,” Postecoglou said.
“In the moment we’re in now, I need everyone to be at least going out there and giving the best they can. What he produced wasn’t acceptable. When I’m asking the younger players to do massive jobs, I expect more from the senior players like him.”
Werner was replaced by Dejan Kulusevski at half-time with the score goalless. Hamza Igamane’s excellent finish put Rangers ahead two minutes into the second half, as Postecoglou stood on the brink of another horror defeat.
However, Kulusevski equalised with 15 minutes remaining. Spurs and Rangers both have 11 points from their opening six matches, with the Scottish Premiership side a place above Ibrox’s visitors. Rangers occupy the final automatical qualification spot for the knockout rounds.
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