ANGE Postecoglou savaged Timo Werner in the aftermath of Spurs’ disappointing draw with Rangers in the Europa League at Ibrox tonight and warned he needs more from his senior players.
Posteocoglou substituted the experienced German internationalist at the start of the second and put on Dejan Kulusevski after a flat first half performance from the English club.
Swedish internationalist Kulusevski netted an equaliser with 15 minutes of regulation time to earn the visitors a draw in the league phase match.
However, the former Celtic manager, who has a raft of key personnel missing through suspension and injury, was still deeply unhappy with how Werner performed after the full-time whistle.
“We weren't anywhere near our best, that's fair to say,” he said. “But at the same time we're in a period of games where we're grinding through at the moment.
“Obviously we're a fairly depleted squad and there are some players who need to stand up week in, week out. In the context of that, like I said, in the end I think it was a good outcome for us.”
Asked why he substituted Werner, he said: “He wasn't playing anywhere near the level he should.
“When you've got 18-year-olds, it's not acceptable to me. I said that to Timo. He's a senior international, he's a German international. It's not like we've got many options.
“I need everyone to at least be going out there, trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn't acceptable.”
Asked how the RB Leipzig loanee and former Chelsea man had responded to his words, Postecoglou said: “I don't really know and it's not really of great concern.
“Like I said, we just need everybody, including him, to be contributing because we don't have the depth to leave people out if they're performing poorly. We need them to play their part.
“Like I said, especially the senior guys, when I'm asking younger guys to do massive jobs, I expect a level of performance from some of the senior guys and today wasn't that.”
Postecoglou was pleased with how youngster Archie Gray, the son of former Scotland internationalist Andy, performed at centre half in the 1-1 draw with Rangers in Govan.
“He's 18 and it’s a big experience for him,” he said. “I thought he handled himself really well. We're asking him to do something, to play in an unfamiliar position in such big games, as an 18-year-old in his first year at this level.
“I think it's outstanding what he's doing. And I thought Lucas [Bergvall] was excellent when he came on as well. He was due to start tonight but he wasn't feeling well today, he was a bit under the weather so we had to keep him on the bench.
“But that's a massive positive for us. I think those two, as 18-year-olds, who are already contributing and experiencing these things, will be of enormous benefit to us.”
