By Sam Dean, Matt Law and Rob Bagchi
This might prove to be the day the Ange Postecoglou dream died as the Tottenham Hotspur head coach took on his own supporters and lost.
Postecoglou had clashed with Spurs fans in the past, most notably after the defeats at Bournemouth and Fulham, but this felt different. This felt like the end of what had started as a love affair.
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs have lost again.Credit: Getty Images
Enzo Fernandez’s winning goal inflicted a 16th Premier League defeat on Tottenham and meant that Postecoglou became the first Spurs manager to lose all of his first four games against London rivals Chelsea.
But, incredibly, in this car crash of a league season for Spurs, that was not the worst of it for Postecoglou.
Responding to chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” after he had taken off Lucas Bergvall, the Australian cupped an ear at them as they celebrated a goal from the midfielder’s replacement, Pape Matar Sarr.
Sarr’s strike came in the 70th minute against the run of play, just six minutes after his introduction.
It appeared that Postecoglou had mocked his own fans, although he later claimed he had been signalling for more noise from the away end.
Whatever his motivation, Postecoglou’s response fell flat as Sarr’s strike was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check for a foul on Moisés Caicedo and Tottenham were unable to find an equaliser.
Postecoglou was right to complain that the check for the foul on Caicedo took so long, as it should have been easy for referee Craig Pawson to spot at first glance after being sent to the screen by VAR Jarred Gillett.
Unlike at Bournemouth, when Postecoglou had faced up to the travelling supporters at the final whistle, this time he stayed near the centre circle as his players made their way over to applaud the fans.
Pape Mata Sarr looks dejected after the final whistle.Credit: Getty Images
He lingered and looked like he thought about going over to the supporters he had cupped an ear at, but instead offered a short and sheepish applause from a safe distance and disappeared down the tunnel.
There had also been some claims made on social media that Son Heung-min had shushed the Spurs fans when Sarr’s shot hit the back of the net, but the captain did face up to the supporters before heading into the dressing room.
Unless Tottenham can somehow win the Europa League and consequently qualify for the Champions League, then it appears inconceivable that Postecoglou can now survive a season that may yet turn toxic on the evidence at Stamford Bridge.
Postecoglou was only missing Dejan Kulusevski from his first-choice line-up against Chelsea and yet his Tottenham team were toothless and disorganised. Apart from the disallowed goal and a late rally, when Robert Sanchez saved well from Son, the visitors offered virtually no threat.
While the pressure on Postecoglou will now be even greater, this was a result that came as a huge boost for Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca and his team’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
It could so easily have been Maresca facing the wrath of his own fans had Chelsea failed to win, but his refreshed team, boosted by the return of Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer, produced a spirited performance with some moments of quality.
It remains to be seen whether the supporters will buy Postecoglou’s explanation that he cupped his ear to ask for more support, or whether this really is the beginning of the end for him.
The Telegraph, London
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