Sixteen years without a trophy – and the drought looks set to continue.It has now been a full 16 years without silverware for Tottenham, and it seems likely that the drought will extend into a 17th season. Just four days after their League Cup semifinal defeat to Liverpool, Spurs were knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round by Aston Villa, leaving them with only the Europa League as a potential lifeline. In the Premier League, they are closer to the relegation zone than to securing a European spot—let alone competing for the title.Game over… mate!While fans sporadically called for the removal of chairman Daniel Levy during the match, it’s no secret that manager Ange Postecoglou is also under immense pressure. Once adored for his ultra-attacking, sometimes chaotic style of play, he is now heavily criticized, as that approach simply isn’t delivering results.Still, Australian insists the problem isn’t the playing style, though he’s open to discussing it. He believes the issue lies elsewhere—and he has reason to think so. Against Villa, he was missing 11 first-team players and could do little more than suffer a respectable 1:2 defeat. There wasn’t even much drama in the match, and that’s exactly what frustrates the fans.Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara on Ange Postecoglou…“It’s time to go now. Ange is out of his depth, Emery is on a different planet compared to him and his players bopped us off the park should of been 5, we’re like reserve team playing in academy games that don’t matter,… pic.twitter.com/o27G610mEw— Chris Cowlin (@ChrisCowlin) February 10, 2025 But Postecoglou is fighting back, standing by his players.“I don’t care if people want to judge me, but don’t judge this group of players. Say that I’ve done a bad job, that I’m not good enough—that’s fine. But just look at what these guys have been doing for the past two and a half months. I can’t praise them enough,” he said, referring to the grueling schedule that has likely contributed to the injury crisis.“It’s impossible for people to think that’s an excuse. That’s nowhere near an objective analysis. It’s just a campaign. If the goal is to get rid of me, fine. Well done. Go all the way. But what this group of players has done is incredible. Full credit to them.”Ange Postecoglou launches a passionate defence of his Tottenham Hotspur team after their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/c5IaFf58PI— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 9, 2025 Postecoglou didn’t miss the chance to point out Liverpool’s elimination at the hands of Plymouth Argyle. Arne Slot rested several key players, and it backfired—yet Liverpool at least had the luxury of squad depth. With so many injuries, Spurs strategist simply doesn’t have that option.“What did Liverpool do? They had the choice to rest players, and they made that decision for this game. And that’s just one match for them. We’re asking teenagers to play in Europe on Thursday and then in the Premier League on Sunday, and we’ve been doing that since November… This group of players will be an outstanding team when everyone is available. I have no doubt about that. But two 18-year-olds, a 17-year-old, a 19-year-old, and a 21-year-old goalkeeper playing away against one of the best teams in the country? And after two and a half months of playing every Thursday and Sunday? I don’t know what else to say,” the 59-year-old coach raged.Greatest FA Cup miracle ever seen! Second-tier strugglers kill LiverpoolWhen asked why Spurs looked so poor in attack against Villa, his answer was blunt:“Because they’re exhausted, mate. They can’t. If we hadn’t played on Thursday night, if I had players to rotate, do you really think we wouldn’t have been more aggressive in pressing? Unless you think they’re not human beings. Unless you think they’re some kind of superheroes who can play Liverpool on Thursday and then fly around the pitch today. That’s not how it works. They’re just people. Villa had a week to rest. We played Liverpool. Almost without substitutions. It’s easy for people to criticize these players, but I admire them… They just keep giving and giving,” Postecoglou concluded.FA CUP – ROUND 4Friday Man.Utd. – Leicester 2-1 (0-1)/Zirkzee 68, Maguire 90+3 – De Cordova-Reid 42/Saturday Leeds – Millwall 0-2 (0-1)/Azeez 30, 55/Leyton – Man. City 1-2 (1-0)/Ortega 16 og – Khusanov 56, De Bruyne 79/Coventry – Ipswich 1-4 (1-3)/Latibeaudiere 8 – Hirst 2 pen, Clarke 28, 37, Philogene 53/Everton – Bournemouth 0-2 (0-2)/Semenyo 23 pen, Jebbison 43/Preston – Wycombe 4-2 on pen (0-0)Southampton – Burnley 0-1 (0-0)/Edwards 77/Stoke – Cardiff 2-4 on pen (3-3)/Koumas 42, 47, Baker 58 pen – Colwill 8, Salech 19, 68/Wigan – Fulham 1-2 (0-1)/Smith 50 – Muniz 23, 55/Birmingham – Newcastle 2-3 (2-2)/Laird 1, Iwata 40 – Willock 21, 82, Wilson 26/Brighton – Chelsea 2-1 (1-1)/Rutter 12, Mitoma 57 – Verbruggen (og) 5/Sunday Blackburn – Wolverhampton 0-2 (0-2)/Joao Gomes 33, Cunha 34/Plymouth – Liverpool 1-0 (0-0)/Hardie 53 pen/Aston Villa – Tottenham 2-1 (1-0)/Ramsey 1, Rogers 64 – Tel 89/Monday 22.45: (10.5) Doncaster (6.50) Crystal Palace (1.25)***odds are subject to change***
