Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou attributed his team’s faltering Premier League campaign to a mounting injury crisis following their 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Thursday.
Anthony Elanga’s first-half strike lifted Nottingham Forest into third place under former Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo, while Postecoglou’s side slipped to 11th after suffering their ninth loss in 18 league matches.
Despite dominating possession with over 70%, Spurs failed to convert their control into goals at the City Ground. Injuries to key players, including goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and defenders Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Ben Davies have exacerbated the team’s struggles.
Postecoglou highlighted the impact of juggling domestic and European commitments with a depleted squad. Spurs have progressed to the League Cup semi-finals and are on track to reach the Europa League knockout stage, but the additional fixtures are straining his injury-hit team.
“We are asking a lot of this group of players,” Postecoglou said. “A lot of these guys are playing every three days. It’s only logical they are not going to be at their sharpest, but they are trying.
“A disappointing goal we conceded, but aside from that, the boys worked hard and tried to generate as many opportunities as we could considering the context of the game and how Nottingham Forest play. We just couldn’t get over the line.”
Tottenham’s defensive frailties were further exposed when Djed Spence received a red card in stoppage time, leaving Postecoglou with even fewer options for Sunday’s clash against Wolves. To add to the woes, Spurs’ only fit natural centre-back, Radu Dragusin, was forced off late in the game with an ankle injury.
“He (Dragusin) was a bit sore,” Postecoglou confirmed. “He hurt his ankle and said he couldn’t continue, so we’ll have to wait and see.”
With key players sidelined and defensive resources stretched thin, Postecoglou faces an uphill battle to steady Tottenham’s league form while maintaining momentum in cup competitions.
