Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham will be “playing with fire” if they do not bring in any new players this month after confirming that their record signing Dominic Solanke is likely to be out for six weeks with a knee injury.
Spurs face Leicester on Sunday having picked up only five points from their past 10 matches, and have not won at home in the Premier League since the start of November. Languishing in 15th at this stage of the campaign would usually spell trouble for a Tottenham manager but Postecoglou is understood to have been given the opportunity to revive their fortunes by the chairman Daniel Levy having enjoyed some success in the cup competitions.
Another major reason for the Australian retaining Levy’s backing is the amount of injuries Spurs have picked up this season, with Postecoglou revealing after the 3-2 win over Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday that the £65 million striker Solanke is set to be missing until March despite not requiring surgery. Asked whether there is money to spend this month to bring in any replacements, Postecoglou said it was down to the club’s technical director Johan Lange to “help” his squad.
“I’m not out there trying to find opportunities for the club, that’s not my role at this time. There isn’t time to do it,” Postecoglou said. “I have daily communication with Johan in particular, and he’s trying everything he possibly can to get the help we need.
“I don’t think I’m stating anything other than the obvious, and for me to come here and say something else would be disingenuous: this playing group needs help, there’s no doubt about that. We’re sort of playing with fire by not bringing anyone in. But the flip side of that is the club is trying to change that situation.”
Postecoglou is hoping both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven return in time for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool on February 6th and admitted that seeing both central defenders on their way back to full fitness had given the rest of his players “a big lift”.
But despite beating Arne Slot’s side and Manchester United at home in that competition, Tottenham have gone seven matches without a victory in the Premier League at their own stadium, and their manager acknowledged that it is important to improve on their “unacceptable” league position.
“Most fans understand the situation that we are in and they are probably not happy with it but they can probably see the potential,” he said. “Our job is to try and produce consistency in our league performances that hopefully alleviates some of the negativeness around the club at the moment.
“I think the players all sense the opportunity: we’re deep in one competition, we’re in the knockout stages of another and further along in the FA Cup. We need to get some results in the league because where we are is unacceptable. But there is still plenty to play for and it’s exciting. I think they all sense that as well, and they want us to get through this period so we can tackle the exciting part of the season in the best shape possible.”
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