Pundit Paul Merson criticised Tottenham’s tactical against Chelsea as he suggested that the manager should change his “high line system”.
Spurs were thrashed by Chelsea last weekend, as Tottenham ended the match with 9 men. Red cards were shown to defenders Christian Romero and Destiny Udogie.
Despite playing with less men, Postecoglou’s side continued to play a dangerous high line and at one point, Spurs were playing up at the halfway line. However, Chelsea passed ball over the top and through lines due Tottenham’s tactical failure.
Manager Ange Postecoglou talked about his players and explained his process of playing a high line. He said :-
“We were very close to getting that equaliser a couple of times.
“It goes to show the spirit and character, which to be fair the lads have shown from day one. We’ve had all sorts of challenges to overcome, but it was just a metre too far today.
“It’s just who we are, mate. It is how we are going to be as long as I’m here. We go down to five men, mate, we will have a crack.”
Merson claims Tottenham’s plan didn’t work for them against Chelsea
Paul Merson claims Tottenham’s tactical to sitting back deep didn’t work for them. He wrote in his SkySports column :-
“Tottenham playing on the halfway line with nine players was just extraordinary.
“I’d never seen anything like it. But Ange Postecoglou should have changed tactics.
“When it gets down to the last 15 minutes or so and it’s still 1-1, then you’ve got to change it. The clock moves a lot quicker with 15 or 20 minutes to go in the final part of the game. Sit nine behind the ball and make it very difficult for Chelsea.
“I like Postecoglou and he probably thought Chelsea were going to score in the second half playing against 10 men, so it’s pointless going out with a whimper, playing 10 behind the ball and never looking like scoring a goal. But sooner or later Chelsea had to find that pass in behind. It was very easy. If that was Man City playing Tottenham it would have been 10-1 at least.
“Chelsea should have worked it out a lot quicker. That was worrying. I didn’t think it was clever the way they played in the second half. It was there to score five, six, seven goals. But that’s what happens when you’ve got a young team without experience.
“The Tottenham players gave absolutely everything. They got beaten 4-1 at home in a big London derby and the fans are still clapping them off the pitch. Those players are playing for the manager and taking on board what he says.”
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