Ange Postecoglou Defiant as Spurs’ Season Hangs in the Balance After FA Cup Exit

**Ange Postecoglou Defiant as Spurs’ Season Hangs in the Balance After FA Cup Exit**

Ange Postecoglou remains defiant despite Tottenham’s season taking another hit with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round, capping off a dismal week following their 4-0 thrashing by Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final. The Australian manager, under mounting pressure amid calls for his dismissal, insists Spurs can still salvage their turbulent campaign.

With Tottenham languishing in 14th place in the Premier League and their hopes for silverware now resting solely on the Europa League, frustrations are boiling over. Spurs fans voiced their anger at Villa Park, directing chants at chairman Daniel Levy and criticizing Postecoglou’s struggling squad. The club’s 17-year trophy drought looks set to continue unless fortunes change quickly.

However, Postecoglou isn’t backing down. Highlighting the injury crisis that has plagued the squad—with key players like Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, and Brennan Johnson sidelined—he stressed that his team is giving everything despite the setbacks.

*”Nothing really changes,”* Postecoglou said after the match. *”We’ve had 11 first-team players out. Any team missing that many would struggle. But these players are giving everything. We’ve been coping with this for over two months, playing twice a week. It’s tough, but they’ve done an unbelievable job.”*

The Australian tactician sees the upcoming break from midweek fixtures as an opportunity to reset. *“We finally have a couple of weeks without midweek games. That will help us recover, regroup, and push for a strong finish. Europe is still very much alive for us, and we’re in a good position there. Hopefully, we’ll get some key players back soon.”*

Despite a late consolation goal from Mathys Tel—who scored his first for Spurs since joining on loan from Bayern Munich—Tottenham’s attacking approach continues to draw criticism, with many arguing it leaves them vulnerable defensively. Postecoglou, however, remains committed to his philosophy.

*”Yes, we started poorly,”* he admitted, referencing Jacob Ramsey’s early goal for Villa and Son Heung-min’s costly missed chance. *“We struggled to control the game early on, and conceding that first goal gave Villa momentum. But even at 2-0 down, I felt we were still a threat. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t make it count.”*

With Tottenham’s form dipping—losing five of their last eight matches—questions loom over Postecoglou’s future. Still, he maintains that his players are fully behind him, and he believes Spurs can turn things around.

*”This isn’t over,”* Postecoglou declared. *”There’s still a lot to fight for, and I believe in this team.”*