Ange Postecoglou hits back at Jamie Redknapp’s Tottenham 'pile-on' as boss snipes 'I don't care what they think'
It's looking less likely than ever that Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou will deliver his silverware promise this season. But the fiery Aussie remains in no mood to listen to his doubters.
A 4-0 Anfield humbling saw Spurs dreams lifting silverware for the first time since 2008 by Arne Slot's Liverpool, who had trailed 1-0 from the first leg. That sets up a final showdown with Newcastle United for the Reds, whilst Celtic hero Ange and his injury ravaged squad turn their attentions back to avoiding being dragged into a Premier League relegation scrap.
Tottenham's showing was ripped into by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, but boss Ange - who also hit out at Jamie Carragher for his stinging criticism earlier in the year - insists that he's paying not attention to his cynics. He said: "It doesn't really affect me, what I do, what I think.
"There's plenty about them (the players). I get the pile-on at the moment, it's really easy for people to stick their boots in. We're an easy mark at the moment, I get that. Obviously making a semi-final is an absolute disaster because we didn't play well last night. I assume not making the semi-final would have put us in a better place. But that's the way people are seeing us at the moment.
"Do we use it to prove people wrong? No, because I don't know which people I'm meant to be proving wrong. I said last night, it's irrelevant to me what other people's opinions are. People are on the TV and the radio and in the newspapers to give opinions and I respect that. They're allowed to do that but I don’t have any obligation to listen to any of it.
“To get fuelled by the comments of people I’ve never even met, I don’t know how you live your life, but I certainly don't live my life that way. That's with all respect that they're there to give an opinion. It's not like I want to be successful here so I can go to these people and say to them 'oh, look, you were wrong'. I don't even know them. Why would I care where they think we're at? They're a million miles away from us, but they're allowed to have their opinion.
“We're an easy mark at the moment, and look after last night, there are times you've just got to take it, keep your council and atone for it in the way that only really matters and that is with playing the football I know we can.” Redknapp had said that he couldn't "remember a team going down in my lifetime with less of a fight" a comment that received a typically dry response from Ange following the match.
The Aussie said: "You’re asking me, ask Jamie. He has obviously made the comment. I know people get really excited by things like that. People are on TV to give opinions and that’s what they do. That’s their job. My job is not to scan the TV or the commentary on our games. My job is to manage this football club and whatever people think or don’t think is kind of irrelevant."
