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Ange Postecoglou backs Tottenham players for 'commitment' after Carabao Cup exit
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Ange Postecoglou has defended his Tottenham squad after their Carabao Cup semi-final humiliation against Liverpool, and insists their commitment is unimpeachable.
Spurs surrendered a one-goal advantage from the first leg of their tie with the Reds at Anfield on Thursday, as the Premier League leaders ran riot in a 4-0 rout to progress.
With the North London club closer to the relegation places than the top four, prospects of silverware this term and Europe next year seemingly rest on the UEFA Europa League.
Postecoglou, whose bright start at Tottenham has since curdled into discontent, backed himself to win a trophy in his sophomore season though, and is under increasing pressure.
But ahead of a crucial FA Cup fourth round tie with Aston Villa on Sunday, the Greek-Australian backed the drive and devotion of his players, backing them to shut out criticism.
"There's plenty about them," he was quoted by The Guardian. "I get the pile-on at the moment. It's really easy for people to stick their boots in and question the players.
"That's not something I question. We were disappointed last night didn't go the way we wanted to. [We] didn't really perform at the levels we wanted to.
"That doesn't define this group of players by any stretch, in my eyes. We'll go out there on Sunday and put in more of a performance that reflects where we're at.
"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."
