Tottenham did not have a fun night at Stamford Bridge.
Dejan Kulusevski’s team went on a beating against Chelsea on Thursday.
– It was not good enough, says Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou to Sky Sports.
After three consecutive starts, Dejan Kulusevski last started against Arsenal, and on Thursday he again got the chance to start against Chelsea away in a London derby in the Premier League.
Then it wasn’t a fun start to the evening for the Swede.
In the 24th minute, Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah got on top of a corner and headed in his first goal for the club’s A team to make it 1-0.
– Ange (Postecoglou, Tottenham coach) is angry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so angry,” Sky Sports’ Karen Carney said after the first goal.
Spurs then created some half-chances, but were not effective and in the 72nd minute it rang again. Kulusevski first drew a free-kick in a dangerous position, which Cole Palmer then fired over the crossbar, and then Nicolas Jackson headed the rebound into the net to make it 2-0.
In the end, Tottenham also fell just 2-0, and remains in fifth place in the Premier League. Chelsea are eighth in the league.
– It wasn’t good enough and I have to take responsibility for it. It’s on me. I’m the manager and I’m the one who puts them out. It wasn’t good enough. As we performed as we did in the first half, it means that my message has not got through, says Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou to Sky Sports.
When asked what went wrong, the answer is as follows:
– Come on, buddy. We didn’t play well. Do you want me to write you a documentation of what went wrong? I feel we have lost a bit of faith and belief in our football and it is up to me to change that.
Afterwards, Kulusevski is rated five by football.london.com.
“He got a start in his favorite number ten role with James Maddison on the bench, but did very little in the first half to affect things in the final third when he had the ball. Had more influence in the second half with some good runs offensively, before switching to the right wing after Maddison’s break-in”.
The Standard, in turn, gives Kulusevski a rating of four.
“Subdued in his big audition as a number ten, gave away the free-kick that led to Chelsea’s second goal”.
Starting XI:
Chelsea: Petrovic – Gilchrist, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella – Caicedo, Gallagher, Palmer – Madueke, Jackson, Mudryk.
Tottenham: Vicario – Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Royal – Bissouma, Sarr – Kulusevski, Johnson, Richarlison – Son.