Ange Postecoglou didn’t hold back after watching Tottenham squander a 2-0 half-time lead to lose 3-2 against Brighton. Calling the performance “unacceptable,” he criticized his players for lacking fight. It was the angriest the head coach has been since taking charge, with his blunt words drawing comparisons to Antonio Conte’s infamous outburst in 2023 when Spurs blew a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Southampton.
Unlike Conte’s fiery delivery, Postecoglou’s criticism was more measured but just as pointed. “We didn’t do what’s required at this level—basic things like intensity and winning duels,” he said. “We simply weren’t competitive, and that’s non-negotiable. It’s the most disappointing loss I’ve had since joining, and it’s something I need to assess.”
Brighton took the lead in the 66th minute through Danny Welbeck, and Postecoglou didn’t make any substitutions until the 79th minute. But he insisted changes wouldn’t have made a difference. “Substitutions are irrelevant if you’re not competitive,” he said. “We didn’t deserve anything from that second-half performance. Even if we had gotten something, it would’ve been a false reward, and I don’t want that.”
Reflecting on the match, Postecoglou admitted his team should’ve secured the win in the first half but said the second-half collapse revealed deeper issues. When asked if he shared his frustration with the players in the dressing room, he was candid: “Absolutely. I don’t hide anything. I’m sure they’re disappointed, but so am I, and more importantly, so are our supporters.”
For Postecoglou, the real disappointment wasn’t the loss itself but the failure to meet basic competitive standards. “Losing happens,” he said, “but not showing fight is unacceptable at this level.”
