Ange Postecoglou was visibly frustrated in his post-match press conference following a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the Premier League. The match began with Dominic Solanke scoring for Tottenham just four minutes into the game, thanks to a deep cross from Pedro Porro and an impressive run by Lucas Bergvall.
However, the lead was short-lived as Anthony Gordon equalised for Newcastle two minutes later, albeit controversially. The goal came after Joelinton's hand appeared to intercept Bergvall's pass, but VAR ruled it as an accidental handball, much to the dismay of the Tottenham players and Postecoglou.
Newcastle then took the lead before half-time when Alexander Isak capitalised on a mistake by Radu Dragusin. Despite hitting the woodwork through Brennan Johnson in the second half, Tottenham were unable to find an equaliser.
It was a defeat but you must be proud of the boys despite the result?
"Hugely proud. I'm shattered the boys didn't get the rewards they deserved because we were outstanding, our football was outstanding against a very good opponent in good form and a good place. I thought it was brilliant and outstanding, a game we deserved to win and on any other day we would have won."
Can I ask your opinion on their first goal?
"No, because I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I'll say is that on any other day, on a fair and even playing ground, we would have won that game. Simple as that. Don't keep asking me about the decision. If you guys have no opinion about it that's fine. I know what my opinion is and, as I said, if that was a different day and it was an even and fair playing ground we would have won that game."
What did you make of Brandon Austin on his debut today?
"Yeah he was great. Everyone was great, unbelievable. Considering what we had to put up with...Radu [Dragusin] and Archie [Gray] literally got off sickbeds to play today, and Radu was shattered at half-time. Brandon, obviously we found out yesterday was playing. I can't be prouder of the players, I'm just angry and disappointed it wasn't football that denied them getting the rewards today."
Can you tell us about the bug that went through the camp?
"Just a bug. Radu and Archie were bed-ridden all week. Fraser, obviously he's still bed-ridden and struggling with it, there's a couple of others struggling. Like I said, at half-time [Radu] didn't have any more to give. On Thursday, we literally had 11 fit players for training. But I don't care about that, what I care about is the players put in an unbelievable performance, fantastic football, created chances, denied them and having to defend strongly which we did. And it's unfair on them more than anything else that they didn't get the rewards today."
Why did you leave Bissouma, Maddison and Son on the bench?
"Just a combination of I thought we were going to need some running power and energy early on and as the game went on we would be able to use the experience of the guys who came on and I thought it worked well. We finished really strong. We started the game really well and the only thing that stopped us in our tracks was not football. That was the whole idea about it. Guys like Sonny, Biss and Maddison to a lesser extent, they have played a lot of football and having them fresh helps them mentally as much as physically and I thought all three when they came on made a real difference for us."
What did you think about Dominic Solanke's performance in front of Tuchel?
"Brilliant, but I think the whole team was. Considering everything we had to go through and the situation we are in right now to put on a performance like that, I take my hat off to the players. I thought they were outstanding. I'm just really, really angry, angriest I think I have ever been in my career that they were denied the right rewards for a fantastic performance."
Does that performance give you confidence you can turn the form around?
"I have never lacked confidence. I get that the results aren't there and I get that whether people want to accept the situation we are in. You saw the performance of Archie, you saw Lucas today he was unbelievable as an 18 year old to play in that position. I just see so much to be positive about but we need to win games of football and usually when you play well, you do most things right you get the rewards. Unfortunately we were denied."
To clarify, are you angry with the officiating?
"I know you just want me to say something but I'm not going to. I think it's clear. Now whether people agree with me or not whether it wasn't handball or it was accidental, I'm just not interested in any of that discussion. What I'm saying is, on any given day with a fair and even playing field and logical thought processes we would have won that game, that's it. You can make what you want of that. I don't know what else to say about it."
