Despite winning the game 5-1, Ange Postecoglou was not happy with his Tottenham Hotspur squad at half-time in the pre-season friendly against Shakhtar Donetsk, and Dejan Kulusevski has revealed what the Spurs boss told his side during the break.
Tottenham continued their pre-season schedule in style with a huge win over Ukraine side Shakhtar Donetsk on Sunday afternoon, achieving a victory in Ange Postecoglou‘s first game at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in the process.
Spurs prevailed thanks to a four-goal haul from Harry Kane and a Dane Scarlett effort, but the Lilywhites had to wait until the second half to dominate the game.
The two sides went in level at half-time, with Kane converting a penalty late in the first half before Shakhtar found an equaliser just before the break.
(Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
Postecoglou was angry with Spurs players at half-time
Tottenham were delayed in coming back onto the pitch for the second half, with Postecoglou keeping his players in the dressing room longer than normal, and Dejan Kulusevski has revealed what the boss was telling his team.
Kulusevski told the press (via Football.London): “At half-time, he was very angry because we stopped playing for five minutes and you cannot be like that. You have to play always. Just because you’re tired, you [can’t] let them have the ball. Things happen like that.
“I like him a lot and I’m looking forward to improving under him. He said we always have to play. Don’t shoot away the ball, don’t stop pressing, don’t waste time. Always play, play the same and don’t think about the score or the time. Just play and have fun.”
On the adjustment the squad is undergoing right now, Kulusevski added: “Last season, maybe we scored one and then we tried to protect the result. So of course we have to improve but second half was very very good.”
Spurs Web Opinion
The kind of football we should be seeing this year is a far cry from the dull displays we had to endure last season.
I, for one, am willing to accept some adjustment period while the team get used to that approach, if it means we will be entertained and see some positivity in our play.
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