Tottenham criticism is ‘really easy’, says Ange Postecoglou

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou says it is “really easy” for people to “stick their boots” into his team.

Spurs were knocked out of the EFL Cup as they lost 4-0 in the semi-final second leg at Liverpool on Thursday night.

Postecoglou’s side, who held a 1-0 lead going into the match at Anfield, failed to register a single shot on target in the return game.

Former Spurs captain Jamie Redknapp said on Sky Sports that he had never seen a team “go down with less of a fight”.

“I get the pile on at the moment, it’s really easy for people to stick their boots in and question the players, but I don’t,” said Postecoglou.

“It’s not about taking it on my shoulders. Thursday night doesn’t direct me in what I do and think. We’re an easy mark at the moment, obviously making a semi-final is an absolute disaster.

“We were disappointed it didn’t go the way we wanted and we didn’t perform at the levels – but that doesn’t define this group of players in my eyes.”

Spurs travel to Aston Villa on Sunday for an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Unai Emery’s side.

The Australian does not expect to have any injured players back for the trip to Villa Park.

Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, Timo Werner, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven missed Thursday’s defeat at Anfield.