Ange Postecoglou says he is “just not interested” in mounting scrutiny on Tottenham Hotspur’s record defensive set-pieces.
Spurs have had an issue facing set-pieces throughout the season, with only four Premier League teams conceding more from such situations than their 14.
Two of the goals Tottenham conceded in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Arsenal came from corners, with Ben White clearly targeting goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Postecoglou said on Wednesday: “Eventually I will create a team that has success and it won’t be because of working on set-pieces.”
When asked if he was bothered by the number of goals Spurs are letting in from dead-ball situations, he said: “I’m just not interested in it. I never have been.”
Postecoglou then added, in reference to his time at Celtic where his first season was similarly littered with goals conceded from set-pieces: “Enough of you have done enough research on me to know this is not the first time I’ve been asked about set pieces in my coaching career.
“There is an underlying reason for that which I’m very, very comfortable with.”
When pushed on that reason, Postecoglou said: “Do a bit of work, mate. Come on. Ultimately I will create a team that has success and it won’t be because of working on set-pieces.
This is believed to be a reference to the fact that Celtic worked through their issues defensive set-pieces in those early months to end up with the best record facing such situations in the Scottish Premiership in his second season.
Postecoglou also elaborated on the clarification Spurs sought from the PGMOL on the level of protection Vicario is getting at set-pieces.
“We seek clarification in case certain things have changed,” he said. “You never know. We just wanted some clarity on what the actual position is on interference on the goalkeeper. I’m ancient, mate, but I always thought that the goalkeeper was a bit of a protected species. Maybe that’s shifted now and I missed the memo.”
Postecoglou added that Spurs had “not really” received the clarification they were after.
On White’s role in deliberately disrupting his goalkeeper, Postecoglou said: “I don’t take a lot of interest in that stuff, never have. I’m not casting judgment, but I just don’t really care. If people are going to think that’s going to give them an advantage or whatever, I just don’t worry about that stuff. I just try to focus on building teams that win things.”
Spurs travel to Chelsea on Thursday night needing a win to close the gap on fourth-placed Aston Villa, who are currently seven points clear having played two games more.
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