‘We work on them all the time’ – Postecoglou provides clarity on set-piece issues

Tottenham manager, Ange Postecoglou, has reiterated that his team does practice set-pieces ‘all the time’ amid vast criticism as Spurs conceded from yet another corner today in the North London Derby. 

A set-piece goal cost Tottenham a result against Arsenal 

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham have frequently been accused of being vulnerable from set-piece scenarios, conceding a shocking 16 goals from such situations last season. (BBC Sport)

Spurs were yet to concede from a set piece after three games this season, providing fans with hope that their side had finally figured out how to deal with the aspect that hamstrung their campaign last year. 

Tottenham, however, did revert to their old ways in the North London derby with Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães nodding in the visitor’s winner from a corner in the 64th minute, a goal that turned out to be the difference between the two sides.

Postecoglou has hit back at criticism over set-pieces 

Ange Postecoglou was subsequently subject to questions regarding his team’s set piece weaknesses, but he explained to Football.London that his team practices them frequently.

He said: “I know, I know, for some reason people think I don’t care about set pieces and it’s a narrative that you can keep going on for ages and ages. I understand that. 

“Like I said, we work on them all the time like we do for every other team. You know that they’re a threat, as I said, for the most part, we handled them really well today, but we switched off for one and we paid a price and you learn from that and you move on.

“But it is what it is, you know, it’s my burden to carry mate and I’m happy to do that. It’s not like, like I’ve always said, for me, there’s a bigger picture that’s at play here that’s much more important than the finer details of us getting to where we want to.

“For us, the way forward is to try to turn the football we’re playing now into something meaningful.”

Spurs Web opinion

At first, I was of the belief that the set-piece criticism was something that had been blown out of proportion with it being a case of Vicario just adjusting to a slight flaw that has been exploited in his game, although the team also now appear to be part of the issue.

The reoccurring pattern is a bewildering one with it being expected, as Postecoglou confirmed, that his side often practices their set-piece defending. In another way, it makes the issue only more pressing with Postecoglou or his team seemingly unable to fix an issue that is continuing to cost Tottenham points. 

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