Ange Postecoglou: Spurs coach ‘angriest in his career’ over handball player Joelinton’s call in defeat to Newcastle | Football news
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says it was the “angriest of my career” after being left fuming by Newcastle’s controversial equalizer in their 2-1 win against Spurs.
Anthony Gordon equalized for Newcastle in the sixth minute after the ball hit Joelinton’s hand in the build-up, but VAR allowed the goal to stand because “the hand was with him, in a natural position and the contact was accidental”.
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean agreed with the decision Football Saturday as Joelinton’s alleged handball “did not lead directly to a goal” after the rebound fell to Bruno Guimaraes who then set up Gordon.
But a furious Postecoglou was “angry” and “disappointed” without directly commenting on Joelinton’s handball call.
Asked in the post-match press conference for his thoughts on the decision to allow Gordon to equalise, Postecoglou replied: “No, because I know what everyone wants me to say, but all I will say is that on any other day, on a fair and equal field, we would have won that game.
“And don’t keep questioning me about the decision. If you don’t have an opinion on it, that’s fine. I know what my opinion is and, like I said, it was a different day and the game was level and fair. , we would win that game.”
He added: “Given everything we’ve had to go through and the situation we’re in at the moment, to put in a performance like that, hats off to the players. I thought they were outstanding.
“I’m just very, very angry, angrier than I’ve ever been in my career, that they were denied a real reward for a fantastic performance.”
Asked to clarify if he was angry at the refereeing, he replied: “I know you just want me to say something, but I won’t. I think that’s clear. Whether people agree with me or not, you think it’s not I’m not a handball player or it was accidental or what rather, I’m simply not interested in those discussions.
“What I’m saying is, any day, with a fair and level playing field and logical thought processes, we would have won that game. That’s it. You can make of it what you want. I don’t know what else to say about it.”
The Australian believed his injury-hit side, who were also hit by illness in the build-up to the game, deserved to win as Alexander Isak’s 38th-minute winner for Newcastle made it three defeats in their last four games for Spurs.
“Extremely proud,” Postecoglou said of the performance. “I’m devastated that the boys didn’t get the rewards they deserve because we were outstanding. Our football was outstanding against a very good opponent in good form.
“We deserved to win this game and on any other day we would have won.”
He added: “On Thursday we literally had 11 players ready for training, but I don’t care about that. What I care about is that the players gave an amazing game.
“It’s unfair to them, more than anything else, that they’re not getting the rewards they deserve today.”
He added: “The only thing that stopped us in our intention was not football.”
Howe: Gordon’s goal for the right
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe admitted the ball hit Joelinton’s hand, but Gordon’s goal was justified.
He said of the incident in a post-match press conference: “I can’t sit here and lie and say I didn’t see it, because I did.
“He definitely hit Joelinton’s arm – I can tell you that – but I don’t control the referee’s decision.
“I believe his hand is down in a natural position. And I think the referee and the VAR followed the rules and protocols that are in place, so that’s why it was awarded.”
Howe also disagreed with Postecoglou’s opinion that Spurs deserved to win.
He said: “I thought we were dominant in the first half today. I thought we could and maybe should have been more in that first half.
“Yes, Tottenham played well in the second half and they brought in some quality players and pushed us back at times.
“But we did enough to get over the line.”
