Ange Postecoglou praised the unbelievable performance of Djed Spence and Tottenham’s other young players after their 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Liverpool.
Having been thumped 6-3 in the Premier League when the two sides met just before Christmas, Tottenham produced a far more mature display to take a one-goal lead into next month’s second leg at Anfield.
In a tight affair in north London, Spurs saw Dominic Solanke’s finish ruled out for offside before the striker turned provider, assisting Lucas Bergvall to smash home the game’s controversial winning goal in the 86th minute.
Tottenham remain ravaged by injuries and had midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur stretchered off in the ealy stages of this encounter, leaving Postecoglou keen to shine a light on the efforts of his younger players after their hard-fought win.
‘I don’t think people really understand the level of performance we’re seeing from these young guys and what they are giving us right now,’ he said in his post-match press conference.
‘We got an 18-year-old playing centre-back which isn’t even his position, a goalkeeper on debut and Djed who is playing left-back unbelievably well.’
On Bergvall, the Australian added: ‘Lucas is growing all the time. He’s got that ability as a footballer to create space for himself. He’s got the quality but he works awfully hard for the team.
‘Name me another Premier League team that’s starting two 18-year-olds consistently with one playing out of position,’ Postecoglou continued
‘I’m so happy they (Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall) are at our football club and in two or three years time, I just pray to God that I’m the beneficiary of their talent because if someone else is getting it I won’t be happy.’
At full-time Liverpool were keen to make their feelings known to the referee after he did not show Bergvall a second yellow card for a tackle on Kostas Tsimikas moments prior to his winner.
Postecoglou, however, was adamant that the right decision had been made given his previous conversations with referees.
‘The rule is – and we’ve been told for quite a while now – that if advantage gets played, as long as it’s not a cynical tackle the yellow card does not [get shown],’ he told Sky Sports.
‘We’ve been screaming for it for the last two months. It’s happened to us consistently, have a look at our games.
‘We’ve asked the officials and they’ve said if you play advantage, as long as it’s not a cynical tackle, then the yellow card doesn’t get paid. To me that was pretty clear.’
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