Ange Postecoglou makes telling admission on losing it with reporter after Liverpool defeat - The Mirror

Ange Postecoglou lost his temper with a journalist who asked whether Tottenham's ultra-attacking style of play had anything to do with their 6-3 loss to Liverpool, but the Australian insisted he was not angry

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has claimed reporters have tried to "poke the bear" with him this season after his angry response to a reporter who questioned his style of play.

The Australian gave a spiky reply after his side's 6-3 loss to Liverpool when asked about the team's struggles to maintain their high-intensity and demanding attacking philosophy. He insisted the team's injury crisis - which has seen them lose nine players - played a huge part in their heavy defeat and recent struggles.

"I'm just going to stop answering these questions," he said at the time. "If people can't see the obvious I‘m not going to point it out. Make of it what you want, yes we're conceding goals. If you want to discount the fact we’re missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and left-back and that hasn't coincided with what we're doing… I don’t know what to say anymore."

Tottenham's first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have all been out for a lengthy spell, while left-back Destiny Udogie was missing against Liverpool.

Ahead of his side's trip to Nottingham Forsest on Boxing Day - which is set to see Udogie return - Postecoglou insisted he was not angry after the Liverpool game but claimed it was normal for a manager to not be "cheery" after a painful defeat.

"I wasn't angry, but I don't know many managers that bounce into interviews after a defeat and are all cheery," he said. "Fair to say I am getting tired of the same questions over and over and I just think it's almost like people want to sort of poke the bear to see if I react. And obviously after a loss, it's a lot easier for people to get a reaction out of me."

Spurs were at sixes and sevens against the Reds on Sunday as Arne Slot's men went 5-1 up before the London outfit threatened an unlikely comeback to make it 5-3 before the league leaders finished them off. Postecoglou was asked if he had seen a reaction to the damaging defeat and the 59-year-old insisted the players still had belief.

He said: "I still feel like the players, and I see, that they have still got real belief in what we are doing. It is difficult because it is a tough day for the supporters, the players and for all the people who work so hard at the club.

"What I try and sort of reiterate is that it's all hopefully for a greater purpose. And, again, that's my ultimate responsibility is to try and bring success to the club. But you understand in the meantime, you know, it's not nice seeing the players out there doing everything in their power to try and get a result.

"Obviously with the situation we're in there are limits to what they can do. So you feel, I certainly feel that responsibility. But as disappointed as they are, they're still very, very determined to continue."

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