Football365

Ange Postecoglou admitted his side’s performance was “unacceptable” against Arsenal on Wednesday, with Spurs “too passive” to get a result in the North London derby.

Captain Son Heung-min gave the visitors the lead against the run of play as his shot was deflected past David Raya, but Arsenal turned the game on its head at the end of the first half, with Dominic Solanke getting the last touch on a Gabriel header to score an own goal, before Leandro Trossard’s low shot bobbled past Antonin Kinsky to give the Gunners a deserved lead.

Tottenham were fortunate not to lose by a bigger margin and Postecoglou is well aware his side need to be a whole lot better to drag them out of a rut which has seen them win just one Premier League game since the start of December.

“Nowhere near good enough, especially in the first half, we were just too passive,” Postecoglou told TNT Sports.

“We let Arsenal sort of dictate the game, we hung in there, but that was all we were doing.

“I guess the responsibility lies with me and how we prepared the players. Yeah, of course they [the defeats] hurt me, it is not acceptable.

“We have had too many losses this year, let too many games get away from us, and it needs to stop. If you give up now, there is no point, but it needs to stop.

“Right now we have got a big game on the weekend against Everton. That is our focus and we will look at what happens beyond then after that.”

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Spurs were again without several experienced players due to injury, with teenagers Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray again impressing.

TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch believes that Tottenham’s more experienced players should feel “embarrassed” after relying on two teenagers to get them on the front foot.

“It does [increase the pressure on Ange Postecoglou],” said Crouch.

“We all know the injury problems, but as you said, I think the two 18-year-olds, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, for me, were the two best Spurs players.

“What does that say for the experienced players? I know if I were a more experienced player in that team, I would feel embarrassed.

“I would feel like we should be helping players like this through a difficult time.

“They [the young players] are kind of leading the rest of them.”

Son’s goal was the only highlight during a difficult evening for Spurs fans and the forward thinks that their position in the table is simply not good enough.

“This game means a lot to the club and fans. Conceding goals like this is more painful. The manager is right, we were too passive,” said Son.

“We always want to press and play as high up as possible. In the first half, we were way too passive.

“It’s up to the players as well. You have to listen to what we want to do. I think we were not disciplined enough.

“We have to do better in every aspect. When you look at table, it’s not good enough.”

Ange Postecoglou has been failed by those above and below him at Spurs but his position is untenable as Mikel Arteta and Arsenal made their transfer point.

Ange Postecoglou would not be the first to talk up “a night to remember” before delivering on a fraction of that promise. For a quarter of an hour Tottenham led this north London derby. Within four minutes of carelessly misplacing that advantage they were behind. At no point before, during or after did they resemble a team in control.

He described this as anything but “just another game” in the build-up yet there was the same old Spurs, dropping points from a winning position, exuding an air of inferiority and panic, running out of ideas almost as soon as the final gamble of a half-time double substitution was made.

Neither Brennan Johnson nor James Maddison could turn the Arsenal-coloured tide when thrown into the eye of the storm and Postecoglou sacrificing his entire central midfield said more than enough. Any semblance of system and shape was surrendered in the name of attack; the visitors did not have another shot on target after Heung-min Son’s opener.

The injury crisis caveat will be pushed again but eight of the players Spurs used were signed by Postecoglou and five points from nine games sounds uncomfortably Juande Ramos-adjacent. There are arguments to be made that he has been failed by those above and below him but as coach of the only non-promoted side in the bottom half not to change managers within the last year, the Australian knows where the axe ultimately falls.

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When the solution to an insatiable Arsenal press is to double down on passing it out from the back then the problems become awkwardly apparent. It would have been an incredible experience to witness Fraser Forster in this game as even Antonin Kinsky struggled at times against the waves of players in red and white.

Jurgen Klopp once said “no playmaker in the world can be as good as a good gegenpressing situation” and it was certainly the chief creator for Arsenal against Spurs. The German also described himself as a proponent of “heavy metal football” in opposition to Arsene Wenger’s “orchestral” approach and the Gunners channelled both philosophies, taking the cliche of trying to pass the ball into the net to infuriating lengths considering the margin of their lead.

Kai Havertz almost caught Kinsky out twice in possession. Djed Spence lost it in a dangerous area. The phenomenal Myles Lewis-Skelly pushed high to win the ball and play in Raheem Sterling to no avail. Yves Bissouma, in a sign of things to come, controlled a pass out of touch under immense pressure.

Yet Arsenal underlined the transfer narrative to almost comedic effect by not only wasting those opportunities but failing to actually turn them into opportunities at all. Once Spurs settled into their defensive drills they grew confident enough to launch a couple of counters and Son’s goal, while theoretically against the run of play, could hardly have been honestly described as undeserved.

Son’s strike had taken a deflection off William Saliba in the sort of fortune slice Arsenal were lacking. It arrived when they were awarded a corner that never was after Leandro Trossard’s cross rebounded back onto him off Pedro Porro, and after a few tries Nicolas Jover had his moment. When Gabriel’s back-post flick took a touch off Radu Dragusin and then Dominic Solanke it already felt like Tottenham’s moment might have passed.

Bissouma certainly should have but once again was caught out of focus, tackled by Thomas Partey when Spurs were at their most vulnerable and naive. Both full-backs had pushed forward and Dragusin took an age to drift out to Trossard, who fired past Kinsky to restore normality.

The closest Arsenal came to panicking was when a fan audibly bellowed at Sterling to “stop f**king walking” when he again received the ball wide on the right and slowed play down to stand up his defender. He remains entirely out of rhythm and Mikel Arteta ensured the point could not be missed by the board when he sent the outgoing Kieran Tierney on for an actually solid stint on the left wing as Trossard’s replacement.

Liverpool will be kept honest and Arsenal’s inability to capitalise on any of their slightly more frequent stumbles had become exasperating. Four points having played a game more remains a daunting gap but last season was closed out so impeccably – against the backdrop of Liverpool’s late-campaign collapse, no less – that momentum has shifted more than a little.

Perhaps the same cannot be said for Postecoglou in the context of this game alone; defeat away to the best home team of the past few years can be explained away easily enough. But this is sustained relegation form from a Tottenham side which has lost more Premier League games than West Ham since his summer 2023 appointment. That alone is a sackable offence, especially considering the Hammers are on their third boss since.

Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin has become Paris Saint-Germain’s top transfer target in the January window, according to reports.

Spurs are currently missing their two main starting centre-backs in Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, while other defenders Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie are also missing.

That has given Dragusin more of a regular place in Ange Postecoglou‘s starting XI this season after just four Premier League starts last term.

There were reports in November that Napoli and Juventus were interested in the Romania international but the Tottenham centre-back’s agent Florin Manea ruled out any potential transfer.

Manea said: “It is an honour for Radu to be wanted by teams like Napoli and Juve, but right now they are just rumours.”

He continued: “We are focused on Tottenham. He still has five years left on his contract. It is not easy to go to a top club and impose yourself right away, he is still 22-years-old.”

Manea added: “If he never plays this season it is normal that other evaluations will be made: in January he won’t move, in June he will be evaluated.”

But now Spanish publication Fichajes claim that French giants PSG are ‘interested’ in Dragusin and the Ligue 1 side ‘consider him a priority target to strengthen their defence’.

PSG are ‘preparing’ an offer for the Tottenham centre-back and that bid ‘would be around 50 million euros (£42m), although the London team does not seem willing to facilitate his departure’.

For Spurs’ part, it is understood that ‘losing a player with his potential would be a hard blow, something that the board wants to avoid at all costs’.

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One player who has been linked with move to Tottenham is Leicester City goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and former Manchester United defender Paul Parker reckons a move to Spurs or Newcastle United would be good for the stopper.

Parker told SpilXperten: “I think he’s been really good. It’s a bit difficult to be a goalkeeper for Leicester because their defense allows so many chances.

“I can definitely see him at a top club. Both Newcastle and Tottenham need a new goalkeeper, so I think they should take a look at him. It would be a great step for him.

“He’s not English, so he probably doesn’t feel the absolute need to play in the Premier League. And if we look at other leagues, he could easily play for a top club there as well.

“He’s a modern goalkeeper but also exceptional on the line, so I think he has the complete package. I really believe he has the potential to become one of the best in the world, but that also requires him to move away from Leicester.”

Premier League duo Manchester United and Tottenham both look set to miss out on signing Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani, according to the latest reports.

The French striker is said to be close to agreeing a loan move to Juventus after starting just two league games in Ligue 1 this season.

As confirmed by Fabrizio Romano on X, Muani has rejected interest from across Europe to join Thiago Motta’s Juventus side in a straight loan deal.

He wrote: ‘After Portuguese RB Alberto Costa last night, today will be Randal Kolo Muani’s day at Juventus.

‘Juventus and PSG set to check documents today then time to travel for French striker. Loan move, salary 100% covered by Juventus, no buy option clause.’

Muani joined PSG in 2023 for an initial fee of £64.2m (plus £12.2m in add-ons) after impressing for Eintracht Frankfurt. His final season in Germany saw him accumulate 23 goals and 17 assists in 46 games which made him a wanted man.

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However, despite being a regular for France, he has failed to replicate that form for the Parisian side managing 11 goals and seven assists in 54 games.

Interestingly, he will join a team who are currently unbeaten in Serie A and they extended that run with a draw against Atalanta last night. However, they sit fifth in the table, some 13 points off leaders Inter Milan.

Across the past week, we saw reports that both English clubs were interested in a move. Tottenham were said to be close to agreeing personal terms but the two clubs hadn’t engaged in any discussions.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were hoping to strengthen their attacking areas despite already boasting Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Heung-min Son Richarlison and Wilson Odobert to call upon.

In terms of United, it is said they were ‘doing everything’ to secure him but they were reportedly one of several clubs to register an interest that also included Chelsea, Aston Villa and AC Milan.

With Marcus Rashford seeking a move away during the January window, there could be space in the squad for an attacking addition to help bolster Ruben Amorim’s side after a recent turnaround in form.

According to reports, Aston Villa have reached a “total agreement” with Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund to sign Netherlands international Donyell Malen.

The 25-year-old is in his fourth season with Dortmund and he’s attracted interest from the Premier League after he scored 13 goals in 27 Bundesliga appearances in 2023/24.

Malen has been linked with several Premier League sides but Aston Villa have emerged as his most likely destination after they stepped up their interest in the forward at the start of this month.

The Dortmund star – who is often used as a winger or centre-forward – is due to be out of contract in 2026, so the Bundesliga side have opened the door to letting him leave this month.

Last week, a report from Caught Offside revealed Spurs were considering hijacking Villa as they ‘weigh up a move’ for the Dortmund star.

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The report added:

‘One name Spurs like in attack is Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen, who is expected to leave this month and who is also on Aston Villa’s list, CaughtOffside understands.

‘Tottenham are also keen on Malen, but Villa look to be ahead in the running for the Dutchman’s signature at the moment as they are already well underway in negotiations, with talks now at the final stage on the player side

‘Some distance remains between the clubs in terms of the player’s valuation, so that could still leave room for other teams interested in being able to join the negotiations. Tottenham are now discussing internally whether or not to enter strongly into the conversation.’

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However, it appears Spurs did not move quickly enough as German journalist Patrick Berger revealed on Monday morning that Aston Villa have reached a “total agreement” with Dortmund to sign Malen this month.

He said: “TOTAL AGREEMENT between Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa over a permanent deal for Donyell Malen (25/🇳🇱). Clubs have agreed on a transfer fee of €25m plus €5m add-ons, with €3m guaranteed. Only minor details remain to be finalized.

“Malen is not expected to travel with the team to Kiel today as he prepares for his move to Villa Park.”

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano is also reporting that Villa are set to land Malen. He said: Aston Villa agree deal to sign Donyell Malen from BVB, here we go!

“Agreement reached with Borussia Dortmund for €23m plus €3m add-ons fee. Medical and formal steps to follow soon to seal the deal. The total agreement also with the player.”

According to reports, Manchester United are ‘doing everything’ to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani.

The Red Devils need signings in various positions and it’s been reported that one of their priorities is to sign a new forward.

Man Utd are only seven points clear of the relegation zone and one of their main problems has been that they lack a goal threat.

Ruben Amorim’s side have only scored 23 goals in 20 Premier League games, while Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes are joint top scorers with four goals apiece.

United could do with signing a new striker and Kolo Muani has emerged as a potential target.

The 26-year-old was linked with several Premier League clubs after he scored 23 goals in 46 games for Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt during the 2022/23 season, but PSG won the race to sign him for around £76m.

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Kolo Muani has struggled over the past 18 months as he’s largely been a bit-part player for PSG. He only has eleven goals in 54 appearances for the Ligue Un giants across all competitions.

The France international has been made available for a transfer this month and Fabrizio Romano has revealed Man Utd, Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus are in the race to sign him.

It’s also been suggested that Tottenham are leading the race as they are ‘close to agreeing’ personal terms, but a new report from Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reveals Man Utd are ‘doing everything’ to snatch the signing.

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Plettenberg said: “Manchester United’s efforts to sign Randal Kolo Muani are becoming more concrete!

“The Red Devils are now determined to do everything possible to secure his transfer in the winter. Recently, there have been very specific talks with his management, and direct negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain are expected to follow.

“#MUFC are considering a loan deal, ideally with an option to buy.

“Other clubs still in the race include Chelsea, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Juventus, AC Milan, and others.”

Despite this, former Man Utd defender Paul Parker thinks they should be targeting a new wing-back and he’s named an ideal signing.

“I never look at it that way, people say things to me and I sway my head around and say yes or no,” Parker said.

“Although, if I’m looking at a wing-back, someone who can play as a natural wing-back because they’re tenacious when they defend and they’re aggressive when they go forward.

“I’d say somebody like Alphonso Davies. In my opinion, you need someone who is athletic, doesn’t need to be asked to run and just loves working up and down the pitch and loves the freedom.

“If people try to man mark him, he will take them away and affect their game as well and not accept being marked.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been told why they should “go and sign” Liverpool star Caoimhin Kelleher “now” as their “plans should be brought forward”.

Earlier this season, Kelleher was praised for his performances as he filled in brilliantly for Alisson Becker while the Brazil international was injured.

The Liverpool shot-stopper is one of the best back-up goalkeepers in the Premier League and he’s proven that he deserves to be a No.1.

Despite this, he has slipped behind Alisson in the pecking order at Liverpool following his return from injury and his long-term future is in doubt.

Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili is joining Liverpool in the summer as he’s been chosen as Alisson’s long-term replacement, while Kelleher likely needs to leave to be a No.1 elsewhere.

Chelsea have been mooted as a potential destination, but Spurs reporter John Wenham – despite the recent arrival of Antonin Kinsky – thinks they should sign Kelleher this month.

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Wenham has urged Tottenham’s hierarchy to “spend some money” as they “need to realise the significance of the situation” they are in.

“If there was a plan to get a genuine alternative to Vicario in the summer, then those plans should be brought forward,” Wenham said.

“The club have got the money to do it now. Therefore, I don’t understand why they wouldn’t. Those in control need to realise the significance of the situation we are in and spend some money.

“For example, it looks as though Kelleher might be available this summer, with Giorgi Mamardashvili due to arrive at the club and Alisson likely to stick around. Therefore, go and sign him now, pay the money.”

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Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock recently explained why he thinks Kelleher “wants to leave” the Premier League giants.

“I don’t think Caoimhin Kelleher will leave Liverpool in January,” Warnock said.

“Giorgi Mamardashvili only joins the club in summer, so they will need two options between now and the end of the season.

“Arne Slot needs to make a decision in the summer however and it’ll be interesting to see what his long-term plan for the two of them is.

“I personally think Kelleher wants to leave the club. He’s someone who wants to play week in, week out and he’s good enough to be doing that. I have to agree with him in that regard – he’s been exceptional for Liverpool and his form has been quite brilliant – apart from that one mistake against Newcastle.

“I know there was a lot of chat about him moving last summer, but the right bid didn’t come in, so let’s see what happens between now and the start of next season.”

Arsenal have made a shock ‘phone call’ to Manchester United over a move for Marcus Rashford in January, low-balling the Red Devils with a tempting offer.

Rashford wants out of Old Trafford having announced his desire for a “new challenge” last month, but options are thin on the ground thanks to his £300,000 per week wages and his lack of interest in a move to Saudi Arabia or Turkey.

Talks have reportedly been held with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund, while negotiations with Milan are supposedly more advanced.

A report on Thursday revealed that West Ham have also been asked to be ‘kept informed of Rashford’s situation’ after Graham Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui as manager ‘but know he is more likely to join a top European side’.

A sticking point for Milan could be their unwillingness to stump up more than half of Rashford’s £300,000-a-week wages, and that’s also sure to be a problem for Tottenham and their penny-pinching chairman Daniel Levy amid a report from the Daily Mail that they too are keen on the 27-year-old.

But it appears Arsenal may have found a way of coming to terms with Rashford’s lofty wages, by low-balling Manchester United in a shock ‘phone call’ to enquire over the forward.

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Italian journalist Massimo Marianella, while discussing Milan’s ongoing attempt to sign Rashford, claims Arsenal made contact with the Red Devils on Friday.

He told Sky Sports (via Calciomercato): “It seems that Arsenal has made a phone call to Manchester United for Rashford. The club valued €25m.”

That offer of €25m (£21) falls well below United’s supposed £40m valuation for Rashford, but amid reports that other suitors are only interested in a loan move, with United likely needing to pay a significant portion of his wages, the Arsenal offer may well be tempting as they would reap the reward of a pure profit sale and have him off their wage bill.

It’s a move that makes sense for Arsenal too, assuming they can persuade him to sign on reduced terms – £300,000-a-week would make Rashford their highest earner, surpassing the £280,000-a-week they pay Kai Havertz.

Mikel Arteta is thought to want to bolster his forward options as they look to cope with the absence of Bukayo Saka.

Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have failed to meet expectations for much of the season, Raheem Sterling’s loan move from Chelsea hasn’t worked out and while Gabriel Jesus’ form has improved dramatically in recent weeks, doubts remain as to whether they have the required quality in attack to chase down Liverpool in the Premier League.

Tottenham are reportedly close to agreeing personal terms with Randal Kolo Muani, after telling the Paris Saint-Germain striker there will be a place for him in the side.

Spurs are one of a number of Premier League sides who have taken an interest in Kolo Muani. It comes after reports that PSG are willing to let him leave on loan.

He has been offered just 350 minutes of Ligue 1 action this season, directly contributing to three goals in that time.

Though Premier League rivals are giving Spurs competition, TBRFootball reports they are ‘close to agreeing personal terms’ with Kolo Muani.

In fact, they are reportedly hopeful the work they have done on the deal so far can see the it over the line ‘this week’. It’s said Tottenham have been pushing ‘really hard’ to agree terms with the striker.

Discussions are said to have been fruitful, and the terms are now ‘all but agreed’.

The promise Tottenham are said to have made could have pushed things over the line. Indeed, the report states they have offered Kolo Muani a place in Ange Postecoglou’s lineup.

So far this season, the most minutes for Tottenham attackers have been given to Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson.

The former has also played a lot in midfield, boosting his numbers. Heung-min Son is a notable absence from that top three, and it’s speculated that Kolo Muani could challenge the South Korean for minutes, given his ability to play wide out left.

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The report also details that Tottenham and PSG are yet to commence talks, but it’s known that the French side are willing to let Kolo Muani leave on loan, though they would like an obligation for him to be bought to be included.

According to the report, Spurs would be open to that once performance-based targets have been reached, with the club feeling the striker can lead them into a new era.

Ange Postecoglou claimed the Sky Sports reporter was “mocking” him after Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Liverpool, with the Spurs boss illustrating his questionable grasp of the rules having launched into a quite extraordinary rant over VAR.

Lucas Bergvall scored the controversial winner for Spurs in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool, when he perhaps shouldn’t still have been on the pitch, though Big Ange disagrees.

His goal came soon after Dominic Solanke had what he thought was the opener ruled out for a marginal offside, with the mic’d up referee Stuart Atwell announcing the VAR reversal to the stadium. We don’t think Postecoglou’s a fan.

“I’m really surprised at how people in this country are so easily letting the game change so much so quickly,” said Postecoglou. “It’s changed more since VAR has come in since I’ve been involved than in the past 50 years. We never used to debate offsides, we never used to debate handballs, we never used to debate holding in the box, we never used to debate so many things.

“I mean, did everyone really love the announcement today? Did that give you a real buzz? I mean, seriously. My understanding of it is, this is what the people want. That’s what I keep getting told.

“I understand that and I understand that VAR is going to be there. Technology is going to be a part of life, but it’s like my wife and our kids. We know technology but she limits their screen time. Why? You know, to slow things down, I think.

“We’ve just got to be careful about constantly… why do we want to change the game so much? And I know I’m going to be the old bloke in the stands that keeps shouting ‘boo’ every time and I’ll be the only one, but I just thought people would be a little bit more protective about the sanctity of the game.

“I think there’s a lot of confusion at the moment. That’s my belief, that the game is changing on the basis of technology, and I’m saying, ‘Why isn’t anyone speaking up about it?’ Especially in this country who, for all intents and purposes, you guys think you’re custodians of the game, you’ve got a song that says. ‘It’s coming home’.

“This is your game, and yet it takes an Aussie from the other side of the world to be the one that’s most conservative about changes. I’m happy to just be the lone voice of saying, ‘Just leave the game alone for a bit’.

“Even extra time now, minutes added on, minutes added on here, we never used to talk about these things before. Yet now everything is changing, so that was my [point]. So today, I can see why Arne [Slot] would be very disappointed [with the Bergvall decision]. If that was me, I’d be disappointed as well, but apparently they’re the rules.”

Postecoglou was a very angry man after Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle last weekend as Joelinton handled the ball in the build-up to Anthony Gordon’s equaliser, but no VAR action was taken.

The Spurs boss said he was “the angriest I have been in my career” at the time, and attempted to clarify his comments after the clash with Liverpool.

Postecoglou said on Wednesday night: “My comments about ‘a fair and even playing ground’ that’s what they’re about. So today it advantaged us, yeah? I wasn’t saying that there was a vendetta against me or Tottenham when I spoke last week. That’s not what my comments were about. I could be on a lone crusade here, but I’m happy to do that.”

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Posteocglou was also asked whether it was his side that enjoyed good fortune against the Reds as Lucas Bergvall escaped a second yellow card for a tackle on Kostas Tsimikas moments before scoring the winner.

Asked if his team were fortunate not to go down to 10 men for the tackle, Postecoglou replied: “Yeah great question!

“No he wasn’t. People misinterpret my comments from the other day. The rule is – and we have been told for quite a while now – that if an advantage gets played and as long as it’s not cynical tackle, it’s not a yellow card.

“We’ve been screaming for it for the last two months It’s happened to us consistently, have a look at our games. To me that was pretty clear. That is the rules and we abided by them today.”

A slightly odd interpretation of the walls given Bergvall’s tackle could be described as reckless, in which case a yellow should have been given, and because an advantage should not be applied on a second yellow card except in cases of an immediate chance.

Postecoglou remained testy when asked about his previous assertion that he always wins a trophy in his second season, firing back: “People can keep sort of mocking me about it, we will see,” before walking away from camera.