‘Not acceptable’ – Postecoglou criticises Werner display

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou criticized Timo Werner’s performance as “unacceptable” after substituting him at halftime during the 1-1 Europa League draw against Rangers.

The 28-year-old German forward lost possession 16 times, failed to win any of his five duels, and achieved only a 69% pass completion rate.

Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson, covering the game for BBC Sportsound, said at the time: “Timo Werner’s final decision on the ball so far has been abysmal.

“I’ll be amazed if he’s not hooked at half-time.”

Werner was indeed replaced before the players came out for the second half by Dejan Kulusevski, who went on to score a 75th-minute Spurs equaliser after Hamza Igamane had given Rangers the lead two minutes into the second half.

“When you’ve got 18-year-olds [in the squad], it [that performance] is not acceptable to me,” said Postecoglou.

“I said that to Timo, he’s a German international.”

Former Chelsea forward Timo Werner, currently on loan from RB Leipzig, has struggled to make an impact this season, scoring just once in 19 appearances. His outing against Rangers marked his eighth start.

With Tottenham forwards Richarlison and Wilson Odobert sidelined, manager Ange Postecoglou emphasized the need for every player to step up:

“Given our current situation, where options are limited, I need everyone to give their best effort. Werner’s first-half performance was not acceptable.

“We need every player, including him, to contribute. We don’t have the squad depth to overlook poor performances. I expect a certain standard from senior players, and tonight fell short of that.”

The 1-1 draw at Ibrox extends Tottenham’s poor run, leaving them with just one win in their last eight matches across all competitions.

Werner has failed to excel since arriving from Leipzig last January.

The loan deal was initially until the end of last season – and then extended to cover this campaign too.

Werner scored twice in 14 games in the second half of 2023-24, but has netted only once in 19 appearances this season, with his struggles evidenced in the price built into his temporary deal.

Under the first arrangement, Spurs had the option to sign him for £15m – but it is now an £8.5m option to buy.

Werner has 24 goals from his 57 Germany caps, but last played for his country in a friendly defeat by Belgium in March 2023.

He also scored 23 goals in 89 appearances during a two-year spell at Chelsea, winning the 2021 Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup, before rejoining Leipzig in 2022.