by Ange Postecoglou has admitted injury-hit Tottenham will ‘play with fire’ if they fail to make more signings in the final 10 days of the January transfer window.
Spurs were without 14 players for Thursday’s 3-2 win over Hoffenheim in the Europa League due to a combination of injuries and eligibility.
That number will reduce slightly for Sunday’s visit to Leicester, but Tottenham will remain without Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke for the foreseeable future. The Carabao Cup semi-final at the second leg against Liverpool on February 6.
Postecoglou has struggled with a limited squad over the past two months and has been able to keep Spurs in contention for a successful trophy in three cup competitions, but the club has fallen to 15th in the Premier League.
With Yves Bissouma, Johnson and Solanke the most recent to suffer injuries over the past week, the 59-year-old admitted reinforcements are needed, although he stressed that technical director Johan Lange is aware of the situation.
When asked if there was money to be spent, Postecoglou replied: “I don’t ask those questions. It’s not something I’m involved in, it’s not something I’m exposed to.
“My discussions with Johan and the club have been to try and get help for the players and I will let them do their job.
“I still have to manage this team and prepare them. We came back at 2am last night. I’m not out there trying to find opportunities for the club, that’s not my role at the moment. There is no time to do it.
“I have daily communication with Johan in particular and he tries everything he can to get the help we need.
“I don’t think I’m stating anything other than the obvious and for me to come here and say anything else would be dishonest. This playgroup needs help, there’s no doubt about it.
“We’re kind of playing with fire by not bringing anyone in, but the flip side is the club is trying to change that situation.”
Spurs received a timely boost on Wednesday with vice-captain Romero returning to training, but Postecoglou preached patience with the World Cup winner.
Postecoglou has revealed that the plan for first-choice centre-backs Romero and Van de Ven is to prepare them for next month’s Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool, which is followed three days later by an FA Cup tie at Aston Villa.
“Long term, it’s the only two, Micky and Romero, who have a chance this week, but we still have like 12 days or something,” Postecoglou explained.
“Part of that process is seeing how they cope with training over the next week. Both are scheduled around this kind of weather to be available. »
Spurs’ injury crisis has seen post-coglou questions over various issues of his methods and the level of intensity implemented in training, but he insists the club is in a better place overall compared by the time he took over in the summer of 2023.
He added: “I think the team we have put together now, they are an exciting team and when they are all fit I think the club will benefit, not just this year but for many years to come .
“We have exceptional people who have come into the club in all areas, in all facets who I think will contribute to this successful club in the future. I firmly believe this.
“Now the only evidence most people want to look at is where we are right now performance-wise, especially in the league.
“But from my point of view, as someone who came into a club that wanted change and needed change, I have no doubt that we are in a much better place for what the club needs to be successful.”
