Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach, following his team’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the latest North London Derby, expressed significant.
The loss, which saw Arsenal dominate large portions of the match, left Spurs in a difficult position as they continue their battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League. Despite a promising start, Tottenham struggled to break down Arsenal’s defense, failing to capitalize on key chances and ultimately succumbing to goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard.
In his post-match interview, the head coach acknowledged the disappointment of losing such a high-profile fixture but also stressed that the defeat was not down to a lack of effort. “The players worked hard, and they put in the energy, but we weren’t clinical enough in critical moments,” he stated. “Against top teams like Arsenal, those small details make all the difference. We had opportunities, but we didn’t take them.”
The manager also reflected on his team’s inability to cope with Arsenal’s pressure, especially in the first half. “We allowed them too much space in the final third, and that gave them the opportunity to play their game. We need to be much more disciplined defensively and not allow such easy chances.”
While the loss was certainly a blow to Tottenham’s aspirations, the head coach emphasized the importance of learning from the experience. “It’s a tough result, but it’s important that we don’t let this define our season. We’ve got a long way to go, and we need to focus on improving. We need to be more clinical in attack and more solid in defense.”
Tactical changes during the second half, including the introduction of fresh legs and a more attacking setup, showed that the manager was eager to get back into the game, but despite showing more intent, Tottenham couldn’t break down Arsenal’s defense. The head coach admitted that his team needed to be more aggressive from the start and set the tone earlier in the match.
The coach also touched on the importance of consistency, which has been a recurring issue throughout Tottenham’s season. “We need to find a level of consistency. We’ve shown glimpses of quality, but there’s too much inconsistency. It’s something that we’ve got to address. Top teams maintain a level of performance week in, week out, and that’s what we’re striving for.”
He praised the character of his players but acknowledged that there was a gap between his squad and those at the very top of the league. “We have some really good individuals, and I’m proud of their effort, but collectively we’ve got to be sharper, smarter, and more ruthless when it matters most. Arsenal punished our mistakes today, and we need to be better at dealing with that.”
Looking ahead, the manager was quick to reassure fans that Tottenham would continue to fight for every point. “There’s no time to dwell on this. We’ve got a lot of games coming up, and we need to focus on getting back to winning ways. We’ve got to stay together as a team and keep pushing forward.”
The defeat to Arsenal has once again highlighted the challenges Tottenham faces in trying to close the gap between themselves and their rivals, but the head coach’s determination to keep improving and learning from these setbacks will be crucial as the season progresses.
