In a recent Europa League match that ended in a 1-1 stalemate between Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers, Spurs’ manager Ange Postecoglou did not hold back his criticism regarding the performance of Timo Werner. The German forward’s struggles were notably evident during this encounter, leading to him being substituted at half-time due to what Postecoglou deemed an “unacceptable” display. This scrutinizing assessment was fueled by the stark figures which revealed that Werner lost possession of the ball sixteen times, failed to win a single duel out of the five he attempted, and managed to complete only 69% of his passes during the first half.
The match unfolded at Ibrox, home ground of Rangers, where the home team took an early lead just two minutes into the second half. Postecoglou’s decision to hook Werner was vindicated when Dejan Kulusevski, who took his place, later netted the equalizer for Spurs in the 75th minute. The former Rangers striker, Steven Thompson, who was analyzing the game for BBC Sportsound, highlighted Werner’s abhorrent decision-making on the ball, expressing shock at the performance and predicting his substitution.
Postecoglou specifically pointed out the importance of every player, particularly senior team members like Werner, during this critical time for the club, stating that there were young players in the lineup doing their utmost. He mentioned, “When you have 18-year-olds in the squad, that performance is not acceptable to me.” Postecoglou emphasized that this kind of display undermines the collective effort required from the team, especially in light of their current struggles, where Tottenham has only managed to win one of their last eight matches in all competitions.
Werner has had a challenging time since joining Tottenham on loan from RB Leipzig, as he has managed to score just one goal in 711 minutes of football this season, across 19 appearances. His form has raised eyebrows, particularly since he was once a highly regarded player in the Bundesliga. Details of his loan deal reflect his decline in form, as Spurs originally had an option to permanently sign him for £15 million. However, this has now been reduced to an £8.5 million option, which raises questions about how the club values his contributions moving forward.
The forward’s accomplishments on the international stage cannot be dismissed, as he boasts 24 goals in his 57 appearances for the German national team. However, his last appearance for Germany was back in March 2023, in a friendly against Belgium. With the looming questions over his future at Tottenham and his current lack of form, Postecoglou’s comments may serve as a wake-up call for Werner to rediscover his peak performance.
Overall, the analysis of Werner’s performance sheds light on the broader struggles of Tottenham, who are seeking stability following a spate of disappointing results. The focus is now on how the squad, particularly those experienced players, can step up and provide the necessary contributions as they navigate through this tumultuous stretch of the season. As Tottenham prepares for upcoming fixtures, the imperative for improvement remains at the forefront, with all eyes on Werner and other players to rise to the challenge and deliver the desired outcomes on the pitch.
