Everton’s Ashley Young has reacted after hearing Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou’s recent comments on set-pieces.
It’s no secret that Spurs have struggled to defend set-pieces during the Ange Postecoglou era.
Following their 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge last week, Tottenham have conceded 15 times from set-piece situations this season.
Postecoglou has repeatedly been quizzed on the issue but the Aussie has insisted that he doesn’t view it as a priority right now.
Ahead of the clash at Chelsea, Postecoglou played down suggestions that Spurs have an issue with set-pieces.
“I’ve answered this question and I don’t think it satisfies people, but no I don’t see it as an issue. It’s something that we work on along with everything in our game,” he said.
“To quote Billy Joel, you may be right, I may be crazy, but it’s maybe a lunatic you’re looking for. I’m just not interested in it. I never have been.
“Enough of you (media) have done enough research on me to know this is not the first time I’ve been questioned about set-pieces in my coaching career. There is an underlying reason for that which I’m very, very comfortable with.
“Eventually I will create a team that has success and it won’t be because of working on set-pieces.”
Of course, Tottenham went on to concede from two free-kicks during that game, albeit the second was slightly unfortunate after Cole Palmer’s effort rebounded off the crossbar into the path of Nicolas Jackson.
Now, Ashley Young has delivered his verdict on Postecoglou’s views on set-pieces.
Young reacts to Postecoglou comments
Speaking on talkSPORT [09/05 9:20 am], the Everton defender explained why he believes set-pieces are a ‘massive’ part of the game.
“You look at our club and we do a lot of work on set pieces,” Young said. “It’s a key part of our club. I think that is for quite a few teams and clubs.
“You have set piece coaches now and clubs and it’s massive, it’s vitally important to all different clubs.
“Everybody is different. Some people work more on set pieces and some people won’t.
“The Tottenham manager is saying he is not big on set pieces. For us it is a massive thing, it’s been great for us this season. But it’s different for every manager, every manager has their own way of doing things.”
Do Tottenham need a set-piece coach?
We’ve seen plenty of sides benefit from hiring a set-piece coach in recent years and Tottenham themselves were particularly excellent in that department last season.
Gianni Vio was Tottenham’s set-piece coach last season and Spurs netted 16 times from dead-ball situations in the 2022/23 campaign.
That record was only bettered by Liverpool, who managed 17. This season, Spurs have netted just 11.
It’s important to note that Vio was only responsible for attacking set-pieces during his time at Tottenham.
Postecoglou has already claimed he’s ‘not interested’ in hiring a set-piece coach, with Mile Jedinak and Ryan Mason currently responsible for such duties at Spurs.
We’re unlikely to see Postecoglou back down on that view but with teams targeting Tottenham from dead-ball situations, you can’t help but feel the Aussie could do with an expert in that particular area.