Ange Postecoglou defended his team selection after his first loss as Tottenham manager in a 5-3 victory on penalties for Fulham following a 1-1 draw on Tuesday in the League Cup second round.
After drawing with Brentford and winning their following two Premier League matches against Manchester United and Bournemouth, Postecoglou’s first season as Tottenham’s manager had gotten off to a promising start.
However, the former Celtic manager got punished for making nine changes to his starting line-up at Craven Cottage.
Manor Solomon got a complete debut from Postecoglou, while Giovani Lo Celso and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg both began despite doubts about their futures.
Marco Silva, the manager of Fulham, also made six changes himself, but it was Tottenham’s reserve players who struggled.
Micky van de Ven’s 19th-minute own goal gave Fulham the lead as the defender turned Tom Cairney’s cross past keeper Fraser Forster.
Tottenham took advantage of a curious incident that left Fulham down to 10 men to equalise in the 56th minute.
A problem with Kenny Tete’s boot meant the Fulham defender had to sprint down the tunnel to find a replacement in the dressing room.
Moments later, Ivan Perisic whipped in a cross from the position Tete would have been defending and Richarlison headed home from an acute angle.
But Tottenham were unable to find a winner and in the shoot-out Davinson Sanchez’s effort was saved by Marek Rodak before Tete, now with boots on both feet, fired the decisive kick.
Currently enduring a trophy drought that stretches back to 2008, Tottenham already have one less competition in which to end that barren run this term.
Tottenham are the first Premier League team to get knocked out of this season’s Carabao Cup ❌
Another trophy passes them by 👋 pic.twitter.com/rK862bhmbj
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) August 29, 2023
What Postecoglou Said
Postecoglou had introduced stars James Maddison and Son Heung-min in the second half, but defended his decision to select his fringe players.
“How am I going to find out about my players? It doesn’t mean the cup, or any game, isn’t a priority for us,” the Australian said.
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“We are very much at the discovery stage and we need to give the players the opportunity.
“We are going to need these guys if we get disruptions along the way with injuries.”
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