Ange Postecoglou says VAR is making him "fall out of love" with football following Tottenham's drama-filled loss to Chelsea.
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Tottenham in drama-filled loss at ChelseaPostecoglou "falling out of love" with footballSpurs boss goes on another anti-VAR rantFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Tottenham were on the wrong end of a VAR call that saw Pape Sarr's goal disallowed following a lengthy review in their 1-0 loss at Chelsea on Thursday. The day after that defeat, the Australian said he does not get how society is so accepting of how VAR has changed the sport, and football is not the game he once loved – as you can no longer truly "celebrate goals" for fear of it being ruled out by the officials.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT ANGE POSTECOGLOU SAID
He told reporters on Friday: "I don't get it. As human beings, we are kind of just so accepting of everything these days. "I don't get it. I don't know. I just thought we had a bit more about us as a race in terms of fighting against things that derail the core of what we believe in."
"It's like these things," he added, while picking up a mobile phone in front of him. "We accept them in our lives and now we are trying to reel them all back because we know the damage they do. The horse has bolted – it's the same with VAR and football, but we just let it roll on."
When asked if VAR had got him falling out of love with football, he replied: "No doubt, it's not the game I loved. Maybe I was influenced by England and particularly the old First Division. What I loved about it as opposed to other leagues was just the frenetic pace of it. I am falling out of love with the game because I love celebrating goals. I paid a high price for it [against Chelsea]. I'm paying a massive price for it, but I'll make sure I won't do it again."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
While Postecoglou makes some valid points, he is fighting for his Tottenham job. The Chelsea defeat, which ended up having 12 minutes of second-half stoppage time due to VAR checks, was their 16th Premier League loss of the season, and they are a lowly 14th in the division. If Spurs don't win the Europa League this term, the ex-Celtic boss is likely to be looking for a new position elsewhere.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
Postecoglou will hope Tottenham can bounce back from the Chelsea loss when they host relegation-threatened Southampton on Sunday in the Premier League.