Ange Postecoglou lays into Timo Werner for ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ display – after hauling off the Tottenham star at half-time of Europa League draw with Rangers

Ange Postecoglou savaged Timo Werner for his performance after hauling the Germany international off at half-time against Rangers.

Werner was replaced Dejan Kulusevski who rescued a point for Tottenham with a late equaliser at Ibrox.

‘He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should,’ said Postecoglou when asked if the change was tactical. ‘When you’ve got 18-year-olds out there, it’s not acceptable to me. I said that to Timo.

‘He’s a senior international, he’s a German international. In the moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many options.

‘I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.’

Tottenham are locked in an injury crisis and patched-up at the back, missing three central defenders, their number one goalkeeper and two strikers.

The German international was hooked by his manager at half-time against the Scottish giants

‘It’s not really of great concern,’ said Postecoglou, when how Werner had taken the criticism. ‘We need everybody including him to be contributing. Because we don’t have the depth to leave people out if they’re performing poorly.

‘We need them to play their part. Especially the senior guys. When I’m asking younger guys to do massive jobs. I expect a level of performance from some of the senior guys. And today wasn’t that.’

Overall, the Spurs boss was satisfied with a point.

‘We were nowhere near our best,’ said Postecoglou. ‘Whether or not it’s a fair result is for others to judge.

‘But in the period of games we’re grinding through, with a depleted squad, asking players to get up week in week out, it’s a good outcome.

‘In the context of where we are in Europe, with next games in the New Year, which gives us a chance to be in a better place, I think it’s a pretty good point. We’ll look back on this as an important point.’