Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou gives verdict after losing first match to West Ham
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has spoken out after West Ham defeat
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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has opened up on his new side following Tuesday's 3-2 defeat to Premier League rivals West Ham in pre-season.
The Aussie took over from Ryan Mason last month and returned to his home country hoping for a winning start in the dugout.
That didn't happen, however, with Tottenham losing their first match under Postecoglou to their fierce London rivals.
Goals from Danny Ings, Divin Mubama and Gianluca Scamacca gave the Hammers victory, with Giovani Lo Celso and Destiny Udogie on target for Spurs.
Tottenham were unable to beat West Ham during pre-season clash
Pre-season is obviously not an authentic way of measuring a side's progress, even if Tottenham went strong for the showdown.
And that was something their new boss was keen to stress after David Moyes' side reigned supreme.
"I don't have a great record here in Australia with friendlies," he told 10FootballAU.
"Very early in pre-season in terms of preparing the team. We had some really good stuff, other stuff we need to work on, but for the most part the boys tried to implement what we've been working on.
"Some positive stuff there."
When asked what he told players at half time, having gone 2-0 down, he added: "Yeah look, I've got to be careful.
"At the end of the day I'm asking players to do things they've not done before.
"They're fantastic footballers and it's about allowing them to be able to make mistakes along the way and I'll take responsibility for that.
"We weren't as organised as we ought to be and we weren't structurally right, that's on me.
"Beyond that, the most important thing is their willingness to try and play and implement the stuff I'm doing.
"There's going to be bumps along the road, that's when your belief gets tested.
"I love this bit."
On his side's second half performance, he continued: "That's what you want.
"Players to feel good out there and say 'this is working, this is what I want, I want to be out there and dominating teams and play in the opposite half, create chances.'"
Tottenham are next in action against Leicester on Sunday (11am).
The Foxes were relegated from the Premier League last season and recently sold James Maddison to Spurs, with the England international moving in a huge £40million move.
Tottenham beat Leicester 6-2 at home back in September.
Yet they were emphatically beaten by the Championship side in February, losing 4-1 at the King Power Stadium.
Meanwhile, West Ham boss David Moyes hailed Postecoglou and backed the former Celtic manager to shine at Tottenham.
"I can only tell you I've come acdross Ange a few times and what he done at Celtic was remarkable.
"How his team played was a very good style and I think you saw bits of that tonight.
He added: "I think Tottenham are a good side. They've got an amazing centre-forward, probably the best in thew world, and while you've got an amazing centre-forward you've always got a chance of winning games."
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