In a controversial turn, Ange Postecoglou has expressed his disinterest in experimenting with VAR which is set to debut in the Carabao Cup penultimate leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. As part of the pilot initiative, referees will be responsible for explaining decisions made during video reviews to both the public in attendance and viewers, marking a first for English domestic football.
However, the Spurs coach, known for his outspoken stance against this technology, remains unconvinced by the change. Citing a recent incident involving a Joelinton handball, which preceded Anthony Gordon’s contested equalizer in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, Postecoglou expressed serious concerns. “Should I welcome him? No,” he commented. “Do you really think that if the hand had been shown on Saturday, our fans would have left satisfied? Would they have left saying, ‘Oh, that was wonderful, they explained it’?”
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Despite his reservations, Postecoglou acknowledged the inevitability of experimentation, saying: “I have to accept that it happens. I have to admit that this is the way to go, and that I have to be part of it. But you have to know that , it is not in my nature to support such initiatives.”
In team news, Rodrigo Bentancur is set to return from suspension against the Premier League leaders, although Pape Sarr and James Maddison are still out, with 10 other players also injured. Richarlison, who has not played since early November due to a hamstring problem, is closing in on a return. “He’s training,” Postecoglou confirmed. “Our plan was to give him two solid weeks of training, and he’s starting his second week. If all goes well, he should be back to 100% fitness soon.”
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Elsewhere, Postecoglou is considering the debut of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, the club’s first January signing for a fee of £12.5million from Slavia Prague. With starter Guglielmo Vicario out until the end of February with an ankle injury, and Fraser Forster unavailable against Newcastle due to illness, Brandon Austin was thrust into the starting role. Asked about Kinsky’s potential start, Postecoglou said: “We’ll see. He arrived on Sunday, and after a few days of training, he’s registered and eligible to play. We just need to finalize some details before making a decision.”
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On a more positive note, Tottenham have secured the contract extension of their captain Son Heung-min until the summer of 2026. Postecoglou expressed hope that the South Korean superstar will help bring trophies back to Spurs, who have not won a title since winning the League Cup in 2008. “It’s fantastic news,” he said. “Son has had an incredible career here, making a significant impact over the last decade. Extending his stay is a great choice for us, and our aim is to ensure he concludes his time at Tottenham with a trophy.”
