Tottenham Hotspur's head coach, Ange Postecoglou, has come forward to defend his team after a disappointing 4-0 loss to Liverpool in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg. Despite entering the match with a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Spurs failed to make a significant impact, not registering a single shot on target during the game at Anfield.

Postecoglou expressed his understanding of the current criticism but emphasized that the defeat does not define his team's capabilities. "I get the pile on at the moment, it's really easy for people to stick their boots in and question the players, but I don't," said Postecoglou. He further added, "Thursday night doesn't direct me in what I do and think. We're an easy mark at the moment, obviously making a semi-final is an absolute disaster."

The Australian coach also highlighted the absence of several key players due to injuries, which undoubtedly impacted the team's performance. Players like Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, and Cristian Romero were notably missing from the lineup.

Looking ahead, Spurs are set to face Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round. Postecoglou remains optimistic, stating, "We were disappointed it didn't go the way we wanted and we didn't perform at the levels - but that doesn't define this group of players in my eyes."

As Tottenham prepares for their upcoming match, the focus will be on regrouping and proving their critics wrong. The team's resilience and determination will be crucial as they aim to bounce back from this setback.