Postecoglou vows to turn Spurs' season around after bitter loss to Chelsea

Ange Postecoglou has vowed to turn around Tottenham's season ahead of a daunting return to Scotland on Thursday.

Spurs suffered a painful 4-3 loss at home to Chelsea on Sunday to drop to 11th in the Premier League.

Tottenham have won only one of their last seven matches – a remarkable 4-0 victory at Manchester City – amid a gruelling fixture list and a growing number of absentees.

Cristian Romero will return to the treatment table ahead of Thursday’s Europa League tie at Rangers where a hostile atmosphere will greet ex-Celtic boss Postecoglou, but the 59-year-old remains determined to succeed in England.

He said: "My role now is to focus on the things I can control and keep preparing the team the best we can to keep progressing as a football team and turn our season around.

"When I look at the performance, I don’t see them lacking confidence or belief. It’s probably the other way. Both penalties we conceded were borne out of desperation.

"I think they are desperate to turn our season around and are really disappointed how it has gone. When you’re in that mood you kind of lose that composure and discipline you need.

"It’s not like we are hanging on in games. We wouldn’t play like we did if there was a lack of belief and confidence.

"When you get into this situation we are in, there is also a sense of desperation from the players and I thought that cost us."

Postecoglou was boosted before Chelsea’s visit by Romero and Micky Van De Ven being fit enough to start, but the former lasted only 15 minutes.

Van De Ven also had to be replaced in the 79th minute and Brennan Johnson was another player to be withdrawn.

The prognosis on Van De Ven and Johnson was positive, but Romero – only back from a toe issue – will join Guglielmo Vicario