Postecoglou gives a really interesting answer to Giovani Lo Celso’s lack of minutes at Spurs

Ange Postecoglou says he is more focused on contributions than minutes when it comes to his Tottenham Hotspur squad, when asked about Giovani Lo Celso’s game time.

Lo Celso has only played 443 minutes across 15 Premier League games for Tottenham so far this season (TransferMarkt), even though James Maddison was out injured for a number of months.

The Argentine has been forced to make do with a bit-part role from the bench and has even been an unused substitute on many occasions this season under Postecoglou.

When managers are often asked about a player’s lack of game time, you usually get the same PR answer about every member of the squad having to fight for a place in the starting XI.

Postecoglou wants his Spurs players to contribute

However, Postecoglou told the media this afternoon that his players could likely find more game time at other clubs if they choose to push for a transfer.

The Spurs boss says he is more concentrated on whether his players make meaningful contributions when he calls upon them, because no player can start every single game.

He said (Football London): “It is not just him [Lo Celso]. There have been a few in that boat where they just haven’t had a real good run in terms of there has been injury disruptions and other times when he has been fit, other players have played in his position, but I still think Gio’s been good for us this year.

“Through that middle patch when we had a lot of injuries, he really stood up for us and then got his own injury of course. He made a real impact against Luton at weekend and it really helped us get over the line.

“Look, he’s a fantastic player, but with all these things you’ve got to keep the perspective that we’re at a big club, we’re going to have a big squad and if it is not Gio, it will be someone else that will play that role next year.

“No one will play every game. It doesn’t happen. It doesn’t happen at all the big clubs, so I am never really worried about the game-time players are playing. If they want more game-time, there are other clubs where they can do that and I’m looking at contribution.

“With someone like Gio, like I said he has contributed to us this year and that’s been the most important thing for me.”

Spurs Web Opinion:

It’s refreshing to see a manager acknowledge that some players are there to play a bit-part role, but that should not diminish how much they can contribute on the pitch. It’s those bit-part roles than can amount to a meaningful number of points across a 38-game season.

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