Ange defends the new change that sees FA Cup replays scrapped by saying ‘We are already struggling to fit it all in’.
Ange defends the abolition of FA Cup replays after his Tottenham side defied non-league Tamworth 3-0 in extra time.
When the whistle blew at 90 minutes with the game still goalless, Tamworth would have been entitled to a lucrative replay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium under the previous rules.
However, games are being played to the end of the day starting this season, and Tottenham earned a fourth-round matchup against Aston Villa by defeating a fatigued Tamworth in the extra period. Postecoglou claimed that the modification was warranted due to scheduling issues for elite clubs. Tottenham is now playing Liverpool in a two-leg League Cup semi-final in addition to their league and European obligations.
“I get the sentiment, but at the same time I’ve been banging on about less [fewer] games so it is a balancing act,” he said. “The way the calendar is at the moment, it would be almost impossible for us to fit another game in. We are already struggling to fit it all in. I certainly believe in the competition and what it does offer every part of the football pyramid, and I think it should be protected.”
The Tamworth coach, Andy Peaks, paid tribute to his semi-professional players for their performance against a team ranked 96 places above them in the league pyramid. “To take a team to extra time, it is unbelievable,” he said. “I am immensely proud. I just said: ‘Don’t be disappointed, because we almost created history there.’
“Even this week it didn’t really sink in what we were actually going to do. It will probably take a few days. I’m getting Archie Gray’s top. He has promised me one. He won’t let me down. He knows I’m a Leeds fan.”