Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens has been left ’embarrassed’ by his own comments about Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs are going through a really difficult campaign. They have dropped down to 16th in the Premier League table ahead of their game against Brentford on Sunday.
Injuries have been the biggest reason why Postecoglou’s side are in such a bad position at the moment, and the Australian definitely deserves some sympathy for that.
However, Wellens needlessly used Postecoglou’s name in an interview recently, and he has now issued an apology for his comments.
Leyton Orient suffered a 1-0 defeat to Stockport in League One on Saturday.
The Os have signed two players on loan from Tottenham Hotspur – Josh Keeley and Jamie Donley – and both of them started the game at Brisbane Road.
You would imagine that Orient boss Wellens would only have good things to say about Spurs, but his comments after the game against Stockport suggested otherwise.
When he was asked about injuries, Wellens said, as per The Evening Standard: “I’m not Ange Postecoglou, keep using it as an excuse.”
That led to a lot of criticism from Spurs fans, and Wellens has now come out and issued a public apology and even branded his own comments as ‘stupid’.
He said in a statement released on Leyton Orient’s website: “After today’s game, I was asked about the injuries within our squad and, without thinking, I made a stupid comment about Tottenham Hotspur.
“That comment was brought to my attention later in the evening and having watched my interview back, I am deeply embarrassed and regret what I said.
“At Leyton Orient, we have a strong relationship with Tottenham Hotspur and it was never my intention to say anything that would jeopardise that. Their manager, Ange Postecoglou, is a world-class coach and I want to apologise for my comments and wish Spurs all the very best for the second half of the season.”
Postecoglou’s luck with injuries is about to change
Wellens’ comments were completely out of order and he is right to issue an apology.
Postecoglou has had to go through a lot because of injuries this season. He has been without several of his key players for large parts of the campaign and that has hurt him.
But, in what is good news for Spurs fans, a number of injured players are expected to be back.
Postecoglou confirmed in a recent press conference that Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Destiny Udogie, Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner are all expected to be back in the next seven to 10 days, while Dominic Solanke should return a week after that.
That is huge news and it could help Spurs completely turn their season around in the next few months.