The decision making by Tottenham players in their defeat by Chelsea showed “naivety”, says former defender Stephen Kelly.
Having been 2-0 up early in the game, both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr gave away two clear penalties that were coolly converted by Cole Palmer to help Chelsea comeback to win 4-3.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Kelly said: “The naivety shown [by Tottenham players], at times you go ‘why?’
“When you are playing a game, if you have a manager who is really gung-ho and wants to play beautiful football going forward, at some point in the game as a player you have to go ‘let’s just consolidate for a little bit, I know the manager wants us to fly forwards but we are 2-0 up, let’s just keep hold of the ball and stay in a more condensed shape’. But they don’t.
“When they conceded the first goal their heads go and they make crazy decisions at times. I don’t know if that is all part of the frenetic play that Postecoglou wants, but the decision making at times from some of the players really lets the side down.”
Ex-Chelsea defender Mario Melchiot agreed and added: “Sometimes the fans just get too much in your head. The chanting, the motivations, the ‘go, go, go’ and stay on fire.
“But then, especially when you highlight the second [penalty], you think ‘come on’. The first one you are late, you can’t go for a tackle in the box and not touch the ball. But the second one, you are a midfielder and you are in the box, you are not going to challenge him like that.”
Listen back to the discussion on BBC Sounds