Tottenham were 'very far away' in defeat to Chelsea, says angry Ange Postecoglou | first division

Ange Postecoglou admitted Tottenham had the wrong mentality after their Champions League qualification hopes took a hit. a weak 2-0 defeat against Chelsea.

Spurs, who trail fourth-placed Aston Villa by seven points with four games remaining, were woefully lacking in fight on a damaging night. His weaknesses in set pieces were once again exposed and although they have one less game against Villa, Postecoglou had no complaints Chelsea extending his team's losing streak to three games.

“It wasn't a great night for us,” the Spurs manager said. “We didn't play anywhere close to football and we didn't have the mentality that I hope we have. That's up to me, I have to take responsibility for it.

“I am the one who sets them up and prepares them for it. When we're this far away, I have to look at myself and see how I'm preparing this team for it. We lacked real conviction and a positive mentality in our football. We didn't really have any fluidity, any type of aggression with and without the ball. “It's a little different from us.”

Postecoglou, who will take his team to Anfield on Sunday, refused to say whether he is worried about his team's deteriorating form. “It is what it is,” he said. “I don't think in those terms. It is my responsibility to prepare the team in each match and make sure we reach certain levels. We didn't do it today, so that's at my feet and I have to fix it.”

Mauricio Pochettino, who savored the victory over his former team, considered that Chelsea produced their best performance of the season. “It's the happiest I've ever been,” said the Chelsea manager. “The way we played, the way we competed, that's what we wanted from the beginning of the season.”

Chelsea, who are eighth, are three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United and still have hopes of qualifying for Europe. But Pochettino added that it is not up to him whether he will be in charge next season.

“It's hard to see every week that I'm under scrutiny and judgment,” he said. “It is not my decision to be here or not. We will see if we have time to build.”