RAMS Park isn’t a stadium that comes to mind often for fans of Europe’s top-five leagues, but when their favorite teams visit, they quickly realize what they’re in for: 90 minutes of hell. That was the experience Tottenham’s players had earlier this week during their 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray.
Turkish football fans are as loud and passionate as they come, and Galatasaray’s supporters arguably top that list. On Thursday, on matchday four of the UEFA Europa League, Tottenham’s players and fans were met with loud boos and whistles every time they did something to grab attention.
However, it wasn’t just the hostile atmosphere that led to Galatasaray’s victory. Tottenham played poorly, and manager Ange Postecoglou admitted as much. In particular, former Napoli star Victor Osimhen tore apart Spurs’ defense in the first half, scoring twice.
Full-time. pic.twitter.com/fwsGZ1ttLb
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 7, 2024
As The Athletic pointed out, there was a significant gap between Spurs’ starting XI and reserve players, with Postecoglou opting for a weaker lineup. The defense was shaky, and the goalkeeping distribution was chaotic.
However, perhaps the occasion played a role in Tottenham’s shambolic start to the game.
In the second half, Tottenham—despite being down to 10 men after goalscorer Will Lankshear was sent off—played considerably better. However, Galatasaray did what they so often do in European football: defended well, with their “12th man”—the fans—playing a huge role.
The Spurs supporters who had traveled to Istanbul could hardly make themselves heard, as the noise at RAMS Park drowned them out.
Tottenham tried their best, but ultimately couldn’t find the back of the net. Postecoglou offered an honest assessment of the performance.
“Individuals needed to be stronger on the ball and make sure we play the kind of football we aim for every week, and we didn’t do that. Maybe it was partly due to the changes I made or the atmosphere. What stands out is that even without pressure on us, we kept giving the ball away,” the Aussie manager said.
Postecoglou also acknowledged it was a challenging game but one that would help the team grow. Tottenham still has time to solidify their place in the Europa League’s top eight, currently sitting seventh with nine points and four games remaining.
