Ange Postecoglou hails Tottenham character in bruising Bournemouth victory - ‘A massive physical effort’

Ange Postecoglou highlighted "a massive physical effort" from his side after securing a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve.

Goals from Pape Sarr, Son Heung-min and Richarlison sealed all three points for Spurs, before Alex Scott netted a late consolation for The Cherries.

Postecoglou praised the character shown by his side following a 4-2 defeat to Brighton on Thursday, as Spurs moved within three points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.

“It's very pleasing," he said in his post-match press conference. "There was a bit of everything today, and we needed a bit of everything.

“Some of our football was good; we had to show some resilience and character, again a massive physical effort.

“I said in the week that these players had given everything, the ones who were available. We're not stumbling due to a lack of effort, that's for sure, against a side that is probably the most in-form side in the competition, two days less rest after a really big physical load against Brighton.

“The way these players keep giving maximum effort is a credit to them.”

Spurs were boosted by the return of Rodrigo Bentancur a month ahead of schedule after recovering from an ankle injury, but first goalscorer Sarr and Alejo Veliz and were both forced off in either half.

Sarr withdrew just past the half-hour mark with a hamstring injury, and was visibly distraught with the Senegal international due to feature in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

“Pape felt his hamstring and he's emotional because he wants to go away with his national team. It's a big tournament for them,” Postecoglou explained.

“It's kind of the way our season has gone. He was so good again early in the game, apart from his goal, and then he gets an injury.

“Disappointing for him, but I am hoping it is not too serious and he can still go away and contribute to his country.

“Alejo was in a lot of pain and we'd already done our substitutions so we were trying to get it out to him to just lay down so we can get him off. But it just shows the character of the boy because he knew we had no more substitutions and he just wanted to keep going.

"I'm not sure the extent of what he's done but we'll find out.”

On a more positive note for Spurs was Giovani Lo Celso’s display, as he started the match after an impressive performance from the bench against Brighton on Thursday.

“Gio was great. He's been great the past few weeks,” Postecoglou added.

“We needed someone to step and Gio was great today. You could see his passes through and the one through to Sonny was outstanding. We're going to need him now because Sonny [Son Heung-min] , Pape [Sarr] and Biss [Yves Bissouma] go away now.”

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