Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Friendly Games
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Ange Postecoglou explains Radu Dragusin situation amid lack of game time

talksport.com, 16 February 2024, 16:19
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has insisted that Radu Dragusin is part of his long-term plans despite his limited game time.

As Spurs faced injury issues in defence, centre-back Dragusin was signed in January from Genoa in a £25million plus add-ons deal.

The Romanian international was key in his former club's promotion to Serie A and made 22 appearances this season before his move.

However, Dragusin has played just eight minutes of Premier League football for Spurs spread across three substitute appearances.

Despite the lack of action, Postecoglou has issued an explanation for the 22-year-old's involvement and praised his attitude in training.

"He has been great, he's working hard," the Spurs boss said ahead of their clash against Wolves on Saturday - live and exclusive on talkSPORT 2.

"He was at Genoa and he was playing. If just playing was all he was interested in then he would have stayed at Genoa. If you want to move to big clubs then that's part of the process.

"He knew that and that's why I wanted him here because he knew the challenge of coming here and playing was not just going to be a given. It's about working your way. He's adapting.

"We play a lot differently to what he's used to, we've used him in games and I think he's done well when we've used him. Again, we didn't buy him for six months.

"We brought him to this football club for a long time and we've already seen this year what losing our two central defenders what impact that had on our season.

Most read in Football

Newcastle boss Howe rues 'strange' injury to Wilson amid potential long lay-off

Arsenal and Spurs battle for £60m ace, Chelsea star to leave, Zaha back in Premier League?

Jorginho names top five Premier League players and last pick leaves interviewer stunned

Mikel Arteta gives Arsenal fans hope of stunning Kylian Mbappe transfer

"I don't want that to happen in the future so Radu is here for that and the next three to four months before the end of the season, it's about him adapting and working hard.

"He's been outstanding in training, great attitude, great amongst the players. The players can really see the qualities he has and he's ready to play."

Ange Postecoglou reveals his opinions on sin bins and the potential introduction of a blue card in football

Dragusin made his Spurs debut off the bench in their 2-2 draw with Manchester United before featuring against Brentford and Everton.

Postecoglou's preferred centre-back pairing features Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, although both have had spells out of action.

Both are likely to start against Wolves in north London as Spurs look to solidify their place in the Premier League top four.

Show more

Top News

27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Championship leaders Leeds United will resume their promotion bid with a home game against Swansea City on Saturday. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Watford will resume their Championship playoff bid when they lock horns with Plymouth Argyle in Saturday's clash at Vicarage Road. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has confirmed his starting XI for Thursday's La Liga clash with Osasuna, with a decision on Robert Lewandowski's involvement being made. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic are set to welcome top-six contenders Hearts at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Middlesbrough will resume their Championship playoff bid when they welcome Oxford United to the Riverside Stadium for Saturday's contest. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk This weekend's Major League Soccer schedule kicks off with a clash of the Eastern Conference heavyweights at Chase Stadium, where Inter Miami will play host to Philadelphia Union. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Jamie Carragher's reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool exit didn't sit well with talkSPORT's Darren Bent. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will reportedly face competition from Liverpool to sign in-demand Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso during the summer transfer window. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to snap a six-match winless sequence in the Eredivisie, PEC Zwolle host second-bottom RKC Waalwijk in Saturday's gameweek 27 contest at MAC³PARK Stadion. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly moved closer to reaching a major contract breakthrough in conversations with star forward Mohamed Salah. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh off the back of suffering their first defeat of the 2025 MLS campaign, DC United will be looking to bounce back when they play host to Columbus Crew at Audi Field on Saturday. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Antony has dropped a major hint regarding his future at Manchester United, with the attacker suggesting that he will not be returning to the 20-time English champions at the end of the campaign. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Europe-chasing NEC aim for back-to-back Eredivisie wins for the first time since January when they host Champions League hopefuls AZ Alkmaar in Saturday's gameweek 27 fixture at Goffertstadion. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are confident of reaching an agreement to extend Mohamed Salah's stay at the club, talkSPORT understands. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior are among four Blancos players at the heart of a UEFA investigation ahead of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Arsenal. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Udinese defender Oumar Solet during this summer's transfer window. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Facing a make-or-break situation in their faltering bid for the playoffs, Norwich City will host top-six occupants West Bromwich Albion at Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon in a Championship match. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a fourth win on the spin in the MLS for the first time since September 2022, Nashville SC go head to head with FC Cincinnati at Geodis Park on Sunday morning. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Saturday afternoon in the Eredivisie brings us a crucial match in the relegation scrap, with Willem II playing host to Almere City at Koning Willem II Stadion. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal has opened up on transfer interest from fellow Premier League clubs Fulham and Everton. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Plymouth Argyle CEO Andrew Parkinson insists Wayne Rooney's doomed appointment was not 'for profile reasons'. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is back training on the grass at London Colney as he enters the final stages of his recovery from a hamstring injury. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to extend their unbeaten run to a sensational 26 matches in the second tier, Burnley will welcome playoff-chasing Bristol City to Turf Moor in the Championship on Saturday afternoon. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United and Aston Villa are reportedly among a number of clubs keeping tabs on the situation of Noni Madueke at Chelsea. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Premier League rivals Brighton and Nottingham Forest will meet in the FA Cup for the first time ever in their quarter-final clash this weekend. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool fans may have to see Trent Alexander-Arnold in Real Madrid colours even sooner than they think. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly laid out their transfer demands for midfielder Kobbie Mainoo ahead of his possible exit from Old Trafford this summer. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fallen giants Juventus start the post-Thiago Motta era on Saturday evening, when they welcome Genoa to Turin. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Sunderland continue their push for promotion to the Premier League this weekend, as they host Millwall in the Championship on Saturday afternoon. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to boost their hopes of qualifying for Europe, Wolfsburg welcome relegation-threatened Heidenheim to Volkswagen Arena for a Bundesliga clash on Saturday afternoon.