Ange Postecoglou says 27-year-old Tottenham star now has a challenge on his hands ahead of Chelsea game

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says goalkeepers are more protected in Europe than in the Premier League after his team conceded two set-piece goals again at the weekend. 

Conceding goals from set pieces have been Tottenham’s Achilles heels this season. Nathan Ake got one past the Lilywhites when Manchester City knocked them out of the Cup competition earlier in the season. 

Clubs have targeted Spurs' number one, Guglielmo Vicario with the goalkeeper conceding against West Ham, Everton and Arsenal but Postecoglou is adamant that he and the club need to understand why there seems to be a general lack of protection for goalkeepers. 

He told reporters ahead of the game against Chelsea: “I think he's seen that there's a challenge. It's something that even I'm struggling with because I watched the Champions League last night and there was a foul given on the keeper straight away. We're trying to get clarity on it.” 

What Postecoglou said about coaching set pieces 

The Lilywhites have been vulnerable from set play, especially in the second half of the campaign- but manager Postecoglou admitted there were more important things to address in training than just a set piece. 

He added: “I think I've answered this question and I don't think it satisfies people, but no I don't see it as an issue. It's something that we work on along with everything in our game. 

“There are far more important things that we need to concentrate on at the moment in terms of the team we're building. I think people want to be believe, and it can be, that football is very prescriptive. You've got an illness, here's the tablet and you feel better. 

“I've never believed that. I've always been about trying to create an environment and a style of football that can win things. I've never worked in a prescriptive manner and I certainly won't be doing it now.”

Spurs will hope they can take three points to boost their Champions League aspiration having lost back-to-back league games against Newcastle and Arsenal. 

They can still catch Aston Villa who are fourth on the league table. Unai Emery’s side are seven points ahead but have played two games more.