Ange Postecoglou finally reveals the mind-boggling reason Tottenham's season fell apart after brilliant start

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says his team fell apart due to a lack of discipline which led to important players either being sent off or suspended which eventually meant a terrific start to the season counted for nothing in the end.

Before their first defeat of the season to Chelsea back in November, Spurs had gone 10 games without a defeat, winning eight and drawing the other two. No team had finished below third after such a storming start to the campaign in Premier League history but Spurs are now only likely to stay fifth. 

On Tuesday night all their hopes of a top-four finish were dashed by defeat to Manchester City and when asked where it all went wrong for the Lilywhiytes, manager Postecoglou did not mince words. 

He said: “I thought the whole team was outstanding and he was, and I think he felt that and that's why he got frustrated. Part of the issue for us this year has been what I spoke about after the game, in more specific terms we've had a real lack of discipline around our football. 

“Earlier in the year it was mainly red cards and yellow cards that cost us really badly, towards the end of the year it's been a real lack of discipline in sticking to our football principles. There's been too many times when we've let ourselves down in that and we've paid a price. 

"The goal they scored was a little snapshot of that with Rodrigo giving the ball away and then because of that he wanted to make amends but he's already on a yellow card so he can't bring the guy down. So we're paying for two bits of ill-discipline against a team that's very disciplined and then they just go and do what they do. They have their moment and they score their goal. 

“That's the reality so part of that has just been the discipline and going back to the question about that being embedded, we've still got a long way to go.” 

Tottenham could be set for a massive summer overhaul but they will have to at least get a point against already relegated Sheffield United to ensure they secure Europa League football and build for next season.