EXCLUSIVE
Ange Postecoglou has been criticised as 'naive' for downplaying the importance of set pieces, after they proved his side's downfall during the north London derby.
Tottenham conceded two goals from corners during their 3-2 home defeat to Arsenal.
4
But the Spurs manager has insisted he is not concerned with that aspect of their game as the side prepare to travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Thursday 2 May, live on talkSPORT.
Spurs know defeat to the Blues will leave them seven points adrift of Aston Villa which just one game in hand, effectively ending their hopes of a top four finish this season.
Tottenham picked up just one victory in their April fixtures and their game against Arsenal means only four Premier League teams have conceded more goals from set pieces this season.
But Postecoglou has insisted it is not something he plans to address in any great detail.
Read More in Tottenham
He said: "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," Postecoglou claimed.
"To quote Billy Joel, you may be right, I may be crazy, but it's maybe a lunatic you're looking for. I'm just not interested in it. I never have been.
"Enough of you (media) have done enough research on me to know this is not the first time I've been questioned about set-pieces in my coaching career. There is an underlying reason for that which I'm very, very comfortable with.
"Eventually I will create a team that has success and it won't be because of working on set-pieces."
4
4
4
But the manager's indifferent response to his side's set piece record has garnered the criticism of former Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara,
Speaking on talkSPORT's Sports Bar, O'Hara admitted his attitude was somewhat confusing.
Angry Tottenham Hotspur fans fumes at talkSPORT host and Gunners legend Perry Groves for celebrating Arsenal goals whilst on commentary duty for the North London derby
He said: "I don't really know what he's trying to say, but he's basically saying I don't care about the set piece situation. But it is a huge problem and an Achilles heel for us.
"I understand he's trying to build a philosophy and a team that plays good football and he's got that. But if there's a problem and it keeps being a problem, surely as a manager at the highest level, you need to address it."
Postecoglou has been renowned for his distinctly attacking style of play since taking the reigns at the north London club, a tactic often dubbed as 'Ange Ball'.
But it is an approach that has left them defensively open on more than one occasion, with score lines such as their 4-0 defeat to Newcastle or their 3-0 loss to Fulham summing up their inherent weaknesses.
Most read in Football
And while Postecoglou might not place value into set pieces, title challengers Manchester City and Arsenal seem to have done the opposite - to great success.
Man City sit top for the least goals conceded from set-pieces, with Arsenal coming in second.
The Gunners also rank first for goals scored from set-pieces in the Premier League season.
But there was one particular aspect of Arsenal's set piece strategy that Postecoglou was particularly unimpressed with.
He admitted he was not a fan of the tactics employed by Ben White during their recent meeting, when the defender was seen fiddling with the gloves of Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario just moments before Arsenal scored.
Asked about what he made of White's actions, he said: “Seriously, we’re not in the schoolyard. It’s never been where my focus lies. To be honest, if I saw one of my players do it I’d be saying, ‘Mate, seriously? Get the ball and play some football.’"
But his disinterestedness was not shared by Sports Bar presenter and former Spurs defender Jason Cundy.
Cundy explained that White's antics against Vicario summed up Spurs' defensive problems when it came to conceding from set pieces.
He said: "If the delivery is good and you get a head on it, chances are he isn't going to be able to get near it because there are bodies around. So he's got to learn to protect that, he's got to do something different.
"I feel that you are naive if you feel that set pieces aren't a huge part of the game. There's a massive percentage of goals that are scored from set pieces - huge one!"
He added: "Because the margins are so tight, so minute, if you can get an advantage on any set piece - look at Arsenal. The reason they've won it is because of their set pieces."
Spurs' defensive record will also likely not benefit from the news that defender Ben Davies will be out for the rest of the season due to injury, alongside forward Timo Werner.
Even defeat over Chelsea tonight will still leave Spurs hoping Villa slip up in their remaining games if they are to make the top four - not to mention they will need a perfect end to their own season.
And as O'Hara admitted, their defensive problems are something Spurs will need to sort out if they are to keep their hopes of a Champions League finish alive.
Read More on talkSPORT
He said: "Good teams are hard to break down in open play, we know that. You see it all the time. Set pieces can unlock it and you've got to get that right, but from both ends."
Chelsea vs Tottenham is live on talkSPORT from 7:30pm on Thursday 2 May.