'Very annoying' - Kevin Akpoguma gives honest assessment of Hoffenheim's loss to Tottenham

Super Eagles defender Kevin Akpoguma has expressed his disappointment following Hoffenheim's 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.

Despite featuring for the entirety of the game, Akpoguma and his team were unable to stop Spurs, who claimed victory through a brace from Heung-min Son and a goal by James Maddison.

In his post-match reaction, Akpoguma highlighted Hoffenheim's defensive lapses as the primary cause of their defeat.

"We beat ourselves today. We communicated too late for the goal that made it 1-0. The goal for 2-0 is also very annoying, that cannot happen to us," he said, reflecting on Tottenham's ability to capitalize on errors.

The German side struggled in the first half, with Tottenham taking control and establishing a two-goal lead. 

While Hoffenheim improved significantly after the break, Akpoguma admitted that their response came too late.

"We saw that something was possible. We got ourselves into situations, but the finishing wasn't quite right. 

"It was much better in the second half; we came out well. We should've just kept going, but we lost our balance in the minutes that followed. That brought Tottenham back into the game."

Tottenham's third goal, extending their lead to 3-1, was another source of frustration for the defender, who described it as "another gift for Tottenham." 

Despite Hoffenheim pulling one back late in the game, they fell short of a comeback.

"The goal that made it 3-1 was another gift for Tottenham, but we still kept going. It's hard for me to accept it. But it's our own fault. We've got tough opponents coming up, but we have to take the positives from the game: we looked good on the ball in particular," Akpoguma remarked.

The defeat leaves Hoffenheim in a precarious position, with their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages now hanging by a thread. 

They currently sit 28th in the standings, with six points from seven games.

For Hoffenheim, the road ahead is challenging, but Akpoguma and his teammates will aim to bounce back as they prepare for their next clash in the competition.

Adeyemi Adewale

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