Ange Postecoglou ultimatum: Tottenham job to become untenable
Tottenham Hotspur supporters now majorly desperate for a change of direction, ambition and a loosening of the pursestrings by Daniel Levy.
Ange Postecoglou continues to stagger from one defeat to the next, artificially polished with the occasional impressive performance which is the literal reason Spurs are not in a relegation dogfight this season.
Levy is under even more supporter scrutiny than his head coach, with the entire fate of Tottenham’s horrific campaign resting on going all the way in the Europa League and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
With Spurs fans desperately wanting a new boss at the helm, former manager Mauricio Pochettino has again entered the frame after an image circulated online of the ex-Tottenham chief with Levy.
Levy could keep Postecoglou on without a trophy
Postecoglou has been through the mill this season, the Spurs fans even more so as their team lurch from one disastrous day to the next.
It’s certainly not all on the experienced Australian, with the inability to spend to the levels of their rivals thanks to Levy and the board, and his senior leadership figures in the dressing room routinely letting him down on the pitch.
Plenty of the discontent came to a boil on Sunday after Tottenham lost 2-0 to Fulham in the Premier League (16 March), as Postecoglou and Mathys Tel were both seen in conversation with disgruntled away fans at Craven Cottage – it was their 15th league defeat this season.
Next month provides the one saving grace with a Europa League quarter-final tie beginning against Eintracht Frankfurt, and TV commentator Ian Darke believes – surely to some Spurs fans’ surprise – that Postecoglou could get away without winning their first trophy since 2008 and still keep his job.
“Postecoglou’s future could depend on a few factors. It might depend on what other managers might be available to them,” Darke exclusively told Tottenham News.
“I think if they get to at least the Europa League final – he might not have to win it – maybe someone like Daniel Levy could take a look at it and be happy with the direction they’re moving in.
“But everyone knows the league form has been way off. If he gets to the final and plays well without winning it, there could be a case for believing things can improve under Postecoglou next season. He has to reach the final for his position is to remain tenable.”
Tottenham fans could revolt with loss to Frankfurt
With the entire campaign hinging on the last eight of the Europa League, and Postecoglou knowing his whole future could depend on winning the competition, the Frankfurt tie is massive.
The Europa League will be far from easy to win – especially with the added pressure of no silverware in 17 years – with Manchester United and Rangers still in the competition, as well as Roman giants Lazio and final hosts Athletic Club (Bilbao).
| Europa League – quarter-final ties |
| TOTTENHAM v Eintracht Frankfurt |
| Lyon v Manchester United |
| Bodo/Glimt v Lazio |
| Rangers v Athletic Club |
Until then, Spurs must look to gather momentum towards the tie against the 2022 competition winners from the Bundesliga, with Premier League games first up against Chelsea (3 April) and Southampton (6 April).