Tottenham subject of new ‘collapse’ claim as prediction v Southampton made
Daniel Levy will be watching Ange Postecoglou and his Tottenham Hotspur side intently – but not until Thursday.
The one momentary piece of respite in a turbulent period for the Spurs head coach is he knows his job is very likely safe until they are knocked out of the Europa League.
Tottenham have what on paper looks to be the ideal dress rehearsal to gather some belief and momentum and generate some goodwill back from an apathetic support, when they take on bottom side Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon (6 April).
A win for Spurs relegates Saints – who remain in danger of becoming statistically the league’s worst-ever side – but only midweek against Eintracht Frankfurt is realistically on people’s minds.
Frankfurt will beat Tottenham unless one key factor shown, says Ian Darke
Tottenham have flagged in the Premier League for months and have kept their season and trophy hopes alive via the Europa League.
Opponents Frankfurt know how to navigate the marathon tournament better than most, having overcome Rangers to lift the trophy in 2022.
Spurs’ season hinges between memorably superb and despairingly awful on one tie – Paul Merson summed up excellently over the weekend how Postecoglou could win the last eight Premier League games and it still be a disastrous campaign without the Europa League in the cabinet.
TV commentator Ian Darke, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, has surveyed the Bundesliga side and concluded Spurs will be eliminated if not at their best.
Darke also explained the Lilywhites could not afford to take their foot off the gas in the league despite each fixture essentially coming as a dead-rubber, due to their hostile relationship with last opponents Chelsea and requirement for momentum against Southampton.
“Chelsea is always a grudge match for Tottenham these days so no soft-pedalling could be afforded in that,” he said.
“The players needed to be back into a rhythm as well after two weeks off, and I do think they’ll beat Southampton.
“But of course, it’s all on Thursday. I think they have to be at their best to beat Frankfurt over the two legs – especially in the away game where they atmosphere is going to be off the scale. It can only be the best version of Spurs or their season will collapse.”
Postecoglou surely gone if Spurs knocked out
Whether it comes in the quarter-finals, the semi-finals or the final – if Spurs do not bring that coveted first trophy in 17 years back to North London this season, Postecoglou cannot be spared.
He and his squad have given him that mountain to climb and the arduous task ahead, but it will all be worthwhile if they can steer their supporters to European glory.
| Tottenham Hotspur – 2024-25 | Progress |
| Premier League | 16th* |
| Europa League | Quarter-finals* |
| FA Cup | Fourth round |
| EFL Cup | Semi-finals |
Defeat to Southampton, and it will be doom and gloom heading into arguably their biggest tie since the 2019 Champions League final.