Ange Postecoglou has the opportunity to end Tottenham’s 17-year wait for silverware by clinching the Europa League final against Manchester United. However, even a victory in Bilbao on Wednesday might not guarantee his position at the club.
Defeating United to finally lift a trophy and secure a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League would mark a significant milestone in Tottenham’s recent history.
The north London side hasn’t tasted major success since their triumph over Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final, while their last European silverware dates back to the 1984 UEFA Cup.
Despite this potential success, Postecoglou’s tenure has been marred by a dismal Premier League campaign, leaving him with an uncertain future as he approaches the San Mamés Stadium, regardless of the match outcome.
Chairman Daniel Levy has shown little hesitation in making managerial changes and is reportedly considering candidates such as Thomas Frank from Brentford, Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace, and Marco Silva from Fulham.
With growing speculation that Postecoglou might be dismissed following the final, his bold claim from September that he “always wins things” in his second season has come to haunt him during this campaign.
The 59-year-old Australian can highlight successes with Celtic, Yokohama F. Marinos, Brisbane Roar, and South Melbourne during his second year, but those triumphs were achieved outside the intense pressure of a club known for its historical underachievement.
Tottenham’s last league title was claimed in 1961, and since their last FA Cup victory in 1991, the trophy has been lifted by teams such as Crystal Palace, Leicester, Portsmouth, and Wigan.
The term ‘Spursy’ has become a popular expression in football, encapsulating the self-inflicted setbacks often experienced by the club.
Despite a positive start, managing to prevent Tottenham from shooting themselves in the foot has proven to be an insurmountable challenge for Postecoglou.
The club allowed a Champions League spot to slip away during the final stages of last season, and Postecoglou has struggled to recover from that blow.
His aggressive attacking style initially drew acclaim, but it wasn’t long before crafty opposition managers began to exploit his defensive weaknesses.
Fans lampooned Postecoglou for his seemingly naive tactics, leading him to a breaking point after a 1-0 loss at Chelsea in April. In a moment of frustration, he sarcastically cupped his ear to the supporters after Pape Sarr’s apparent equaliser—only for that moment of joy to quickly turn sour when VAR ruled the goal out.
This season, Postecoglou has presided over 21 Premier League defeats, eclipsing their previous record of 19 losses set during the 1993-94 and 2003-04 seasons.
Currently languishing in 17th place with one match remaining, Tottenham faces its poorest finish since the 1976-77 relegation season.
Amid the wreckage of Tottenham’s troubled domestic performance, Postecoglou has taken them to the threshold of European glory.
Even Postecoglou acknowledged that the “general sentiment” is that he could be sacked regardless of the Europa campaign, which saw them navigate knockout ties against AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bodo/Glimt.
In defence of his challenging season, Postecoglou has continually cited his struggle to manage an injury-ravaged squad.
James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Lucas Bergvall will miss the final, adding to the club’s woes.
“We’ve faced adversity all year, particularly with our injury situation and player availability,” Postecoglou told UEFA.com.
“I have immense admiration and respect for this group of players. I’m genuinely hoping they will be rewarded for their efforts in the final.“
Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma echoed Postecoglou’s sentiments, stating: “He’s like a dad or uncle to us. He’s always looking out for us no matter the outcome of the game.“
“He possesses a tremendous mentality. He understands the game, realises that it has its ups and downs, and never blames the players.“
Whether that trust in Postecoglou will be enough to keep him from facing the chop is a question yet to be answered.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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