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Spurs’ Postecoglou Faces Uncertain Future Amid Disappointing Season
As Tottenham Hotspur prepares to face Southampton, the club finds itself in the midst of a challenging Premier League campaign, currently sitting 14th in the standings after 30 matches, trailing fourth-placed Chelsea by a substantial 18 points.
Reports suggest that Ange Postecoglou’s role as manager may be in jeopardy, with the team’s underperformance prompting discussions about his future in the management position as the season approaches its final weeks.
The pursuit of silverware in the Europa League—an opportunity that could mark the club’s first trophy win since 2008—will play a significant role in the evaluation of Postecoglou’s tenure. However, insiders indicate that winning this tournament may not be the sole determining factor regarding his job security.
Fractures have emerged between segments of the Spurs fanbase and Postecoglou, which is likely to be addressed when the decision regarding his future is made. The evolving dynamics between him and the supporters will be a crucial aspect of the upcoming discussions.
The prospect of bringing in a new head coach might also be weighed against the potential benefits of initiating a different strategy to rectify the shortcomings that have plagued the team this season.
Moving forward, resolving Postecoglou’s future, along with identifying a successor if necessary, will be a priority for Tottenham’s leadership in the near term.
When queried about whether winning the Europa League is essential for his job survival, Postecoglou responded, “If people don’t really see what I’m trying to do, then I don’t think they’re ever going to see it, so if a trophy is the only way – it seems to be the only way – OK, let’s see if we can deliver that.”
He acknowledged, “I’ve almost lasted two years, which is pretty good for Tottenham. At some point, the club needs to stick to something.” Furthermore, he noted, “There’s life after this for everybody, including Tottenham and including me.”
Postecoglou expressed that he has been “worn down” by factors such as injuries, controversies surrounding VAR, and the escalating criticism directed towards him this season. “I’m a fighter, so the bigger the fight, the more I enjoy that challenge,” he stated. “But I can’t fight against an invisible opponent, so that’s the bit that’s worn me down. I don’t know how to tackle that. I can’t tackle that.”
Source
www.bbc.com