‘Daniel Levy to sack Ange Postecoglou over Tottenham doubts’ – ‘He’s got to go’
Daniel Levy doubts over Ange Postecoglou are creating the expectation he will sack the Australian manager even after winning the Europa League.
Much of this season has been dominated by speculation over the former Celtic boss’ future in North London.
Having overseen a fifth-placed finish in his first season in charge, Spurs regressed under Postecoglou domestically, although Tottenham’s mid-season injury crisis undoubtedly contributed to their struggles.
But whilst the club slipped further and further down the Premier League table as the season went on, their continental form remained consistently strong, as they knocked out teams such as Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt on their way to the final.
Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Man United was the club’s first trophy in 17 years, but whilst Postecoglou is the first manager since Juande Ramos to claim silverware, it may not be enough to save him from being sacked, according to a former Spurs striker.
Europa League trophy not enough to stop Daniel Levy having Ange Postecoglou doubts
Live on talkSPORT Andy Goldstein asked former Tottenham forward Darren Bent whether Levy’s failure to publicly back Postecoglou hinted that the Australian was set to be sacked, or whether it simply meant Spurs’ chairman was yet to make his mind up.
The ex-England striker said (27 May, 6.51pm): “I think it’s a difficult decision. Yes, they have won the Europa League which is fantastic, they’re back in the Champions League. But you can’t mask over the fact they finished fourth-bottom.”
Bent highlighted the difference in talent between the Premier League and Europa League, before he said: “I just don’t think you can look past the fact that they lost 22 games this season. 22 games out of 38, it’s insane!”
The former Fulham striker then said: “I think it’s important that whatever decision they come to, they’re all on the same page.
Bent then touched on the fact that players linked with a move to Tottenham may have concerns over the club’s domestic form this season, before he said: “I think you have to be really sure [about keeping Postecoglou], because if you let him start next season and all of a sudden, they don’t win the first game, second game, third game, you’d be like ‘uhhh’ [exasperated sigh].”
After the pair highlighted Man United’s choice to extend Erik Ten Hag’s contract after winning the FA Cup and the regrets the club had after that decision, the ex-Spurs striker said that Postecoglou may be let go.
Bent finished by saying: “Whatever Daniel Levy decides, he’s gotta stick with it. Even if 10 per cent, five per cent, he’s like ‘I’m not sure he’s the right man’, and it’s 95 per cent he is [the right man] then he’s got to go.
“Because there’s still some doubt there, every time there’s a bad result, he’ll go ‘I ain’t sure’.”
Tottenham should show faith in Ange Postecoglou
Football Insider Verdict
It’s been desperately unpleasant at times for Postecoglou this season, his willingness to banter with the media has made him an easy target, leading to outbursts from the Australian boss.
But here’s the thing. With or without the ex-Celtic boss, Spurs’ ceiling is Champions League qualification.
Yes, their form in the Premier League has been abhorrent, even comical at times, but Postecoglou has achieved qualification to Europe’s premier competition.
To go along with it, they have secured not only their first trophy in almost two decades, but their first European trophy since winning the UEFA Cup in 1984.
Any Tottenham fan, in fact any fan of a team outside the top six, would absolutely bite your hand off for a chance at a European trophy even at the expense of their league form.
With the benefit of a transfer window financed by the added revenue of Champions League football, Postecoglou will improve Spurs’ domestic form.