There is ‘no future’ for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham if they fail to beat AZ Alkmaar, believes ex-Arsenal star Perry Groves.
On Thursday it’s do or die in Tottenham’s bid to end their 17-year trophy drought with Postecoglou’s side slumping to a 1-0 loss away to Dutch outfit AZ in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie last Thursday.
The north London outfit registered just one shot on target despite boasting 62 per cent possession away from home.
It was a lacklustre attacking display across the board, with on-loan winger Mathys Tel hooked at half-time.
Tottenham rebounded with a much-needed result at home against the high-flying Bournemouth on Sunday as an 84th-minute penalty from Heung-Min Son salvaged a 2-2 result.
Although Postecoglou will have been pleased with the way his side fought back from 2-0 down, the fact the Cherries had eight shots on target and one goal chalked off for offside will be cause for concern.
The Australian knows his team cannot afford to be carved open in a similar manner on Thursday when AZ arrive for the second leg.
Given the Europa League is also Postecoglou’s last hope of maintaining his claim he always wins trophies in his second season, Groves believes anything other than progression to the quarter-finals could sound the death knell for the manager’s time in north London.
“I will guarantee you that Micky van de Ven will play on Thursday because they look more assured with him at the back,” Groves said on talkSPORT.
“He just gives everybody else a little bit more calmness because he’s so quick.
“This is going to be the biggest game of his (Postecoglou’s) career on Thursday here against AZ because his job rests on that game.
“If they go out and don’t win that game he gets the sack and it might be at the end of the season.
“But there will be no future for him if they don’t win that game and win the Europa League.”
Groves added: “I don’t think the players are 100 per cent invested in Ange Postecoglou because he’s not coming up with answers when they’re coming against all these problems when they’re losing games.
“They don’t have another way to play.”
As outlined by Groves, the return of Van de Ven after six games away will be vital to Tottenham’s hopes.
The Dutchman came on at the hour mark in place of Cristian Romero against the Cherries for his first Premier League minutes since December.
Given Van de Ven’s importance to Tottenham’s daring high line, he couldn’t have timed his return any better given the implications of what a defeat or draw on Thursday could mean for the club.
Postecoglou was evidently pleased for the 23-year-old to get some more minutes into his legs but was fully aware of what the atmosphere might have been had his side lost against Bournemouth.
“I think so for the general noise that would have been around the place if we didn’t get something out of the game today,” Postecoglou said to talkSPORT in the mixed zone.
“I think the response at the end at least gives us a chance now to focus on Thursday night.
“I think from our perspective getting minutes into Romero, Micky and obviously Dom [Solanke] was great.
“It was good to give Sonny and Lucas a bit of a rest because they’ve played a lot of football recently.
“From that perspective I think it is beneficial, but I think more importantly is that we got something out of the game which at least gives us some momentum.”
Tottenham’s draw with Bournemouth leaves Postecoglou’s side 13th in the Premier League on 34 points.
However, if West Ham beat Newcastle on Monday night, live on talkSPORT, then Spurs will drop down to 14th.
But league position will matter for nought, at least momentarily, if Postecoglou’s side can overturn the deficit against AZ on Thursday.
