Ange Postecoglou’s second year at the helm of Tottenham has seen a dip in performance levels from his inaugural season, with whispers circulating that he might depart after the season concludes.
That’s despite Spurs beating Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final on Wednesday, ending the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy. Mohamed Salah has already mocked United by congratulating Spurs boss Postecoglou.
Despite the win, Postecoglou is still at risk of losing his job in London. Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane echoed this viewpoint while providing analysis before Wednesday’s game. The showdown at San Mames featured two Premier League sides desperate for Champions League qualification, with Spurs languishing in 17th place at kick-off, just one place below United.
Speaking before the game, CBS Sports analyst Carragher opined that even a victory might not secure Postecoglou’s future at the club – and victory they clinched, thanks to Brennan Johnson’s scrappy first-half strike.
“I’ll be very surprised, no matter what the result is tonight… well, not surprised, I don’t think he’ll be Tottenham manager [next season],” Carragher said. “Basically he’ll have two games left as the Tottenham manager, tonight and at the weekend.”
Keane, when queried if he concurred with Carragher, responded affirmatively: “I think so. The pressure he’s been under – to lose 21 games, that’s hard to take.
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“But if he can win a trophy, you’d think this is probably in a strange way a good time to leave, but of course if he loses I think the pressure will just be mounting on him.”
With only one more league fixture remaining against Brighton on Sunday, should Carragher and Keane’s predictions come to pass, it would mark Postecoglou’s last match at the helm for Spurs.
Carragher commended the Australian for his initial campaign at the helm in North London while noting that the second season has posed more challenges, with both league performances dipping and an increase in tense press conferences.
He didn’t buy the excuse of a long injury roster either, suggesting the coach’s playing strategy might be contributing to the issue.
“I think he had a really good first season considering they lost arguably the greatest player in the history of the club in Harry Kane,” Carragher said. “This season there’s no doubt they’ve had injuries, but the injuries come, I think, on the back of his style of play.
“It’s very intense, very on the front foot; he doesn’t change, and I think his press conferences are probably more entertaining than the team this season.
“Even yesterday, on the eve of a European final, he was still going at people and being on the front foot.
“I haven’t been a manager, and I know sometimes I’d probably be like that with reporters, but it’s every game. It’s almost like a constant fight and a battle, and every press conference feels like an event.”
