Pressure is mounting on Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou after a week that saw Spurs crash out of both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. The team, already battling an injury crisis, was left reeling after a series of disappointing results that have brought his future under scrutiny.
Spurs had been in a strong position heading into their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool, having taken a 1-0 lead from the first leg. However, any hopes of progressing were dashed as Liverpool triumphed 4-0 at Anfield, overturning the deficit in emphatic fashion. The loss was compounded by the news that Richarlison, already struggling for form, had suffered an injury that added to the growing list of unavailable players.
Spurs then traveled to Villa Park for their FA Cup fourth-round tie, with another injury-hit side struggling to cope with Aston Villa’s attacking prowess. Despite a late goal from Deadline Day signing Mathys Tel, which made the scoreline more respectable at 2-1, Spurs were outplayed and left with no realistic chance of silverware from domestic cup competitions.
These setbacks have left Spurs with just the Europa League to focus on as they search for a potential trophy this season. Postecoglou’s future at the club has once again come under question. The manager, however, remains defiant in the face of criticism.
“People can judge me,” Postecoglou said after the Villa defeat. “They can say I’ve done a bad job, I’m not up to it, or whatever. That’s fine.”
He went on to express his commitment to the club and his responsibility in managing the team despite the mounting pressure. “My responsibility at this football club is this group of players and this team, to get them to play in the manner I want them to and bring us success. Whether people think I can do that or not, that’s for others to judge.”
Postecoglou also rejected suggestions that he was using injuries as an excuse, labeling those views as agenda-driven and unobjective. “It can’t be that people think I’m using the injuries as an excuse. That’s just not anywhere near close to objective analysis. That’s just agenda-driven stuff.”
Despite the tough run of results, there has been no official indication that Spurs are ready to part ways with the manager. The club has shown sympathy for Postecoglou’s situation, recognizing the significant challenges posed by the ongoing injury crisis. However, speculation about his future persists, with several names now linked to the Tottenham job.
Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, and Fulham’s Marco Silva are all reportedly in the running, with odds of 11/2 being quoted for each of them. Other potential candidates include Kieran McKenna, Edin Terzic, and even former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, who remains a popular figure among the club’s fans.
While the club may be backing Postecoglou for now, the pressure is undeniably mounting as Spurs continue to struggle, with the manager’s position likely to be in the spotlight if results do not improve.
