Tottenham Hotspur has finally lost patience with manager Ange Postecoglou (60). If they fail to win the last bastion, the UEFA Europa League (UEL), they plan to dismiss him and approach Andoni Iraola (43), the Bournemouth manager.
According to British outlet Football 365, on the 6th (Korean time), "Fabrizio Romano reported that Postecoglou's future at Tottenham is in a 'dangerous situation.' Tottenham is having a miserable season under Postecoglou.
Tottenham is having the worst season. They have already lost 16 times in 30 league matches. This is the first time since 1977. With 8 matches still remaining in the league, Tottenham does not have many opportunities left to recover. Even if they manage to climb a few spots in the standings, it won't mean much.
They have dropped to 16th place. This is the lowest ranking in Tottenham's history since the Premier League was established in 1992. To qualify for European competitions next season, they must finish at least in the top 8, but the gap has widened too much. Now, the only way Tottenham can participate in European competitions next season is to win the UEL.
At this rate, it is entirely possible they will record 20 losses in the Premier League for the first time in the club's history. Ultimately, the Tottenham board has also decided to take action. Chairman Daniel Levy has always shown trust in manager Postecoglou, but now it seems they are preparing for the next step unless he writes a UEL victory narrative.
Fabrizio Romano, known for saying 'Here we go,' stated that Postecoglou's fate depends on the UEL. Currently, Tottenham has been eliminated from all other cup competitions but has reached the quarterfinals of the UEL. Their opponent for the semifinals is Eintracht Frankfurt, currently ranked 3rd in the Bundesliga.
Romano said, "It's not over yet, but Postecoglou is really in a dangerous situation. I know Tottenham fans are not satisfied with the current state. In terms of points, it's really terrible. They have only managed to earn 34 points from 30 league matches."
He also added, "The scenario changes in the UEL. There is an important showdown against Frankfurt. Thus, the UEL is currently saving Tottenham and Postecoglou's season. If Tottenham wins, the entire project could change. It will be crucial as they are expected to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next year."
However, if Tottenham fails to win the UEL as expected, it will also cut the lifeline for manager Postecoglou. Romano emphasized, "If Tottenham does not win, there is a very high and concrete possibility that Postecoglou will be replaced by another manager at the end of the season. Tottenham has begun exploring the manager market. They have already been informed of Iraola's situation through his buyout clause."
Iraola, born in 1982, is a young manager who has been linked to Tottenham several times. He employs tactics focused on strong pressuring and organized counter-attacks to lead Bournemouth. According to The Telegraph, Bournemouth also wants to re-sign Iraola, but he is reportedly interested in the Tottenham managerial position.
Romano explained, "Iraola has been performing fantastically at Bournemouth. He is highly regarded within Tottenham. He is one of the possibilities." However, to bring Iraola to Tottenham, they would have to pay a buyout fee of £10 million (about 18.8 billion won).
Marco Silva, the Fulham manager, is also being mentioned as a strong candidate. Simone Inzaghi, the Inter Milan manager, has also been considered, but according to Romano, he is solely focused on Inter Milan. There have been no specific discussions with Tottenham.
Romano said, "Silva is another candidate. He has shown very good performances at Fulham for several years. Sometimes he has managed to make players perform brilliantly thanks to a good squad rather than crazy investments." Silva has recorded 1 win and 1 draw against Tottenham this season, impressing the Tottenham board.
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