"If you believe, the coach will repay you with a championship trophy."

Tottenham Hotspur News reported on the 7th (Korean time) that "Tottenham won against Southampton, but Coach Ange Postecoglou was in serious danger of being fired by Chairman Daniel Levy."

It continued, "Tottenham secured a victory. However, Southampton was a team lacking the will to compete," noting that "the hope of Coach Postecoglou maintaining his position has greatly decreased with this win. The firing is now a matter of time."

Tottenham defeated Southampton 3-1 in the 31st round of the 2024-2025 Premier League held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on the 6th. With this victory, Tottenham escaped a losing streak and recorded 37 points.

Tottenham had struggled in their last four league matches before facing Southampton, with 1 draw and 3 losses. They lost 0-1 to Manchester City, where Son Heung-min was not included in the starting lineup. They drew 2-2 with Bournemouth, where Son scored the equalizer, and subsequently lost consecutively to Fulham (0-2) and Chelsea (0-1).

However, against the league's bottom team Southampton, they launched a fierce attack, creating an opportunity for a turnaround. Notably, several players, including Son Heung-min, showed impressive performances. Johnson also showcased good form with the help of Son, earning applause.

This season, Son Heung-min has scored 7 goals and provided 9 assists. While his performance remains excellent, it is somewhat lacking compared to his usual standards. He is currently in the situation with the fewest goals since his debut season with Tottenham in 2015-2016 when he recorded 4 goals. Although Son, who started in this match, did not record any offensive points, he played a significant role in the first goal.

From the start of the match, Tottenham launched a barrage of attacks. In the 9th minute of the first half, during a corner kick, Romero attempted a powerful header that was stopped by Ramsdale. In the 11th minute, Berivale tangled with the opponent's defense before shooting, but it was poorly aimed.

After consistently applying pressure, Tottenham broke the deadlock in the 13th minute of the first half. Notably, Tottenham's key attacking pattern involving Spence and Son on the left flank was successful. Son passed to Spence, who was overlapping on the left side, and Johnson finished with a direct cross.

In the 26th minute of the first half, Tottenham took a free kick, where Romero attempted a sharp diving header. However, this shot was unfortunately blocked by the face of the opposing goalkeeper Ramsdale. Although it was disappointing, in the 35th minute of the first half, during a free kick situation, Porro took the kick, touched by Romero, and Berivale, who was in front of the goal, scored an additional goal.

However, after more than 5 minutes of video assistant referee (VAR) check, an offside call against Romero nullified the goal. Still, in the 41st minute of the first half, chaos erupted in Southampton's box. During this play, Maddison headed the ball into the air, and Johnson finished it off, recording his second goal.

The first half concluded with Tottenham leading 2-0. Having easily established a two-goal lead, Tottenham managed the pace in the second half, preparing for their next match. They are set to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals at the same venue on the 11th.

In the 13th minute of the second half, they substituted Pape Sarr and Odobert for Son Heung-min and Bentancur to manage their stamina. While maintaining focus, Tottenham steadily held on. However, in the 44th minute of the second half, they allowed a consolation goal to Mateus Fernandes of Southampton.

Nevertheless, during added time in the second half, Tottenham earned a penalty kick (PK) when Johnson made a breakthrough. Although Johnson was on the verge of a hat trick, he generously gave the PK to newcomer Mathys Tel. Calmly, Tel finished the PK, and the match concluded with Tottenham winning 3-1.

Tottenham Hotspur News noted, "Tottenham's players have given up on Coach Postecoglou. Chairman Levy could soon decide to part ways with Postecoglou," adding that "Chairman Levy is under pressure from supporters' protests and may opt for a coaching change."

In fact, local protests against Chairman Levy have continued daily in England. This outlet stated, "Ultimately, the decision regarding Coach Postecoglou will be made by Chairman Levy. In an exclusive interview with us, former Tottenham scout Brian King noted, 'the players have given up on the coach,' solidifying the belief in a split."

King mentioned, "There were more than 60,000 spectators in the stadium, but there was no sense of urgency, passion, or will from the Tottenham players. Southampton is a weak team, yet they couldn't dominate. On another day, a five- or six-goal victory could have been possible in this match," adding that "winning the Europa League is Coach Postecoglou's only survival card."

Harry Kewell, a commentator who is a former ace of the Australian national team and played in Liverpool with the same nationality as Coach Postecoglou, argued that he should be given more time. He stated, "I like Coach Postecoglou's attacking football style. If I were 23 years old, I would want to play for him."

Kewell asserted, "Just like Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, Tottenham should also give Coach Postecoglou a chance. Of course, Arsenal winning the FA Cup is correct, but they consistently gave opportunities in a poor situation, ultimately becoming a title-contending team. I believe Tottenham could also win a trophy if they give POSTECH time."

[OSEN]