Even if they win the UEFA Europa League, there are predictions that head coach Ange Postecoglou will be dismissed.
Tottenham Hotspur News noted on the 9th (Korean time) that "it is surprising to have high-level players like Son Heung-min and James Maddison and to record below expectations. Son Heung-min is 33 years old but still possesses excellent skills. However, there were signs that Son Heung-min looked tired. Ultimately, he was substituted for Odover after playing 57 minutes in the last match. This reflects the coach's intention to rest Son Heung-min ahead of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals."
On the 6th, Tottenham secured a 3-1 victory against Southampton in the 31st round of the Premier League for the 2024-2025 season, held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. This victory allowed Tottenham to escape from a losing streak, recording 37 points. Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, and Brennan Johnson led the attack, while James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Lucas Berybal were positioned in midfield. The defense consisted of Jed Spence, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro, with Guglielmo Vicario as the goalkeeper. Before the match against Southampton, Tottenham struggled with 1 draw and 3 losses in their last four league games. They lost 0-1 to Manchester City without Son Heung-min in the starting lineup. They drew 2-2 against Bournemouth, where Son Heung-min scored an equalizer, followed by consecutive losses to Fulham (0-2) and Chelsea (0-1). However, against the league's bottom team Southampton, they overwhelmed their opponent, creating a turning point. Notably, the consistent performance of several players, including Son Heung-min, was impressive. Johnson also received praise for his excellent performance assisted by Son Heung-min. So far this season, Son Heung-min has scored 7 goals and provided 9 assists. While still demonstrating outstanding performance, it is true that he is somewhat lacking compared to his usual self. This season marks the fewest goals Son Heung-min has scored since recording 4 goals in his debut season with Tottenham in 2015-2016. Although Son Heung-min, who started the match, did not record any attacking points, he played a significant role in the lead-up to the opening goal.
From the start of the match, Tottenham launched an onslaught. In the 9th minute of the first half, Romero attempted a powerful header from a corner kick, which was saved by Ramsdale. In the 11th minute, Berybal stirred up the opposing defense but failed to connect his shot properly. After continually pressuring, Tottenham broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, particularly through their key attacking pattern, seeing Spence and Son Heung-min link up on the left flank. Son Heung-min passed to Spence, who was overlapping on the left side, and Johnson finished off the ensuing direct cross. Additionally, in the 26th minute, Tottenham had a free-kick situation where Romero attempted a sharp diving header. Unfortunately, this shot was thwarted by Ramsdale's face, thus it did not result in a goal. Although this was disappointing, in the 35th minute, during a free-kick, Porro went for a shot which Romero touched, leading to a follow-up shot by Berybal, who scored the additional goal. However, following over 5 minutes of video assistant referee (VAR) check, Romero was ruled offside, resulting in the goal being disallowed. Nevertheless, in the 41st minute of the first half, chaos ensued in Southampton’s box. During the sequence, Maddison headed the ball up, which Johnson then finished, recording a multi-goal performance. The first half concluded with Tottenham leading 2-0. Having established a comfortable two-goal lead, Tottenham managed their pace in the second half, preparing for their next match against Eintracht Frankfurt, which will be the first leg of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Europa League quarterfinals on the 11th at the same venue. In the 58th minute, they brought in Pape Sarr and Odover for Son Heung-min and Bentancur, managing their stamina while maintaining focus. However, in the 89th minute, they allowed a consolation goal to Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes.
Still, in the added time of 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 conceded the PK to newcomer Mathis Tel. Calmly, Tel finished it off, resulting in the match ending with a 3-1 victory for Tottenham.
On the 11th, Tottenham will host Frankfurt for the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals. This is Tottenham's only chance for a trophy this season, and it is crucial that Son Heung-min appears at 100% condition.
If they are eliminated in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Europa League, it is highly likely that Postecoglou will be dismissed.
Tottenham Hotspur News stated that "there have been many instances where the captain influences the dismissal of a coach in the Premier League. Postecoglou is in a tense tug-of-war. Even if he were to win the UEFA Europa League, many believe his position as coach is precarious. It may not be enough to save his future. If Chairman Daniel Levy and Son Heung-min feel frustrated with the coach, it could serve as a decisive trigger for the chairman to dismiss him."
[OSEN]