"Is this also the players' fault?".
The British 'TBR Football' noted on the 14th (Korea Standard Time) that "Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp expressed anger at the process of replacing the Tottenham manager," stating, "There is always praise for a departing manager. But why is there no such dedication when the manager is still in office?" He criticized the Tottenham players.
Tottenham ultimately chose to part ways with manager Ange Postecoglou after the 2024-2025 season. Inside the team, opinions were divided. While they reached the top of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) and raised a trophy for the first time in 17 years, they recorded the worst performance in the Premier League.
Tottenham finished the Premier League with 11 wins, 5 draws, and 22 losses in 38 matches, totaling 38 points, ending the season with a disappointing 17th place in the league. This marked the club's lowest performance since the Premier League's inception in 1992.
Ultimately, Tottenham officially announced the dismissal of manager Postecoglou on the 7th. They explained, "After closely reviewing the performance, we made a rational decision." Following that, they swiftly concluded the search for a new head coach.
On the 13th, Tottenham announced on their official website that "Thomas Frank will take over as the new manager," with a contract lasting until June 2028. Frank, who hails from Denmark, has proven his exceptional leadership at Brentford.
Frank took over at Brentford when they were in the Championship in 2018 and led them to promotion to the Premier League in the 2020-2021 season, marking Brentford's return to the top tier after 86 years. Since their promotion, they have consistently maintained mid to upper-table performance, earning recognition for his leadership. Brentford finished 13th in the 2021-2022 season, 9th in the 2022-2023 season, 16th in the 2023-2024 season, and 10th in the 2024-2025 season in the Premier League.
However, Redknapp did not stop criticizing the players' responsibility. He stated, "In the football world, there are always flattering phrases like 'he was a good person' when a manager departs. But why is it questioned that they did not give their all during their tenure?" He added, "Tottenham players need to explain why they remained in 17th place in the league this season. I do not believe their words are sincere."
TBR Football agreed with Redknapp's assertion, using Son Heung-min as an example. TBR Football explained, "Redknapp's point is harsh but reflects reality," saying, "Son Heung-min has been repeating a similar message every time managers Pochettino, Mourinho, Conte, and Postecoglou departed."
However, this statement shifts all the blame for Tottenham's league struggles onto the players rather than Postecoglou. In fact, criticisms regarding Postecoglou's rotations have been ongoing since last year. By demanding excessive pressure and transitions for the starting players while enforcing rotations, injuries have become rampant.
In reality, the decline in Tottenham's league performance began after key players like Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were injured. Additionally, despite criticisms that Tottenham's tactics were predictable, Postecoglou continued with his one-dimensional tactics, resulting in counterattacks from opponents.
Actually, Son Heung-min, who was mentioned as an example, led the team as captain until just before the Europa League final, recording 46 matches with 11 goals and 11 assists, maintaining stability even amidst the wave of injuries. Many fans are questioning why it is problematic that he expressed gratitude during each managerial change. Son Heung-min has always been the player at the forefront during the team's crises, and he is still present in that role.
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