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Ange Postecoglou sack verdict as Spurs boss taken to task for acting like Pep Guardiola

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou.
-Credit:Getty Images


It's "very unlikely" that Ange Postecoglou will be Tottenham manager next season if things don't change drastically in the coming weeks. That is, at least, according to ex-Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy, who believes that a mix of poor results and controversial off-field antics could see the axe swing for the Aussie.

Tottenham slumped to their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat on Sunday after being beaten 2-1 by relegation-battling Leicester City. It was their eighth loss since the start of December, and leaves them just eight points above the drop-zone.

Admittedly, injury problems have been blighting the squad all season, but with performances well below par for some time, the pressure appears to be getting Postecoglou. Following Spurs' 3-2 defeat to Everton earlier this month, the 59-year-old snapped at a post-match reporter who described the result as "a familiar story", sarcastically snarling, "Great way to start an interview".

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This, Murphy reckons, shows that Postecoglou is feeling the strain more than ever, and the Match of the Day pundit insists he'll have to nip that sort of behaviour in the bud if he wants to save his job. "I don't think [that behaviour] is helpful," the 47-year-old said speaking exclusively to football.london, via Betway.

"I think sometimes Ange Postecoglou does himself no favours because the way he is sometimes can be negatively viewed by the Tottenham fans. Ultimately all you want to see is a manager saying, 'I'm going to get this right'.

"It's not good enough... snapping at a reporter because he doesn't like the way he phrases the question, I think you've got to rise above it... It's emotion, he cares about the club. But you can tell the pressure's getting to him.

"We've seen it with the best in the world with Pep Guardiola, Pep can lose it with reporters as much as anybody. So, I do understand it and it does show he cares, he's passionate and he's bothered about losing, but my feeling is that the manager is the one who has to rise above it."

Murphy, who spent a year at White Hart Lane as a player, admitted it would be "silly" for Tottenham to sack Postecoglou right now, but suggested he'd be shocked to see the former Celtic boss at the helm next season if Spurs fail to drag themselves out of the mire. "First and foremost, Tottenham need all their players back fit because defensively they've been all over the place," he continued.

"Now part of [their problem] isn't just personnel because they lost games when they had Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero, but they're certainly two wonderfully gifted centre-halves who make Tottenham better. I think the confidence has dropped and drained because the results keep going badly for them which has had an impact.

Ange Postecoglou speaking in a post-match interview
Danny Murphy thinks Ange Postecoglou's spikiness in interviews "isn't helping" Tottenham -Credit:Sky Sports

"Some of the younger players, who've done well actually, but they've been thrust into a situation that's really difficult for any young players to come into and remain consistent. Although the league form has been really poor, whilst they've still got a chance to win three competitions, I think it would be silly to change the manager.

"Of course, strengthening in the window would help, but I think the general feeling for most Tottenham fans is that defensively they're really struggling and have been for a while... I would say that they need their two centre-halves back really quickly and then judge at the end of the season.

"Ultimately, if Tottenham don't win anything and finish mid-to-bottom half of the Premier League, then it's very unlikely he's going to be in the job at the beginning of next season, that's for sure."

Danny Murphy on Match of the Day
Danny Murphy thinks Ange Postecoglou needs a top-half finish at the very least to save his job

For the time being, football.london understands that Daniel Levy isn't planning to sack Postecoglou, having recognised that the ongoing injury crisis has been central to their struggles. However, if they slip any closer to the bottom three, emergency action might have to be taken.

Should the axe swing, the likes of Andoni Iraola, Thomas Frank, Edin Terzic and Kieran McKenna could be considered as Postecoglou's replacement. But for now, the Australian has the support of the chairman.

Up next is a Europa League clash with IF Elfsborg, where a win will secure Tottenham an automatic spot in the knockout rounds. After that, Spurs travel to Brentford in the Premier League, before facing Liverpool and Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, and FA Cup fourth round respectively.