Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is facing increasing scrutiny from the club’s hierarchy following his team’s underwhelming performance in their Europa League loss to AZ Alkmaar. According to reports, Spurs’ board members were left “deeply concerned” by the manner of their defeat and have since expressed their dissatisfaction to Postecoglou.
Tottenham’s Recent Struggles Raise Questions Over Postecoglou’s Tenure
Postecoglou’s side had shown resilience in early February, bouncing back from their disappointing exits in both the Carabao Cup semi-finals and the FA Cup fourth round with consecutive Premier League victories over Manchester United and Ipswich Town. However, that brief resurgence has given way to another inconsistent spell.
Tottenham suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Manchester City before losing by the same scoreline to AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie. Their struggles continued over the weekend, as they had to claw their way back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
These recent results have intensified the pressure on Postecoglou, with expectations among fans and the club’s leadership remaining high. The hope was that Spurs could push for a stronger Premier League finish while making a serious challenge for Europa League glory. However, the club currently finds itself languishing in 13th place, a position far below their aspirations.
Spurs Board Losing Patience Amid Concerns Over Postecoglou
According to TBR Football, the Tottenham board considered the performance against AZ Alkmaar “unacceptable” and made their concerns known to Postecoglou. The report further suggests that, despite public insistence that no managerial change is imminent, internal discussions have already taken place regarding potential replacements should results fail to improve.
Several managers have reportedly been considered, including Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, and Fulham’s Marco Silva. Another name under consideration is Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, a former Spurs youth player and coach.
While chairman Daniel Levy has maintained that Postecoglou’s job is safe for the remainder of the season, sources indicate that the loss to AZ Alkmaar has “rocked the club.” While there is no ultimatum regarding winning the Europa League, Postecoglou has been made aware that performances like the one in the Netherlands are not acceptable to the Tottenham hierarchy.
Tactical Decisions and Squad Management Under Scrutiny
Beyond results, Postecoglou’s squad management has also come under question. Despite Tottenham’s spirited comeback against Bournemouth, it was another shaky performance, and critics have pointed out concerning tactical decisions, including the handling of star midfielder James Maddison.
Former England striker Gary Lineker has openly questioned why Maddison was left out of the starting XI against Bournemouth. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker speculated that there could be underlying issues between the midfielder and the manager.
“Maddison was late coming off the bench again, and when he comes on, he always looks the part, playing some really good football,” Lineker said. “I’m at a bit of a loss as to what’s happening there. I wonder whether there’s been a bit of a fall-out.”
With pressure mounting and speculation swirling, Postecoglou will need to turn things around quickly if he hopes to regain the full backing of the Tottenham hierarchy. The upcoming second leg against AZ Alkmaar and their Premier League fixtures will likely be crucial in determining his long-term future at the club.
Postecoglou bust-up with player mooted as Tottenham board reveal ‘deep concern’ over result
