Robbie Slater: How Ange Postcegolou can salvage his Tottenham job and what happens next if he’s sacked

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham fate could be sealed if his team loses in the early hours of Monday morning. ROBBIE SLATER examines how the Aussie can save his job and what’s next if he’s sacked.

Ange Postecoglou is coaching for his future at Tottenham and his next Premier League match against Manchester United could tell us whether he will survive the sack this season or live to fight another day.

If you remember last season, after 10 games they were top of the league, breaking records and Ange-ball was taking England by storm.

This new season started with a lot of hope, Spurs fans were dreaming of titles but with injuries it just hasn’t gone to plan.

Tottenham fans are famous for turning against the manager when they don’t see the perceived success they expect.

Which is pretty ironic, when you consider Tottenham hasn’t won a major trophy in almost two decades and last won the EPL title in 1961.

You look at the quality managers they’ve been through – Harry Redknapp, Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte – all failed to live up to the high expectations of Spurs fans.

At the top you’ve got an owner in Daniel Levy who has proven when the fans turn against him, he turns against the manager.

And right now, the fans are calling for Levy to go.

If Ange doesn’t win the Europa League, it could be over.

MAKE OR BREAK

This next game at home to Manchester United on Monday morning (AEDT) is crucial.

In the Carabao Cup Spurs took a one-nil advantage to Liverpool and suffered a very convincing 4-0 defeat. Then a few days later, they were bundled out of the FA Cup away to Villa. It was a nightmare run.

Ange has said ever since day one: “I don’t sometimes win trophies in my second season, I always win.”

It could be the comment he dies by.

Spurs are far enough away from the EPL relegation zone to not worry about that, so for Ange it must be all eyes on the Europa League and the one trophy he can still win.

Man United have had their own problems, but both teams are very close on the ladder and they’re the two favourites for the Europa.

Ange Postecoglou’s future at Tottenham

If Spurs lose to United at home tomorrow, how are they going to win in Europe when the pressure is amplified?

We all know Spurs have had a horrendous injury run and at times Ange has fielded teams with four 18-year-olds.

On current form it doesn’t look like they can win the Europa League. But if he can key players like James Maddison, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Ugodie and Richarlison back and they go on a run anything is possible.

Win the Europa League and that’s direct qualification to the Champions League – it’s that simple.

Jose Mourinho is one of the biggest name managers to be axed by Spurs.

Harry Redknapp was also moved on by Tottenham.

FUTURE BEYOND SPURS

The Premier League is the biggest league in the world, so if it does end at Tottenham I know Ange would definitely get another job in football.

Would it be another job in the EPL? That is a valid question.

Ange has his style which he says he’s not going to change. He has been criticised in the last two seasons about not protecting a lead, the way he likes teams to keep pouring forward and not shut the game down.

And at Tottenham, with many international players, it has kind of worked.

But if you’re looking at the other EPL teams, would another middle table team accept or want that style of play?

If it doesn’t work for Tottenham, why would it work with them?

For that reason Ange is still a bit of an unknown appointment.

You have to give him a lot of credit for what he’s done, but this might be his first and last chance in the Premier League.

I think it’s pretty clear what he needs to do: win the Europa League title and he is the hero once again.

What a story that would be for Australian football.

Originally published as Robbie Slater: How Ange Postcegolou can salvage his Tottenham job and what happens next if he’s sacked