‘Can never tell’: Legend’s warning as Tottenham kingpin decides Ange’s fate
A Premier League legend has given his verdict on whether Tottenham should sack Ange Postecoglou, giving the Aussie a stern warning.
A Premier League and Champions League winner has urged Tottenham to stick with Ange Postecoglou as the Australian’s future as Spurs manager hangs in the balance.
Tottenham’s Europa League triumph last month ended a 17-year trophy drought but it might not be enough to save Postecoglou’s job after a dire Premier League campaign.
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Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is considering whether or not to sack Postecoglou, with a call set to me made in the coming days or weeks.
Sky Sports in the UK reports that Postecoglou — who is on holiday in Europe — is expected to learn his fate in the coming days despite initial reports saying he’d have to wait until next week.
Postecoglou remains at serious risk of losing his position due to a domestic campaign that saw Spurs finish 17th after suffering 22 defeats.
Postecoglou has explained he chose to heavily prioritise the Europa League, which Spurs won over Manchester United to clinch the club’s first trophy of any kind in 17 years.
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel backed Postecoglou to stay on as Tottenham manager.
“I love big Ange. I think Ange is a really good manager,” Mikel told reporters this week when asked whether the 59-year-old should be sacked or not.
“To win the Europa League is a massive, massive achievement. Yes, it wasn’t the season that the Spurs fans wanted to see, but to go on to win the Europa League for me I think is an incredible achievement. I hope he stays.
“(Levy) was the man who got rid of Jose Mourinho a day or two days before the (League Cup) Final, so you can never tell with Daniel Levy.
“I hope he makes the right choice for the football club, but yes, I love big Ange, and I hope he stays.”
Levy sacked Jose Mourinho in 2021 after 17 months in charge and just a week before he was due to lead Spurs in the League Cup final.
Mikel, who won the 2012 UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, praised ‘Angeball’ but encouraged Postecoglou to slightly rein in his trademark attacking style of play.
“I just think sometimes there needs to be a balance to that,” Mikel said. “You can’t keep attacking and attacking and damage your balance.
“You need to sometimes shore up the game. Keep the balance of the team.
“I think, for me, that’s my only criticism with Ange. He needs to sometimes shore up the game a little bit more.
“Sometimes, it doesn’t have to be a basketball game, you know what I mean? Keep the balance of the team.
“I like his approach to the team with the players, and I hope, leading into next season, he creates some relationship between him and the fans, because it’s important,” he said.
“You need a relationship between him and the fans. I don’t think he’s done that.
“I hope winning the Europa League will create some of that friendship, relationship between him and the fans.”
PSG tipped to pick up FIFA silverware
Mikel’s old side Chelsea, along with Manchester City, are the two English sides who will take part in the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off next weekend.
Chelsea this week signed Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap on a six-year deal in a transfer worth around A$62 million.
Lionel Messi will play for Inter Miami, while Champions League winners Paris Saint Germain, Inter Milan and Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich loom as the major contenders to take out the tournament.
A staggering $1 billion (A$1.5 billion) pot of prize money is up for grabs at the Club World Cup, with the winner to take home up to $125 million (A$192 million).
If his beloved Chelsea don’t go all the way, Mikel is tipping PSG as the favourites to win the FIFA tournament, which is acting as a practice run for next year’s FIFA World Cup in the USA.
“They totally deserve to be the Champions League winners this season,” Mikel said of PSG.
“Going into this Club World Cup, I think, yes, they are one of the favourites.
“For PSG, I’m sure they’re going to come in with so much confidence, so much belief that they already won the Champions League. They are the team to beat.
“I’m sure they’re going to come in with so much confidence, so much belief now they’ve already won the Champions League. They are the team to beat.”
How to watch the FIFA Club World Cup
Every game of the FIFA Club World Cup is available to stream on Kayo Sports.
The tournament kicks off on June 14 when Inter Miami takes on Egyptian club Al Ahly in Florida.
Which teams are playing in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Group A: Palmeiras (Brazil), Porto (Porugal), Al Ahly (Egypt), Inter Miami (USA)
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain (France), Atletico Madrid (Spain), Botafogo (Brazil), Seattle Sounders (USA)
Group C: Bayern Munich (Germany), Benfica (Portugal), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Auckland City (New Zealand)
Group D: Flamengo (Brazil), Chelsea (England), Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Los Angeles FC (USA)
Group E: River Plate (Argentina), Inter Milan (Italy), CF Monterrey (Mexico), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
Group F: Fluminense (Brazil), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Ulsan HD (Korea), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Group G: Manchester City (England), Juventus (Italy), Wydad AC (Morocco), Al Ain (UAE)
Group H: Real Madrid (Spain), FC Salzburg (Austria), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), CF Pachuca (Mexico)
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