Ange Postecoglou still has a chance to live up to his record of winning silverware in his second season in charge — but only if he can rally a floundering Tottenham side to Europa League glory.
Spurs endured their 19th defeat of a painful Premier League campaign with a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool on Sunday, a match that saw the Reds crowned champions. The loss leaves Tottenham languishing in 16th place, putting them on track for their worst top-flight finish since their relegation in 1977 — though they are safe from the drop this season.
Now, their season hinges entirely on the Europa League. On Thursday, they host Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their semi-final, with hopes of progressing to a final showdown against either Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao — and a chance to claim their first European trophy in over four decades.
Postecoglou made significant changes to his starting lineup at Anfield, rotating eight players from the side beaten by Nottingham Forest, an indication of where his current focus lies. The Australian has been forced to navigate a season plagued by injuries but is close to having a full-strength squad available for Thursday’s clash in London.
The biggest concern remains over captain Son Heung-min, who has been out for four matches due to a foot injury. However, key players such as Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, and Micky van de Ven are expected to return in defence, while Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski are likely to be brought into midfield.
Tottenham’s hopes may also be boosted by a weakened Bodo/Glimt, with suspensions and injuries limiting the Norwegian side’s options ahead of the semi-final.
Postecoglou, now 59, is fully aware that even lifting the Europa League trophy might not be enough to silence his critics, given the broader dissatisfaction among sections of the fanbase.
“Last year we finished fifth, but no one wants to hear that,” he said. “There’s a narrative already written, and some people are just waiting for it to play out. All I can do is try to prove them wrong.”
Postecoglou arrived from Celtic in July 2023 following Antonio Conte’s turbulent tenure. He made a sensational start to life in England, winning eight of his first ten league games and earning praise for his high-energy, attacking style of play. At one point, chairman Daniel Levy told supporters: “We’ve got our Tottenham back.”
However, that momentum faded, and Spurs collapsed in the latter part of the season, missing out on Champions League qualification after losing five of their final seven matches.
This campaign has been even more sobering, and Postecoglou appeared visibly deflated following Sunday’s heavy defeat at Anfield. Still, he remains confident that his players will be ready for their European semi-final.
“It’s a huge opportunity,” he said. “All of our focus, energy, and commitment will go into this match as we try to reach a European final.”
