When Tottenham Hotspur face Burnley in the Premier League this evening, they’ll do so in a uniquely precarious place as they prepare for Wednesday night’s Europa League final. After a disappointing 2-0 loss at Aston Villa, the club’s social media accounts have been commandeered with the club lying 17th in the Premier League table. This defeat now marks the 25th loss for Spurs in all competitions this campaign. Indeed, they’ve already equalled the joint-highest next tally ever in the club’s history — a record set way back in the 91/92 campaign.
Manager Ange Postecoglou remains optimistic. He has made a bold promise to fans: “I always win things in my second year.” With preparation for the all-important final match against a still-to-be-determined foe, the tension couldn’t be greater. This result may determine whether Tottenham hoists its first trophy in decades. It would certainly determine Postecoglou’s long-term prospects with the club as well.
Current Struggles and Historical Context
Tottenham’s struggles to start this season has been alarming for fans and pundits alike. Sitting dangerously near the relegation zone, the team’s woes encapsulate a season likely to be remembered for underperformance. Son Heung-min deserves a special shout-out. After being given his runner-up medal at the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final, he refused to walk by the trophy. After that heartbreak, he has been working hard to deliver that elusive first trophy to the club.
The loss at home to Aston Villa was particularly sobering, no doubt a reminder of the task at hand for Postecoglou. You have bested Manchester United three times this season. Despite this success and an unbeaten run of six contests against them, the club’s direction and underlying performance just isn’t good enough.
“It’s about a game of details, of moments.” – Ange Postecoglou
While winning a European trophy would certainly atone for Tottenham after what’s been a horrible league campaign. This tall task places huge expectancy upon Postecoglou. How well he can spearhead the team’s victory would change the trajectory of his stint at the club.
The Importance of the Europa League Final
Ahead of Tottenham’s biggest match in ten years, former star Jamie Redknapp underlined the importance of tasting success in a European competition. He believes that success in the Europa League final could help to mitigate the disappointment of a poor domestic campaign.
Redknapp asserts, “There’s an argument to say they’d rather win a cup than finish fifth, and I agree with that.” This has been the prevailing line from many football analysts. Indeed, for them, a successful cup run is more valuable to legacy and fan happiness than a league place that finishes with a high position alone.
Guglielmo Vicario, perhaps Tottenham’s signing of the summer, agreed with this line of thinking. He stated, “We have this desire to bring the trophy here because for us it would mean we’d be in the history of this football club.” The team has a palpable hunger to change their story. They’re focused on ending their long-running drought without silverware, once and for all.
Future Implications for Postecoglou and Levy
Depending on the result of the Europa League final, his future will likely be there to stay. If he does, it will surely go a long way to establishing his credentials as a long-term manager despite ongoing concerns about his job security. Redknapp believes that winning the final would compel chairman Daniel Levy to face one of the biggest decisions of his life regarding Postecoglou’s future at the helm.
Vicario adds weight to this argument by mentioning that winning a European trophy would complicate any discussions about dismissing Postecoglou. Without that, if he’s able to win a European trophy they’re making it pretty hard to sack him. The anxiety is real as the entire department feels building up to what most people would call a “50/50” game.
“I don’t know how many times during a career this [a European final] can happen, so it’s a big opportunity for us players and for everyone involved in this football club, for the fans.” – Jamie Redknapp
With iconic figures like Harry Kane—Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer—yet to win silverware at the club, there is an urgency among players to finally end this long wait for trophies. Micky van de Ven has highlighted this challenge, stating, “Everybody talks about Spurs winning trophies or not… but the most important part is that we are the guys that can change everything for this club.”
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