Nine

The fate of Ange Postecoglou has seemingly already been sealed but the problems that continue to dog Spurs' attempts to climb back into the top half of the Premier League will likely not leave with their manager.

Tottenhamhas slumped to their worst league result in the Premier League's history, sitting 16th, just above the drop zone, with 19 defeats for the season.

The pressure has been mounting on Postecoglou for months and reports now indicate the Aussie is set to be shown the door regardless of whether or not he wins a trophy, with Spurs to meet Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their Europa League semi final on Friday morning (AEST).

Postecoglou will be hoping to win the second tier European competition in what could be the last potential saving grace for him at the club - even if it appears as though his time is up regardless.

A win in Europe will not only be beneficial for Postecoglou, but also assist in mending the club's financial stress, given the prize money that comes with a title.

But even if a victory in Europe plus Champions League qualification is to be granted, this season will still likely be defined by the club's nightmare run in the Premier League.

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There is a collective sense among Spurs fans that sacking Postecoglou will not solve the club's lingering problems, given in the space of 24 years there has been 16 managers for and just one trophy won.

Several managers who have been dismissed from their duties like Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espiritio Santo and Antonio Conte have gone on to have success with other teams.

But while some blame is always going to be placed on Postecoglou as a manager, many have turned to chairman Daniel Levy's choice to invest in junior talent over experience.

A case can be made by Levy that he has invested in developing Spurs as an organisation as he was instrumental in building a world-class stadium in north London.

The chairman also provided Postecoglou roughly $450 million to spend in the market, however, $209 million of that came from the sale of Harry Kane in 2023.

A net transfer debt of over $583 million AUD leaves a tough battle in the upcoming trade window for Postecoglou or the person appointed as his successor.

Spurs are now facing the prospect that they will have to 'sell-to-buy' in the upcoming transfer window - a major shift for the club, considering last season they were one of the highest spenders during the transfer window in the Premier League.

Vice-captain Cristian Romero, who recognised calls from fans for the club to invest in more talent, also pointed to the board as the root of Spurs' troubles.

"The last few years, it's always the same - first, the players, then the coaching staff changes, and it's always the same people responsible," he said back in December.

"Hopefully they realise who the true responsible ones are and we move forward because it's a beautiful club that, with the structure it has, could easily be competing for the title."

Despite this, Levy has admitted that the club's latest financial results indicate Tottenham is in no position to risk or "spend money that we do not have".

The ability to explore the market is one Postecoglou has appeared to be denied, much like those who stood in the role before him.

Mauricio Pochettino held the top job at Spurs between 2014 and 2019, where he witnessed the club become the first ever team in the competition not to sign a player during the summer transfer window.

The current system at Spurs has invested heavily in young playing talent.

Just last season, 19-year-old Archie Gray was among those signed in the transfer window on a deal worth around $62 million AUD.

But with 12 experienced stars this season in and out of the club's injury ward, Postecoglou has found himself with little choice but to field an inexperienced group.

Still, it seems Postecoglou may not be the only person departing Tottenham at the end of the season.

According to UK's The Daily Telegraph, Spurs will likely need to part ways with some of their highest earners in bid to fund any further rebuilds and development at the club.

The likes of Richarlison, Yves Bissouma and Romero are among those facing the axe due to the financial state of the team.

Romero, a two-time Copa America winner and 2022 FIFA World Cup winner, has been heavily linked to make the move to Atletico Madrid in the next transfer window.

The Argentine has admitted he "would love to" play in the La Liga in the future as "it's the league (he's) missing" in his career profile.

But if he is to depart White Hart Lane, a large transfer fee would likely be revealed between Atletico and Spurs.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has hit back at calls for Tottenham to increase spending in the transfer window as the club's latest financial results see a decline in revenue.

Calls for changes to the club have been a common theme throughout Spurs' campaign this season as manager Ange Postecoglou continues his hunt for a piece of silverware.

A perceived lack of investment in the playing group has been blamed for Tottenham's lack of success by fans, who continue to actively protest Levy's operations.

In his 24 years with Spurs Levy has seen 16 managers attempt to bring a trophy back to White Hart Lane but only one person managed to do so.

Spanish manager Juande Ramos led the team to lift the Carabao Cup in 2008, the last trophy won by the club, but he was sacked just eight months later.

With Spurs fans still waiting for another piece of silverware to be lifted, speculation continues to grow around the decisions of the "ninth ranked richest club in the world."

Levy insists that while many believe the decision to "spend more" could see promising changes he will not risk compromising the financial stability to the club.

"We cannot spend what we do not have, and we will not compromise the financial stability of this club," the 63-year-old said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Recruitment remains a key focus, and we must ensure that we make smart purchases within our financial means. Our capacity to generate recurring revenues determines our spending power.

"I often read calls for us to spend more, given that we are ranked as the ninth richest club in the world. However, a closer examination of today's financial figures reveals that such spending must be sustainable in the long term and within our operating revenues."

Levy's comments are a clear sign that Spurs will remain frugal in the upcoming transfer window, with Postecoglou unlikely to be granted the funds to overhaul a squad that has been caught short in the Premier League due to a lack of depth.

Spurs recorded a four per cent reduction in total revenue over the past 12 months from $1.13 billion AUD to $1.09 billion AUD.

The club also decreased operating expenses, before football trading, by seven per cent as a result of a "fewer football matches and third-party events."

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Tottenham received $51 million AUD more in television revenue despite match receipts dropping $24.4 million AUD due to nine less games last season.

Net debt increased to $1.5 billion AUD in 2024 compared to $1.4 billion AUD in 2023.

"I want to thank everyone who supports us through good times and bad," Levy said.

"We shall aim to finish this season as strongly as we can and continue to build for success on the pitch.

"We must do everything we can to support the team in these final key stages."

A disappointing two-year tenure at Tottenham could be nearing its end for Ange Postecoglou as club owner Daniel Levy looks to have begun the hunt for his successor.

Calls for change at the club were amplified after a photo emerged on social media last week of Levy sharing a coffee with former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.

It is unclear the exact date of when the photo was taken of the pair's meeting but the idea of a possible return for the Argentine has sparked excitement online.

Pochettino added another layer of excitementafter the photos as he openly declared his willingness to to return to the North London club.

"When I left the club I always remember one interview I said I would like one day to come back to Tottenham," he told Sky Sports.

"I am in the USA, so I am not going to talk about that now - but what I said then I still, after six years or five years, feel in my heart. Yes, I would like one day to come back.

"Not because of my ego, it's because my feeling is I would like one day to win with Tottenham."

Although Levy may have called time on Pochettino's career at Tottenham in 2019, the latter conceded that the pair still have a "very good relationship."

"It's true after nearly six years with all that we lived together, it was tough because of all the ups and downs and emotional things that we lived," Pochettino said.

"We split very well. One thing was professional, another personal and now, like the day after we left Tottenham, we always have a very, very good relationship."

The 53-year-old was in charge of Tottenham between 2014 and 2019, with his time at the helm coming to an abrupt end in favour of football great Jose Mourinho.

Pochettino led the team to the 2015 EFL Cup final, a 2019 Champions League final and a second place finish in the 2016-17 Premier League season during his time at the helm.

He spent one season in charge of Chelsea - leading them to an 2024 EFL Cup final - before he parted ways by mutual consent with the club to pursue a role with the USA's national team.

Watch every match of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, streaming ad free, live and on demand on Stan Sport

However, while excitement of his possible return is high, the possibility of his return will come at a large cost for Tottenham.

According to BBC Sports, Spurs would be required to pay "one of the biggest compensation fees in football history" to acquire the talent of the manager.

The reported sum was compared to the $43 million AUD payments made by Chelsea and Bayern Munich to respectively appoint Graham Potter and Julian Nagelsmann.

Pochettino is believed to be on a two-year deal worth roughly $18 million AUD with the USA.

His possible return comes in response to Tottenham's disastrous run this season, with the club accumulating 34 points with 10 wins and 15 losses in the Premier League.

Still, the 14th placed team sits second overall for most goals scored this season with 55. Liverpool lead the goal scoring with 69 goals, 27 of which were scored by Mohamed Salah.

Even if Tottenham are to win their remaining nine games in the Premier League they will still fall short of last season's 66 point total as the club awaits another year for a domestic trophy.

Postecoglou's final shot to claim a piece of silverware with Spurs is in the Europa League, with the club set to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals on April 11.

If Spurs are to win the trophy, it would not only put an end to the club's 17-year wait for success in Europe but also qualify Spurs for a spot in next season's Champions League.

A victory would be beneficial for the Australian in his bid to extend his time in White Hart Lane, but until then his future remains unknown.

With a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa in the FA Cup, Ange Postecoglou will now have his laser sharp focus on the Europa League as he aims to win an elusive trophy for Tottenham Hotspur.

Postecoglou earlier in the season had pledged he always wins trophies in his second season but with his Spurs struggling in 14th in the Premier League, the Europa League is his last hope.

The Aussie cut a frustrated, dejected figure after the loss to Villa as pressure continues to mount on his position.

Joe Hart, one of his strongest supporters since their team at Celtic, had a simple message for him after the result.

"Stay strong. It's a tough moment, a real tough moment and you can see that he feels it," he said on BBC Sport.

"He wears it, his heart's on his sleeve and at this moment in time he's being tested, he's really being tested.

"He's being tested of his beliefs, he's asking questions of himself, of course he is, we all do in difficult times but that's where you need support, you need the club behind you, you need the team behind you and at this moment that's what they really need."

Hart argued Spurs aren't playing the way Postecoglou would be training them.

The team has been hit by an injury crisis this season, which worsened on Friday when Richarlison limped off during a Carabao Cup loss to Liverpool.

"It's a time to rediscover who they are because they're not playing the same football they're practicing," he said.

"Trust me, in training they'll be bopping it through the lines, they'll be receiving it on the half turn. That is not happening out there at the moment."

With no domestic Cup matches, Postecoglou will now have more time to try get back a full strength side as injuries continue to decimate his squad.

Spurs' next match will be against Manchester United in a week before clashes against Ipswich and Man City.

His opponent for the round of 16 match in the Europa League is yet to be confirmed and will be played on March 6.

Hart believes the European competition will now need to be the major focus for Spurs.

"That has got to be the narrative of the season, that's when they need their players fit for ... it looks like they're just going to kind of bodge their way through the Premier League season, unfortunately if we're being brutally honest, that's what's going to happen," he said.

"Because the Premier League smells Tottenham at the moment, they know how to play against Tottenham Hotspur, they know when they put pressure on them it's going to be difficult.

"Europa League, different animal, different leagues, more respect coming into it and you can create those special nights."

Tottenham is reportedly not about to sack embattled manager Ange Postecoglou despite Spurs fighting to avoid Premier League relegation.

The Guardian reports Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is not considering axing the Aussie coach any time soon.

Postecoglou was once again probed on his future following a 2-1 loss to Leicester on Monday.

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It was another dismal result against an opponent which had previously lost its last seven matches in a row in the competition.

Tottenham — a club in English football's so-called “Big Six” which attempted to join a breakaway Super League of major European clubs in 2021 — is languishing in 15th place in the 20-team league.

Their seven-match winless run in the league is its worst since 2008.

If the club was to sack him, the job would likely fall to the senior assistant coach Matt Wells, or assistant Ryan Mason.

Postecoglou had another run-in with a Spurs fan after the game- his third caught on camera this season.

The Aussie was making his way up the tunnel as several fans yelled, before he stopped and doubled back to give one person a death stare.

Postecoglou was quickly ushered away by Spurs staff.

Postecoglou said Tottenham's current situation was “as low as we've been” this season and is banking on the imminent return of a number of key players — especially centre backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven — to help turn round the team's fortunes.

Asked if he thinks he should be given that time, the Australian coach said: "Who knows mate? I reckon there’s a fair chunk that will say ‘no'.

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“When you are a manager of a football club, you can be very vulnerable and isolated. I don't feel that. I really feel like this group of players are giving everything for the club and I’ve got a group of staff who are really committed. I can focus on that.”

Postecoglou might only still be in a job because of his record in other competitions this season, with Spurs in the English League Cup semi finals — and leading Liverpool 1-0 after the first leg — and in the automatic qualification spots in the Europa League.

“There’s still a fantastic opportunity this season to make an impact,” he said.

Tottenham's league campaign is unravelling spectacularly, however, with only eight points separating the team from the relegation zone.

“From my perspective, I see a group of players that are giving as much as they can. I know it will turn,” said Postecoglou, who has been in charge of Tottenham since June 2023.

Tottenham has been beset with injuries this season, especially in defense, and was playing three days after a win at Hoffenheim in the Europa League.

Tottenham saw its woeful run of form extend to one win in 10 games in the Premier League on Monday morning.

Spurs’ only league win since the end of November was against Southampton on December 15.

Ange Postecoglou’s team is into the semi finals of the English League Cup and leads Liverpool 1-0 after the first leg, but is just three places above the relegation zone.

The semi final second leg isn’t until February 6 at Anfield and speculation over Postecoglou’s position is mounting.

He was prickly with BBC Sport following the game and responded to the first question with, "great way to start an interview".

Many observers are of the belief the Aussie's time as Spurs manager is up.

Others argue he is not the problem.

He boldly declared earlier in the season that he would win a trophy this campaign.

"I have the responsibility of the group of players. I do have to try and get us through this and that's what I've got to focus on," Postecoglou said on Monday.

"For me to focus on anything else is abstaining myself from the responsibility I have.

"My belief doesn't waver.

"We are in a pretty extreme situation with injuries. If you look at the situation we're in, it will eventually dissipate. I certainly hope and believe it will.

"We'll give ourselves the opportunity to get consistency in performance and results. I certainly haven't lost belief or determination to turn it around and the players showed in the second half that they haven't either."

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iliman Ndiaye and Archie Gray (own-goal) all scored for Everton before halftime at Goodison Park.

Spurs mounted a late fightback with goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison, but it wasn’t enough to deny David Moyes his first win since returning to Everton club for his second spell in charge.

Ange Postecoglou has admitted he is tired of the questions around his tactics as Tottenham's poor form is placed back under the spotlight against Nottingham Forest.

Forest's magical season continued in style against Spurs as the home side claimed a 1-0 victory to cement their position in third on the Premier League table.

Anthony Elanga slotted his third goal in three games in the tight contest, with Postecoglou's men left scrambling into the gaps of several absent players.

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The loss for Spurs, currently positioned 11th, marked their ninth from 18 games.

Postecoglou's men have conceded 26 goals this season but sit second on the overall goals scored (39) so far across the competition. Liverpool are the only team to have slotted more goals with 40.

While the victory was one Nuno Espirito Santo likely savoured, given he lasted just four months at the helm of Tottenham in 2021, for Postecoglou, it was one that added to the already mounting pressure on his future.

Spurs are on course to reach the Europa League knockouts and have progressed to the League Cup semi finals but have not had the same success in the Premier League.

The Australian manager jumped to the defence of his team's results noting the extensive injury list is beginning to take its toll on the group.

"We are asking a lot of this group of players, a lot of these guys are playing every three days," Postecoglou said.

"It's only logical they are not going to be at their sharpest, but they are trying.

"It's obviously disappointing to be beaten. It was never going to be a game with too many chances, I thought we had a fair chance where we could have got something out of the game.

"I still thought we created some good moments, and we weren't able to capitalise on them. The keeper has pulled off some good saves to keep them in the game.

"We needed a goal to break them open and we didn't seem to get it.

"But it was always going to be a tight game here. We just couldn't get over the line."

Spurs have been without several key stars including centre-backs Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies, while first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been ruled out due to a broken ankle.

Radu Dragusin joined the list of injury concerns for Postecoglou after he was seen limping off the field late in the match.

Postecoglou's horror run has sparked some fiery post-game reactions, with his response to the side's 6-3 defeat to Liverpool drawing the attention of reporters.

Asked about his response following his side's previous defeat, Postecoglou replied: "I wasn't angry."

"I don't think there are many managers that bounce into interviews after being beaten feel sort of cheery about it.

"Fair to say I am getting tired of the same questions and answering the same way.

"I just think it's almost like people sort of want to poke the bear to see if I react.

"Obviously after a loss it's a lot easier for people to get a reaction out of you."

Tottenham has launched an appeal against the severity of Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur’s seven-match ban for making an offensive comment about South Koreans in relation to a remark about Spurs teammate Son Heung-min.

"I've said all along, he's made a mistake, we've accepted that he has made a mistake," said coach Ange Postecoglou.

"We believe the first one (ban) was harsh and we've appealed that, which I think is our right. That's the whole process."

Bentancur will remain suspended from domestic competitions while the appeal is heard. He is set to miss six Premier League games and an English League Cup quarterfinal against Manchester United. The ban doesn’t cover European competitions, so he can play in the Europa League.

Appearing on a Uruguayan television show in June, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham player’s jersey and replied, “Sonny’s?” He added it could be Son’s cousin, too, because “more or less they are all the same.”

Bentancur later apologised to Son on Instagram, saying it was a “very bad joke” and he would “never disrespect you or hurt you.” Son accepted the apology.

Details of the decision released by the independent commission showed that Bentancur explained his comments “were sarcastic and a gentle rebuke” for the journalist calling his teammate “The Korean” and that he challenged the reporter’s description of Son.

The Spurs manager added: "I get that people want to burn people at the stake these days, but as I keep saying, part of this process, if you want a real sort of education, is to understand," added the 59-year-old.

"When somebody makes a mistake and they pay a penalty, part of that is education and hopefully treating him in a way that people see is the way forward.

"Whether it is Rodrigo or anyone else. I'm old enough in life, I've made bigger mistakes than that mate, but I was allowed to learn from it. Hopefully I'm a better human being because of that."

In its conclusions, the regulatory commission, however, wrote that “even on the basis of the player’s evidence and submissions, we consider the player’s conduct in using the words he did, in the full context in which they were used, was clearly abusive and insulting, and would amount to misconduct.”

The commission added that it also took into consideration the fact that Bentancur did not intend to offend Son or anyone else.