Celts Are Here

Ange Postecoglou has hit back strongly at a journalist’s suggestion that he’s a “clown” of a manager, reminding critics of his achievements—including his final game at Celtic, where he won the Scottish Cup and completed a historic treble.

Ahead of Tottenham’s Europa League final clash with Manchester United, Postecoglou was asked about the pressure on him, with reports suggesting he could be sacked even if Spurs lift the trophy. Rather than dodge the question, the former Celtic boss chose to face it head-on.

Postecoglou defended his record and dismissed the idea that he’s under unusual pressure. He explained that he’s been in situations like this before, where a major final marked the end of his spell at a club. His last match for Celtic, the 2023 Scottish Cup final against Inverness, is a case in point—he ended that season by guiding Celtic to a domestic treble before departing for the Premier League.

He said: (BeanymanSports), “But I’ll tell you one thing, irrespective of tomorrow, I’m not a clown and I never will be, mate.

“Really disappointed that you use such terminology about a person who for 26 years, without any favours from anyone, has worked his way to be in a position where he’s leading out a club in a European major competition.

“For you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means that I’m a clown—I’m not really sure how to answer that question.

“I’ve been in this position before, where the big game was the last game I managed. It’s not unusual territory for me and I’ve always navigated that pretty well.

“For me, nothing is more important than my responsibility to this football club and its fans—that tomorrow, me and the players, our minds are only on one thing, and that is trying to create something special.

“I qualified for a World Cup, I left; won the treble with Celtic and left; won at Brisbane, I left. It’s actually more common than you think.”

Tottenham go into tomorrow night’s Europa League final looking to end a long wait for major silverware. While questions continue about Postecoglou’s future in North London, he’s made it clear that his only focus is helping his players deliver when it matters.

When Ange talked about Celtic and the cup final win over Inverness, he showed he knows how to handle big games. It was also a clear message to anyone doubting him—his success over the years proves what he can do.

Ange Postecoglou is reportedly set to leave Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the season, even if they secure Champions League football by winning the Europa League.

The Telegraph report that after two seasons in North London following his successful spell at Celtic, the Australian looks set to move on—with Spurs’ Chief Football Officer Scott Munn also on the brink of departure. Munn, who joined Tottenham in 2023, was believed to have played a huge role in convincing Postecoglou to leave Celtic.

Now, with Munn expected to be replaced by former Arsenal Chief Executive Vinai Venkatesham at the end of the season, Spurs are bracing for a major shake-up at the top, with Venkatesham already confirmed as the club’s new CEO.

Having suffered his 18th league defeat of the season against Nottingham Forest last night at home, Ange was unable to build on the 1-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday in the Europa League in Germany, which had secured a place in the semifinals against Bodo/Glimt.

Spurs’ 18 league defeats mean that only the bottom three teams in the Premier League have lost more games this season, with Tottenham sitting 16th in the table.

Injuries may have played their part in such a poor domestic campaign, however, Daniel Levy is known for his impatience with managers—and that appears to be the case again with Ange.

What the future holds for Ange remains to be seen, but if he wins the Europa League with Tottenham and then departs at the end of the season—securing Champions League football and delivering Spurs’ first trophy since 2008—it would go down as one of the biggest achievements of his management career, alongside winning the treble with Celtic in his final year in charge.

Ange Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham is teetering on the brink, with Thursday’s Europa League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt shaping up as a make-or-break moment for the former Celtic boss.

Spurs’ 4-2 collapse at home to 16th-placed Wolves has heaped pressure on the Australian, whose side now sit a dismal 15th in the Premier League. Hopes of European progress are also hanging by a thread after a 1-1 draw in London left their quarter-final tie delicately poised.

It’s a far cry from the promise of last season, when Postecoglou’s early impact and bold attacking football had Spurs fans dreaming of a new dawn, finishing 5th. But the swagger of Angeball has vanished, replaced by a side lacking conviction and consistency.

Thursday night in Germany may now decide whether Postecoglou sees out the season. Victory over Frankfurt could buy him time — defeat could seal his fate.

Even if he survives the European test, a daunting domestic run-in awaits, starting with high-flying Nottingham Forest this weekend and including dates with Liverpool, Arsenal, West Ham, Brighton, and Aston Villa.

Just two years into his Spurs tenure, the former Celtic treble winner looks like a man on borrowed time.