Ange Postecoglou is currently finding it very tough to replicate his success at Celtic ever since he made the switch to Tottenham Hotspur in 2023.
In a 113 game spell in charge at Celtic Park, Postecoglou managed to win five major honours, yielding a points per game ratio of 2.31.
It’s obviously a very different challenge at Tottenham but Postecoglou is nowhere near reaching those levels in north London.
Postecoglou might need to win the Europa League this season to save his job at Spurs, a win that would also return Tottenham to the Champions League next term.
It’s a big ask, and right Spurs are showing no signs that they’re capable of such a feat owing to their seriously depleted squad.
Postecoglou might welcome three players back against Manchester United this weekend, but he’ll still be missing key figures.
Ian Wright thinks Ange Postecoglou has less support at Tottenham
That being said, both Ian Wright and Roy Keane discussed the idea of Postecoglou using injuries as an ‘excuse’ at Tottenham right now on the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast.
Keane was quite incensed by the idea that Postecoglou would blame a thin squad for poor performances, making a point about how other Scottish teams used to feel facing his Celtic side.
Wright seemed to agree with Keane somewhat, and then also pointed to how different things are for Postecoglou under Daniel Levy, who he thinks is ‘not backing’ him.
Kean began: “Yeah, but Ange, when Ange was manager at Celtic, he keeps playing Dundee and Hibs every week, and they’ve got the smallest squads ever.
“You know, I don’t think Ange was feeling sorry for them. So no, it’s Ange’s time, now to go, you have to suffer Ange, like lots of other managers.
“Celtic have the biggest budget, the best players, and do you think he had sympathy at Dundee when he was winning 7,8 and 9-0.
“He won there one day and 9-0. I didn’t see him after the game going, do you know what I feel for the other manager?
“They’ve got a small budget. He didn’t care less. Managers are getting sacked all around him.”
Wright then replied: “Yeah he’s at Celtic who obviously in that league are, that they’re the guys, he’s got an owner now who’s not gonna back him like, maybe that’s how he’s backed in Celtic. It’s gonna be easier for him.
“I think that his squad, it’ll be interesting to see if he does get through this phase.”
Tottenham can’t afford to lose to Manchester United
Whichever way you look at it, Spurs now have a crucial game against Man United on the weekend.
Gary Neville thinks Man United will beat Tottenham, a scenario which would surely put Postecoglou under even more pressure in N17.
Celtic is obviously a much easier job than Tottenham, but Postecoglou can’t have envisioned things getting to this point.
As said, Spurs should welcome back one or two quality players to help out on Sunday.