Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou appeared disheartened following the match against Chelsea. — Reuters
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou will return to Glasgow on Thursday for a crucial Europa League showdown against Rangers, desperately needing a win to quell doubts about his future. Spurs have secured only one victory in their last seven matches across all competitions—a stunning 4-0 triumph over English champions Manchester City—which has seen them drop to 11th in the Premier League and ninth in the Europa League. The 4-3 loss to Chelsea on Sunday highlighted the unpredictable nature of Postecoglou's team over 90 minutes. Tottenham surged to a 2-0 lead, but the aggressive approach of Postecoglou meant they couldn't hold onto it, allowing the in-form Blues to mount a comeback in a high-octane match.
Postecoglou criticized his team's lack of discipline after conceding two penalties, coolly converted by Cole Palmer, but there has been little evidence of improvement under his leadership after 18 months. Last season, two red cards against Chelsea led to a 4-1 defeat. Including that result, Spurs have won only 18 of their last 43 Premier League games, and signs of fan frustration were evident in a heated exchange between Postecoglou and supporters after the recent 1-0 loss to Bournemouth. Injuries have compounded the challenges for the former Celtic manager, who previously led Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title in his two seasons in Glasgow. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is expected to be out for months due to a broken ankle, while Postecoglou may have only one fit center-back available after Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were forced off against Chelsea.
Playing with the intensity Postecoglou demands increases the risk of injuries, especially during a grueling schedule of 12 games in 43 days. "My focus now is on what I can control and preparing the team as best as possible to progress and turn our season around," said Postecoglou. "The players are eager to turn things around and are frustrated with how the season has unfolded. When you're in that state, it's easy to lose composure and discipline." The trip to Ibrox marks the start of a pivotal week that could shape Postecoglou's tenure. Spurs face bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Sunday, followed by a League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United. The club has gone 16 years without a trophy, and Postecoglou boldly pledged earlier in the season to end that drought.
Rangers have also been inconsistent this season, struggling in the Scottish Premiership but performing well in Europe. They trail Celtic by 11 points domestically but sit above Tottenham in eighth place in the Europa League, having secured 10 points from their first five games. Only the top eight teams advance directly to the last 16, with a top-24 finish securing a spot in the playoff round. Manchester United, currently 12th, also face challenges as they visit Viktoria Plzen. Early optimism surrounding Ruben Amorim's appointment as manager has faded after consecutive defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. Off the field, the club continues to face crises, with sporting director Dan Ashworth leaving after just five months in the role. Lazio, Athletic Bilbao, and Eintracht Frankfurt lead the standings with 13 points, but all face tough away fixtures this week.
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