‘I guess’: Postecoglou admits the big mistake he made at Tottenham this season
The weight of Tottenham Hotspur’s underwhelming campaign hangs heavy over Ange Postecoglou as the Australian manager conducts his season autopsy. Sitting uncomfortably in 14th Premier League position, with European qualification slipping through their fingers, the charismatic coach now faces his sternest test in North London – a Europa League quarter-final that could define his Tottenham future.
Postecoglou’s trademark attacking philosophy appears to have backfired spectacularly this season, with the manager himself admitting he “got the start of the year wrong.”
His confession reveals a rare moment of self-doubt from the typically bullish coach, who now acknowledges underestimating the brutal demands of combining domestic and European football.
“We probably went into the start of the season really hard,” Postecoglou told Optus Sport. “I just think we underestimated the challenges of Europe this year with those two extra games and having a big cup run.”
This miscalculation created a domino effect that Tottenham have struggled to recover from, with injuries to key players compounding their problems. The manager described his squad as “chasing their tail” ever since – a vivid metaphor for their season-long struggle to find consistency.
The consequences of Postecoglou’s early-season aggression became painfully apparent in recent weeks. In a remarkable tactical about-face, Spurs’ last outing against Fulham saw the manager adopt uncharacteristic caution – benching Micky van de Ven and withdrawing Cristian Romero after 60 minutes.
This sudden pragmatism, while understandable given their injury crisis, betrayed the philosophical identity Postecoglou had worked so hard to establish.
The numbers paint a sobering picture of Tottenham’s regression:
- 15 Premier League defeats in 29 matches
- 7 losses at their formerly impregnable home fortress
- Defensive injuries forcing 12 different backline combinations
- Only 34% win rate in all competitions since November
With Daniel Levy reportedly setting European qualification as the minimum requirement for Postecoglou to keep his job, Thursday’s quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt takes on seismic importance.
The German outfit, sitting third in the Bundesliga and unbeaten in their last six matches, represent formidable opponents for a Spurs side lacking confidence.
Dino Toppmöller’s Frankfurt have been one of Europe’s surprise packages this season, combining defensive solidity with attacking verve. Their 3-1 dismantling of Bayern Munich last month demonstrated the scale of challenge awaiting Tottenham, who must rediscover their early-season intensity to progress.
Postecoglou’s path to salvation appears narrow but navigable. Winning the Europa League would not only secure Champions League football but provide tangible evidence his project remains on track.
The Australian must now demonstrate the tactical flexibility he’s previously resisted – balancing his attacking instincts with the pragmatism required in knockout football.
For a manager who prides himself on culture-building, these final months represent both his greatest challenge and potential legacy-defining opportunity. Can the man who transformed Celtic conquer Tottenham’s mental fragility? Will his players respond to what may be their last chance to salvage this wayward season?
One thing remains certain – the next six weeks will determine whether Postecoglou’s Tottenham revolution was merely delayed or definitively derailed. The answers await in Frankfurt, where Spurs’ season – and possibly their manager’s future – hangs in the balance.