John Wenham: Daniel Levy makes Postecoglou sack decision after Tottenham v Frankfurt

The pressure cooker environment at Tottenham Hotspur has reached boiling point as chairman Daniel Levy reportedly makes a decisive verdict on Ange Postecoglou’s future following their underwhelming 1-1 Europa League draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Sources close to the club suggest the Australian manager faces a win-or-bust scenario in next week’s second leg at Deutsche Bank Park, with elimination potentially triggering immediate dismissal despite only completing one season of his four-year project.

Thursday’s first leg encapsulated Tottenham’s season in microcosm – flashes of brilliance overshadowed by defensive fragility and missed opportunities.

James Maddison’s redemption arc, setting up Pedro Porro’s exquisite equalizer after his early error led to Hugo Ekitike’s opener, mirrored the team’s Jekyll-and-Hyde tendencies.

While teenage sensation Lucas Bergvall impressed with his mature midfield display, Tottenham’s failure to capitalize on 57% possession and 0.89 xG has left their European ambitions – and possibly their manager’s tenure – dangling by a thread.

Club insiders reveal Levy has grown increasingly concerned about Tottenham’s trajectory since their Carabao Cup exit, with the hierarchy setting Europa League progression as the minimum benchmark for Postecoglou to retain his position.

The rationale is clear – elimination would leave Spurs facing the grim prospect of their first trophyless season since 2021/22 with no European football secured for 2024/25.

John Wenham’s assessment to Tottenham News cuts to the heart of the matter: “Levy will sack Postecoglou if we don’t get past Frankfurt.” This stark ultimatum reflects growing boardroom frustration with both results and the deteriorating relationship between manager and supporters.

Postecoglou’s recent touchline spats with fans, coupled with his stubborn adherence to tactical approaches that have yielded 16 Premier League defeats, have eroded the goodwill from his promising start.

The Frankfurt return leg presents Postecoglou with multiple dilemmas:

• Defensive Fragility: Spurs have kept just two clean sheets in their last 15 matches
• Midfield Balance: Bergvall’s emergence offers creativity but leaves gaps opponents exploit
• Attack Misfiring: 1.7 goals per game in Europa League masks Premier League struggles

Postecoglou’s squad management has also come under scrutiny. His persistence with underperforming stars like Brennan Johnson (4/10 rating vs Frankfurt) while talented alternatives like Giovani Lo Celso gather dust on the bench has baffled observers.

The Australian’s public criticism of Tottenham’s “fragile” culture, while perhaps honest, has further alienated sections of the fanbase expecting more diplomacy.

Levy’s patience with managers who fail to deliver European football is well-documented. Both Mauricio Pochettino and José Mourinho lost their jobs following continental disappointments, and Postecoglou risks becoming the latest casualty of Tottenham’s ruthless expectations.

With the club’s £1.2 billion stadium demanding elite-level football to service its debt, Thursday’s second leg carries financial implications beyond mere pride.

Should Postecoglou fall short, Tottenham have already identified candidates to salvage their season:

As Postecoglou prepares his squad for Germany, the brutal reality is clear – his project faces abrupt termination unless he can conjure the type of European performance that has eluded Tottenham for years.

For a manager who promised to bring “mate, not money” culture to North London, the coming days may determine whether his revolution gets a second act or becomes another cautionary tale in Tottenham’s relentless pursuit of success.

One thing is certain – the Deutsche Bank Park dressing room will host one of the most pressurized team talks of Postecoglou’s career next Thursday.

Whether it becomes his swan song or salvation rests entirely on his ability to solve the tactical puzzles that have confounded him all season.