Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles this season have been well-documented, and now former Chelsea captain John Terry has weighed in with a blunt assessment of their chances in the Europa League – one that certainly won’t sit well with Ange Postecoglou.
Of course, it has been a difficult season for Tottenham Hotspur. Fourteenth in the league, 15 points off fourth, 10 adrift of tenth, and sitting on just 34 points from 29 games while already suffering 15 defeats – it has been nothing short of a nightmare campaign.
Ange Postecoglou is undoubtedly feeling the heat, especially after Spurs’ recent 2-0 loss to Fulham in the Premier League.
Jamie O’Hara has even gone as far as to suggest that Postecoglou’s job is hanging by a thread. Meanwhile, former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has set an ultimatum for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham, stating that it’s Europa League or bust for the Australian.
Chelsea's John Terry slips and misses his penalty in the penalty shoot-out
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC Via Getty Images
John Terry questions Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League credentials
No Tottenham manager has lifted silverware in nearly two decades, which underlines the size of the task at hand for the under-fire gaffer.
While Ange has claimed he wins things in his second season, ending Spurs’ trophy drought and bringing silverware to N17 would be quite the achievement.
With the 59-year-old manager looking for solutions, Chelsea legend John Terry has now given his verdict, and it’s not one the Aussie will enjoy hearing.
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Terry has made it clear that he isn’t convinced Tottenham can win the Europa League, citing their play style as a major concern. He also couldn’t resist taking a swipe at the club’s long-running trophy drought.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Terry said: “It’s nice for him [Jamie O’Hara] to remind me of 2008… Yeah, that’s the only trophy they’ve won in about a hundred years and probably will be in the next hundred years as well.”
Of course, Terry is exaggerating for comic effect, but perhaps he should still be reminded that Tottenham have an extensive trophy cabinet that dates back to before Chelsea were bought out by rich owners.
Football League Champions: 1950/1951, 1960/1961
The FA Cup Winners: 1900/1901, 1920/1921, 1960/1961, 1961/1962, 1966/1967, 1980/1981, 1981/1982, 1990/1991
Football League Cup Winners: 1970/1971, 1972/1973, 1998/1999, 2007/2008
European Cup-Winners Cup Winners: 1962/1963
UEFA Cup Winners: 1971/1972, 1983/1984
Football League Division Two Champions: 1919/1920, 1949/1950
FA Charity Shield Winners: 1920/1921, 1951/1952, 1961/1962, 1962/1963, 1967/1968 (joint), 1981/1982 (joint), 1991/1992 (joint)
Terry also questioned Tottenham’s ability to lift the Europa League: “Would they win it? I’m not sure. They look different, they look a different side to me this year. They don’t look the exciting threat – the pace they had up front before. I think it’s a thing in modern-day football as well, I’m not sure teams are running behind anymore.”
Why Ange Postecoglou must focus on results over style
Spurs simply cannot afford to obsess over play style at this point, and neither should Ange Postecoglou. It’s all about results now, and that’s what will ultimately keep him in the job.
If parking the bus is what it takes to bring silverware to north London, then so be it. Fans will take a trophy over playing attractive football any day.
Ange is, without a doubt, an attacking, high-intensity manager, but given the situation he finds himself in, he might need to start paying more attention to the defensive side of things.
Otherwise, his second season might not even get the chance to deliver the success he’s promised.
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