Exclusive: Ange Postecoglou 'faces' Tottenham Hotspur sack without Europa League success

Tottenham Hotspur’s season hinges on their second leg Europa League round of 16 clash with AZ Alkmaar as Ange Postecoglou’s side chase the final piece of silverware available to them this season.

Spurs’ league form has been poor amid a host of injury problems but with a number of players not fit again, the North London outfit are tasked with overcoming a 1-0 deficit from their first leg against AZ.

The Europa League also gives Tottenham the chance to qualify for next season’s Champions League. There could be up to seven Premier League sides in the Champions League next season as the division is likely to be given five qualifying spots due to their co-efficient ranking. If Aston Villa win the Champions League and finish outside the top five and if one of Spurs or Manchester United win the Europa League, then it would see seven English teams in the 36-team league phase next season.

Postecoglou warned of potential sack

Former Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea defender William Gallas believes Postecoglou has to win the Europa League to “definitely” keep his job in North London.

Gallas exclusively told London World via Prime Casino: "To keep his job, he definitely has to win that competition because next season they want to qualify for European football, and they won’t be able to do that with their final position in the table.

"Now the question, can they win that competition? That won't be easy. When you see the last game they played, they drew against Bournemouth. And they scored quite late.”

Spurs looked on course to lose to Bournemouth as they went 2-0 down to the Cherries, who are among the sides chasing a place in the Champions League. However, Pape Matar Sarr pulled a goal back soon after Bournemouth’s second before Heung-min Son levelled from the penalty spot on 84 minutes.

Could Postecoglou be sacked?

Despite some poor results in the Premier League this season, Daniel Levy has stuck by Postecoglou. However a recent report from Tutto Juve claimed that Spurs are “ready” to change managers with Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi highly admired in North London. Manchester United were also mentioned as a club who were keeping tabs on the Inter boss, who is only under contract at the San Siro until June 2026.

Postecoglou cast doubt on his own future at the end of January after a 2-1 loss to Leicester City at home. He replied when asked if he’d still be in a job in February: "Who knows, mate. "I'm sure there will be a fair chunk that say no. As a manager, sometimes you can feel really isolated. I don't because of the players – not for me – but they're still giving everything for this club, and I've got great staff who are doing the same.

"I have been around long enough to know that some will just judge on where we are at the moment and rightly so in some respects. It’s not good enough.”

For now, Postecoglou has been backed by the Spurs hierarchy and a Europa League triumph would surely see him given a major vote of confidence. If Spurs can overturn their deficit against AZ, a quarter final with Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt awaits.