Ange Postecoglou future: Is it now or never for Tottenham boss?

“It’s Europa League or bust and the competition seems wide open,” former Blackburn and Celtic striker Chris Sutton told BBC Sport.

“It looks winnable for all the teams that are left in it, and that’s why you can’t rule Tottenham out.”

Tottenham haven’t won a trophy since lifting the League Cup in 2008.

Postecoglou is in his second season at the club, and in September, he said: “I always win things in my second year.”

Right now, his record looks to be in serious danger.

But if you rewind to the start of this campaign, hopes of success under Postecoglou didn’t seem too outlandish.

The Australian had led Tottenham to a fifth-placed finish last season where, in moments, his side looked brilliant.

They were five points clear at the top of the league 10 games into the 2023-24 campaign, with Postecoglou named the Premier League’s manager of the month in August, September and October.

Then, in November, came the injuries and suspensions. Inconsistency surfaced: Tottenham finished the season with five defeats from seven games.

It was also around this time a smattering of fans started to voice their frustration with Ange-ball and Postecoglou’s lack of tactical plan B.

Those cries have since got louder, with Spurs set for their worst league campaign since 2003-04, when they finished 14th. They haven’t ended a weekend in the top half of the table since November.

After needing extra time to beat non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup, they were then knocked out in the fourth round at Aston Villa.

They reached the EFL Cup semi-finals, where they beat Liverpool in the first leg but crumbled in the Anfield return for a 4-1 aggregate loss.

The Europa League is now their last chance of salvation. Without the trophy and a place in the Champions League next season, Postecoglou may find it hard to survive.