Latest news with #CristianRomero
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Blame game' over club's injury record
Speak to those behind the scenes at Tottenham and they will explain how injuries have been the most pertinent factor behind their recent Romero, Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison and Guglielmo Vicario are among the players to have spent extended spells on the sidelines this season - many with muscular Maddison, Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall were all unavailable in Bilbao, while Son started on the bench because he was deemed unfit having only recently returned from sources have told BBC Sport the club's injury record has been at the centre of some friction between members of the coaching team and medical and strength and conditioning staff over the course of the season."It's been the blame game," one well-placed source injury-disrupted campaign has been a real bone of contention, according to sources, particularly in the aftermath of the 4-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool in February when, having only recently returned from hamstring and groin problems, the Brazil international injured a there have been other examples this season when Ange Postecoglou's team and the medical and fitness department have not seen eye to more from Mokbel on the reasons behind Postecoglou's sacking
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Ange Postecoglou sacked: Why Tottenham parted with Australian after Europa League triumph.
Tottenham's euphoric players stepped off the plane the day after the night before and ventured straight into central squad, according to well-placed sources, ended up in trendy London nightspot Mistress of Mayfair to mark the club's Europa League final victory over Manchester United in there, the players frantically waved white table handkerchiefs above their heads to a live rendition of Freed From Desire expertly played by the in-house manager, Ange Postecoglou, was elsewhere - having a separate celebration in the the head coach's relationship with his squad appeared to be one of the strongest reasons to keep the from the glare of the cameras, however, there were cracks in that just 16 days after victory in Bilbao, Postecoglou has been sacked after his customary second-season we look at some of the key reasons - from a breakdown in relationships, to concern over injuries, tactics and signings - before assessing who might be next. Postecoglou 'loyal but increasingly distant' Public backing from a host of players - including key figures Cristian Romero and James Maddison - and the squad's determination to include Postecoglou in their on-pitch celebrations in Bilbao appeared to be an indication of deep it had not gone unnoticed that Postecoglou had become increasingly distant from the squad in recent the start of his reign, the Australian would regularly have breakfast - certainly at away games - with the rest of his however, his obligatory ham and cheese toastie had been delivered to his room by a member of those away trips, it had been known for him not to be visible around the team hotel until a result, some players started taking issues they'd usually approach Postecoglou with to other members of the backroom while Postecoglou may have maintained a divide between himself and his players in recent months, his loyalty to his staff cannot be it was said the biggest concern Postecoglou had about losing his job was his staff. He had been at pains to make sure they would be looked after. Tension over failure to land key target The story of Tottenham's campaign started with the visit of one of European football's emerging 'Golden Boys'.It is a little-known fact that Spurs' preparations for the 2024-25 campaign started with a visit from Desire talented attacker, then playing for Rennes, was so intrigued by Postecoglou's project he made an undercover visit to the club's training ground in Enfield amid optimism a deal could be forward nine months and Doue, who in the interim had signed for Paris St-Germain, was the star of the Champions League retrospect, Spurs' failure to lure him was a sign of what was to come - a series of blows during a truly forgettable domestic important to stress their inability to land Doue, 20, wasn't for the want of trying - but while his reputation has soared, Tottenham and Postecoglou were left in despair all too often. 'Blame game' over club's injury record Speak to those behind the scenes at Tottenham and they will explain injuries have been the most pertinent factor behind their recent Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison and Guglielmo Vicario are among the players to have spent extended spells on the sidelines this season - many with muscular Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall were all unavailable in Bilbao while Son started on the bench because he was deemed unfit having only recently returned from sources have told BBC Sport the club's injury record has been at the centre of some friction between members of the coaching team and medical and strength and conditioning staff over the course of the season."It's been the blame game," one well-placed source injury-disrupted campaign has been a real bone of contention, according to sources, particularly in the aftermath of the 4-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool in February when, having only recently returned from hamstring and groin problems, the Brazil international injured a have been other examples this season when Postecoglou's team and the medical and fitness department have not seen eye to eye. Over-reliance on Ange-ball? Much has been made of Postecoglou's attacking approach or, more pertinently, the accusation he was unwilling to adapt."It's just who we are, mate," he famously said when questioned about his tactics earlier this continue to call his apparent refusal to ditch his philosophy commendable. Others believe his stubbornness was the root of Tottenham's members of the team felt during the first half of the season they were too open, and Postecoglou should have considered making defensive tweaks. The Australian's apparent reluctance to adapt led to a degree of internal a two-goal lead slip in the 3-2 loss at Brighton raised eyebrows, and there was similar angst in the 4-3 loss to Chelsea in December after Spurs raced 2-0 ahead inside 12 well-placed sources insist Postecoglou did tweak his defensive approach in both was also widely praised for the way he set up his team sturdily in the Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Eintracht were particularly robust in the comprehensive semi-final victory over Bodo/Glimt, too, then kept another clean sheet in Bilbao to finish the job. League the bottom line for Levy Speaking in the aftermath of the Europa League final victory, Postecoglou made clear his hope he would stay in seemed perfectly reasonable, with a trophy and Champions League qualification not generally leading to the sacking of a for Postecoglou, chairman Daniel Levy simply wasn't for turning - the Tottenham chairman sticking with 'Plan A' to dispense with the euphoria and affection directed towards Postecoglou from players and supporters may have run some interference, but not enough to change the direction of Spurs lost to United, it is widely acknowledged Postecoglou would have been relieved of his duties before added some emotion into the equation - but clearly not enough for Levy to have a change of delay in making the decision is the result of various factors. Most pertinently, Postecoglou, Levy and chief football officer Scott Munn - whose job is also under threat - were away last sources have also claimed Levy wanted to put time between the emotional outpouring that came after the final and making his the heart of his thinking was Tottenham's 17th-place finish in the Premier League after 22 losses in 38 matches. In the end, he could not look past fact in the statement announcing his sacking, Spurs pointed out - with a eye-opening precision - the team had taken 78 points from their past 66 games. Who is next for Spurs? Attention will now turn to who replaces sources have told BBC Sport there is an interest in Brentford head coach Thomas has a good relationship with Spurs technical director Johan Lange, which could be a deciding factor when Levy comes to decide who he is understood consideration was given to the prospect of making an unlikely move for Eddie Howe, but Newcastle's qualification for the Champions League would, you imagine, nip that in the bud.A return for Mauricio Pochettino would have significant support from fans but is a move that comes with a number of obstacles. Pochettino is managing the United States, who will co-host next year's World Cup, and it would take a compensation package described to BBC Sport as one of the "biggest in football history" to release Andoni Iraola, Fulham's Marco Silva, recently appointed Al-Hilal boss Simone Inzaghi and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner are among the others to have been just a fortnight after Spurs were partying, all eyes are now on what present Levy delivers for the club.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Tottenham expected to part company with Ange Postecoglou as head coach
Tottenham Hotspur are expected to part company with head coach Ange Postecoglou despite him winning the club's first trophy for 17 years. The 59-year-old will leave the north London club despite having won the Europa League with victory over Manchester United in the final in Bilbao. However, the side ended the season 17th in the Premier League with the club's worst points tally and finish in the Premier League era. The season concluded with them just 13 points above the relegation zone and 28 points off the top five. Advertisement Though victorious in Europe, Postecoglou saw his side exit both domestic cup competitions in the same week after a 4-0 defeat against Liverpool in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on February 6 and 2-1 loss to Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round three days later. Spurs required extra time to progress past National League side Tamworth in the FA Cup third round in January. Tottenham won only 11 league games all season and endured a pair of six-game winless runs over April and May, and December and January. Their total of 22 losses are the most of any team not to be relegated in the Premier League era. Postecoglou had to contend with an extensive injury list this season, with Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall, Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario, Richarlison, James Maddison, Radu Dragusin and Wilson Odobert all missing periods. Postecoglou joined Spurs from Celtic in July 2023, signing a four-year contract. The Australian enjoyed a fast start with eight wins from his opening 10 league games in charge including victories over Manchester United and Liverpool. He was named Premier League manager of the month for each of the first three months of the season, a first for a new manager in the competition. Tottenham ultimately finished fifth, outside of the Champions League qualification places but enough for a Europa League spot, while there were cup exits at the hands of Fulham, on penalties in the Carabao Cup, and Manchester City, in the FA Cup fourth round. Postecoglou won five major trophies during his two-year stay in Glasgow, including back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles. He was born in Greece but grew up in Australia and went on to manage the Socceroos for four years following stints in charge at Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar. Advertisement The decision on Postecoglou's future comes amid a series of changes at executive level for Spurs; long-serving executive director Donna-Maria Cullen announced on Monday that she was stepping down, while Vinai Venkatesham was announced as the club's new CEO in April.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Tottenham SACK Ange Postecoglou despite Spurs ending their 17-year trophy drought with Europa League triumph
Tottenham have sacked Ange Postecoglou despite the head coach ending the club's 17-year trophy drought with Spurs' Europa League win in May. Success in Europe was the club's final lifeline for silverware - and a place in next season's Champions League draw - amid a woeful season that saw them finish a dismal 17th in the league. But despite a scrappy showing against fellow domestic strugglers Manchester United in Bilbao, Tottenham were able to get over the line with a 1-0 win in the Basque region and silence Postecoglou's critics. Postecoglou was then feted as part of the club's raucous trophy parade, but with a view to improving the side ahead of the next campaign, chairman Daniel Levy and the Tottenham board have opted to move on the manager after just two seasons. The Australian, who was appointed in June 2023, has been forced to make do without many of his first team regulars this season after an unprecedented injury crisis which has particularly hit his defensive line. This includes first choice centre backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, while stars such as Dejan Kulusevski, Destiny Udogie, Dominic Solanke and James Maddison have also missed large chunks of action. Postecoglou had also struggled to connect with the Spurs faithful before his historic trophy win, with the former manager coming in for abuse after appearing to taunt fans in the stands after Tottenham scored a goal - which was later ruled out - against Chelsea in their March Premier League meeting. The head coach was booed loudly by travelling supporters in Stamford Bridge, but remained adamant in the aftermath that he had only been trying to gee up the crowd as he cupped his hand to his ear. The mood in north London had grown increasingly sour, with Postecoglou hitting out at the board in a recent press conference, implying that he was taking the lion's share of the blame for Tottenham's failings. 'The only voice you hear is me,' Postecoglou said. 'When we're talking about the bigger clubs, there seem to be a lot more voices. And not always defending. You need scrutiny and constructive criticism as well. We definitely get enough of that but never get any of the other stuff.' Postecoglou also raised concerns over a suspected leak within his Spurs set-up as recent injury news appeared to hit social media before his formal announcement. But on the heels of their triumph in Bilbao, Postecoglou had been more bullish about his suitability for the task at hand in north London. 'In all the best television series, season three is better than season two,' Postecoglou told a whipped-up crowd at the conclusion of Spurs' trophy parade. Postecoglou was also interviewed by an Australian outlet during his family holiday in Greece, stressing that lifting the Europa League trophy was merely the beginning of his aspirations, rather than the peak. Postecoglou admitted before he went on holiday this month that he was unsure whether he would be in charge long term 'I didn't want us to just enjoy the moment,' he said. 'I also wanted us to think about what's next, you know, don't settle for this. 'We've got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club's got a taste for it. Well, let's make sure we're back here again.' Despite this, Postecoglou had admitted before leaving for his vacation that he was unsure whether he would remain in charge for the 2025-26 campaign. While no manager has yet been announced as his successor, the start of June saw the club linked with a number of candidates, including Brentford head coach Thomas Frank. Tottenham are also in the throes of undergoing change behind the scenes as well as pitchside, with long-serving executive director Donna-Maria Cullen announcing her departure of the beginning of June. Seen as Levy's 'right-hand woman', Cullen had served on Tottenham's board of directors for over three decades.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Staggering dressing room push could save Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham career
Tottenham chair Daniel Levy will speed up his decision over whether Ange Postecoglou will remain Spurs manager with a call now expected to be made this week, according to reports. Sky Sports in the UK reports that Postecoglou — who is on holiday in Europe — is expected to learn his fate in the coming days despite initial reports saying he'd have to wait until next week. The report comes amid growing support from the playing group with defender Pedro Porro the latest to publicly express his backing of Postecoglou. 'Him continuing would be good for the dressing room. He has built a very good group and coaches also need time,' Porro told The Guardian. 'In the league things didn't go well but he made us win a trophy. That's important too. 'The people in the dressing room with weight have to understand that.' Porro's support echoes similar displays from fellow players Cristian Romero and James Maddison, who said Postecoglou has 'been brilliant' and should stay. Nonetheless, Postecoglou remains at serious risk of losing his position due to a domestic campaign that saw Spurs finish 17th after suffering 22 defeats. Postecoglou explained that he had to heavily prioritise the Europa League, which Spurs won over Manchester United to clinch the club's first trophy of any kind in 17 years. But Levy must now decide whether that glittering night in Bilbao justifies one of the worst domestic campaigns that the club has endured in the Premier League era. Levy is set to return from holiday this week when he will reportedly make his decision. The decision was described by Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solheko on The Transfer Show as 'one of the hardest decisions Levy has had to take since he's been at Spurs'. 'If you go with your heart, you stick with Postecoglou because he won a trophy. However, if you go with your head, you look at the Premier League table and I still can't believe Tottenham finished 17th,' Solhekol said. 'Under normal circumstances, that would be totally and utterly unacceptable. 'There's no question the manager would lose his job, but he won a trophy. 'It's a debate for another day perhaps, the quality of the Europa League this season. The fact the Champions League has expanded, and teams weren't dropping down, but a trophy is a trophy. A European trophy is a European trophy.'
