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Martin Samuel of The Times wrote that sacking Ange Postecoglou would be the “most Spursy move Daniel Levy could make”.
The Telegraph’s Matt Law, meanwhile, urged the Tottenham chairman to “be brave” and declared “now is not the time to sack another manager”.
Spurs icon Robbie Keane simply said that this is a team that “needs stability”. In other words, they need Postecoglou.
That seemed to be the general consensus from the UK media, pundits and former players after Postecoglou did what he always said he would, winning in his second year in charge as Tottenham overcame Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final.
Postecoglou said he had unfinished business after the game, telling TNT Sports he wanted to stay.
“I don’t feel like I’ve completed a job here, we’re still building,” he said.
However, all reports before Thursday’s final seemed to point towards Postecoglou being sacked regardless of the result given Tottenham’s poor Premier League record.
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But Law argued in a column for The Telegraph that would be a mistake.
“Now is not the time to sack another manager. Now is not the time to rip everything up again,” he wrote.
Instead, Law called on Levy to “show the kind of courage” that Postecoglou had in putting all of his focus into the Europa League, with the Australian admitting after Thursday’s game that he had rested players in the Premier League to make sure they were in top shape.
“Sure the Premier League campaign might have been horrible. But who cares now?” continued Law.
“Not the delirious Tottenham fans in Bilbao or those watching the victory over Manchester United at the club’s stadium in London. This is what the club has been dreaming about and longing for. Why sabotage the feel-good factor instead of feeding on it?
“Surely it would be an act of footballing cowardice on Levy’s part to celebrate winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League by letting Postecoglou go. If that was the plan, as it seems was the case, then rip it up. Be brave.”
Law went on to acknowledge that Levy deserves some credit for sticking by Postecoglou up until this point, even as the Premier League losses piled up, giving him a chance to make good on his promise and deliver Tottenham its long-awaited trophy.
“But it is now time to show some real loyalty,” Law added, writing that Levy can “make up slightly” for the “mistake” of backing his players instead of Mauricio Pochettino after the 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final.
‘Get ready for a parade’ – Full Presser | 12:19
Of course, it isn’t realistic to argue Levy should be swayed by the emotions of the past few days when making a call on Postecoglou’s future, but Law rightfully pointed out there is far more to go off than just that.
There is the growth that Postecoglou showed throughout the season, as evidence in the more pragmatic approach he adopted once he decided to turn his attention towards the Europa League.
“Angeball has not been seen at Spurs for months and this trophy success was built on solidity and a series of streetwise performances. It feels strange to even write that in relation to Tottenham, let alone watch it,” Law wrote.
“In Bilbao, they wasted time, hoofed the ball when they needed, Postecoglou threw on extra defenders and they got over the line. The entertainment was in the winning, instead of risking it all by trying to be unnecessarily pretty.
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“The Australian has reacted to the circumstances. What is to say he cannot do so again by learning from his mistakes and ensuring Spurs can cope far better with the Premier League while also competing well in Europe? He has earned the right to try, at least.”
Tom Allnutt of the Times made a similar point in his column after Thursday’s win, in which he wrote that there are “two key variables” when it comes to deciding whether Postecoglou deserves another chance.
The first being Levy’s view of him as a coach and the second whether the win changed his relationship with the players.
When it comes to the first, Allnutt wrote like Law that “Postecoglou showed he is clearly a more malleable tactician than many gave him credit for”.
‘Don’t feel like I’ve completed the job’ | 01:03
“His restricting tactics delivered in the Europa League latter stages, and against United he made the best of a line-up that was deprived of its three prime midfield creators,” added Allnutt.
“He settled for 27 per cent of possession and finished with a back five. If only he had been as adaptable in the Premier League.”
As for the second, Allnutt praised Postecoglou for the way he prepared for the final in a “way that resonated with the players”, including the inclusion of their family members as a focal point and public messaging in press conferences on how important the win would be for the club.
It stood in stark contrast to what Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim offered, telling reporters a Europa League win would change little given the team’s Premier League struggles.
As Allnutt went on to write, Postecoglou’s messages “engage” and he has “always been a storyteller to his core”.
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“A coach who knows the importance of narrative,” Allnutt wrote.
“Sacking any triumphant head coach would be difficult, but Postecoglou? It must be a chairman’s nightmare,” he later added, referencing how much harder it will be to sack Postecoglou given the way he has won over the public.
But as Allnutt also added, for Levy the “analysis will have to be a cold and rational one” and the Premier League results speak for themselves.
“The problem,” Allnutt wrote, “is the weight of evidence against him: the collapse over 37 games in the Premier League this season and, in truth, the slide in the 18 months ever since that breathtaking start”.
‘I don’t usually win, I ALWAYS win’ | 00:33
Although Allnutt’s colleague, Martin Samuel, wrote in his column for The Times that sacking Postecoglou would “be a hammer blow for morale” and “rob” the Australian of a “deserved chance to lead a new era” at Tottenham.
“This isn’t Erik ten Hag being kept on at Old Trafford after last year’s emotional FA Cup final win over Manchester City. That was a mistake, as Manchester United discovered,” Samuel added.
“They shouldn’t have been swayed by one glorious day. The modern United are serial trophy winners. Ten Hag had won the Carabao Cup the year before too, and it changed nothing about the club.
“He spent poorly, again, his players reverted to bad habits, again. It was all so predictable. Tottenham are different.
“We do not know what this could do for Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham — for the Tottenham of any manager since Juande Ramos, in fact — because actually winning something hasn’t been tried.
“The least Levy should do, and Postecoglou deserves, is to let this play out. Not just in terms of recruitment and pulling power over the summer — although a slot in the Champions League does neither any harm — but for what it could do to morale and self-belief. Give the manager what he wants, what he needs and see where it takes you.”
It isn’t just members of the media who believe Postecoglou has earned a third season in charge.
Ange ends Spurs trophy drought | 07:43
Club icon Robbie Keane, who was part of the League Cup-winning squad 17 years ago, said on talkSPORT that stability has to be the focus moving forward.
“It’s an unbelievable moment for Spurs, Daniel Levy and the manager, people asked me today do you think the manager will go, but how can you get rid of a manager who just won a European Cup?” Keane said.
“You need stability at the club and you’re not going to get that if you keep changing every couple of years, they need to build on this and build on momentum now.
“There’s no way they can have a season like that next year with the squad that they have, no way, so hopefully they add two or three players and can achieve something.
“… What I do like about Ange is his confidence, he believes in himself and his group of players, yes the season hasn’t been great, I’m not making excuses but when you’re missing three or four key players it can be difficult, especially when it’s guys at the back.”
Former Spurs defender Ramon Vega, meanwhile, said sacking Postecoglou now “would be one of the worst mistakes”.
Ange reflects on snapping Spurs drought | 00:46
“He has to continue the work he’s done, these players with his mentality and principles and quality of putting a team together, you can see they’re a team,” Vega said on talkSPORT.
“If the dressing room was not there I’d tell you sack the manager, but this dressing room works for the manager.
“Without a doubt he deserved this win, from the first day everybody was hammering him, but he stuck to his guns and when someone has the mentality of saying he’s going to win in his second season and everyone is laughing, this is the mentality I like. It’s confidence, it’s not arrogance.
“Ange’s mentality really brought a winning formula into this club. When he came to the club, who actually really wanted to come? It’s very, very difficult to manage, he took the risk and winning is the only answer.”