Harry Redknapp, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager, has given a candid assessment of Ange Postecoglou’s first season at Tottenham. Despite the team playing an attacking and appealing brand of football under the Australian manager, Redknapp feels that early exits from cup competitions and missing out on UEFA Champions League (UCL) football have made it an average debut season for Postecoglou.
Tottenham lost their record goal scorer, Harry Kane, to Bayern Munich just before the start of the season. However, they chose not to sign a replacement. Despite this significant loss, Redknapp believes that Spurs have a squad capable enough to finish in the top four. He also expected them to perform better in cup events.
High-quality football but missed opportunities
Under Postecoglou's leadership, Spurs undoubtedly played high-quality football; they finished fifth in the Premier League table - a higher finish than what was achieved before his arrival. They also scored more goals and conceded fewer with a new more attacking style of play.
However, their late-season collapse during a difficult run-in meant they missed out on finishing in top four by just two points. This combined with early departures from domestic tournaments led Redknapp to label it as an average season overall.
Harry Redknapp, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss, said:
“I like Ange Postecoglou very much. I like him an awful lot. But what do I make of the season? Very average, it was a very average season – going out early in both cups and not finishing in the top four with that squad. I wouldn’t say it was a fantastic season,”
Conflict with fans
Postecoglou found himself at odds with Spurs fans late in the season when he expressed his inability to understand their desire for his club losing in the Manchester City match - all aimed at preventing Arsenal from gaining an edge in Premier League championship chase. However, according to Redknapp such conflicts are likely short-lived and will soon be forgotten.
Redknapp emphasizes that securing a top-four finish is crucial for Tottenham at this juncture. He urges Postecoglou, the former Celtic manager, to learn from his first season and ensure that they compete for trophies again next season.
While Redknapp acknowledges the positive changes brought about by Postecoglou in terms of style of play and overall performance, he believes there is room for improvement. The key to success lies in securing a top-four finish and making a stronger impact in cup competitions.
