Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou trapped between two competing desires amid uncertain future | OneFootball

Spurs boss caught between preparing for the future and preserving his own legacy

Ange Postecoglou is rarely concerned by the weight of unwanted history but, like everyone associated with Tottenham, he is scarred by previous meetings with Chelsea.

Ahead of the visit to Stamford Bridge, Postecoglou seemed like a man trapped between competing desires to prepare for the future and preserve his own legacy.

At his pre-match press conference, he looked ahead to the summer, when he said the club would review some of the mistakes of this year, and talked about his plans for a new, “tailored” approach to pre-season for each player.

Yet Postecoglou ended both his briefings - the first for the cameras, the second for the written media - with exactly the same line, listing the three reasons he was brought to Spurs: 1) To change the way the club plays. 2) To Rejuvenate the squad. 3) To bring success.

Postecoglou’s Spurs lost at Fulham before the international break and are 14th in the Premier League

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It felt like a reminder to the doubters that he has arguably achieved two out of three of his objectives already, with Spurs a more progressive side than under Antonio Conte and the age profile of the squad significantly younger - even if they are yet to taste anything like success under the 59-year-old.

Really, Postecoglou appears in the same position as the rest of us: unsure if he will still be in post next season because his future presumably depends on Tottenham's continued progress in the Europa League ahead of this month's quarter-final tie against Eintracht Frankfurt.

In that context, a trip to Chelsea is unlikely to move the dial over Postecoglou's position, although he knows that lifting the mood and gaining traction ahead of Frankfurt's visit next Thursday is crucial to his side's hopes in the tie.

“It's an important fixture, an important fixture for fans, important fixture for the season, but even if [we are] focusing on other games it's always better to try and gain some momentum in form and performance leading into big games,” he said.

To that end, Postecoglou is likely to name his strongest possible XI before resting key players - likely to include captain Heung-min Son, James Maddison and Micky van de Ven - for Sunday's home game against rock-bottom Southampton.

Chelsea should be a useful dress rehearsal for the decisive away leg in Germany, on April 17, when Spurs will face a hostile atmosphere and a well-drilled, experienced opponent.

Postecoglou’s Spurs face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday

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“There are some [similar] elements there,” he said. “Playing away from home, against a loud fanbase, against a quality opponent where certainly if we can come through that test, it gives you confidence about what is ahead.”

Chelsea have struggled against defensive sides in their last two home games, 1-0 wins over Leicester and FC Copenhagen, sealed by second-half goals, but Postecoglou characteristically dismissed suggestions that Spurs could try to frustrate Enzo Maresca's misfiring side.

“Sorry to disappoint. We’ll go there and have a crack and see if it’ll be a good game and hopefully we’ll come out on top,” he said.

Tottenham's dreadful record against Chelsea and particularly at Stamford Bridge, where they have won just once in 35 years, long pre-dates Postecoglou but his three defeats have all been disastrous, particularly the two at home.

A 4-1 loss in November 2023, which Spurs finished with nine men, was strangely uplifting at the time, helping to cement the manager’s uncompromising outlook, but the dismissals of Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie, as well as injuries to Maddison and Van de Ven, derailed Spurs' positive start under Postecoglou.

In December, a 4-3 defeat and serious injuries to Romero and Van de Ven, who had only just returned to the side, was similarly disruptive, while a 2-0 loss on their last visit to Stamford Bridge in May was part of a run of five reverses from the final seven games of last season.

“You always review some of the previous games against your opponents and [they were] both bizarre games [at home],” said Postecoglou.

“In the first half-hour of both those games, we were unbelievable, as good as we've been. Then things just fell apart. That happens in football sometimes.

Again, there was the reminder to the doubters that when Spurs are good, they have been really good, although when they are poor, they are far too easy to play against.

Postecoglou will be without Dejan Kulusevski (foot) but hopes to have the Swede back for the decider in Frankfurt, while Kevin Danso (hamstring), Radu Dragusin (knee) and Richarlison (fitness) will also miss out against Chelsea.