Questions mount over Postecoglou’s Tottenham project after Chelsea defeat | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur’s season spiralled further into crisis following a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea – their 16th Premier League loss in 30 games.

The result raised further questions about the direction of the club under manager Ange Postecoglou.

A second-half header from Enzo Fernandez was enough to hand the Blues victory at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, but the result only scratched the surface of Tottenham’s problems.

Postecoglou’s side were flat, disjointed, and overrun in midfield. They registered no shots on target in the first half and failed to recover after falling behind.

While the Australian manager has remained committed to his high-risk, high-reward philosophy, the balance has tipped dangerously towards the former in recent months.

Spurs have lost four of their last five league matches, and a European qualification place that once seemed secure is now under serious threat.

Postecoglou’s tactical approach has also been criticised by supporters, and tensions reached a boiling point in the away end at Stamford Bridge.

After Pape Matar Sarr’s equaliser was disallowed for offside, the 58-year-old turned to the crowd and cupped his ears in a move many people interpreted as a dig at the fans.

The manager dismissed suggestions of animosity. “We’d just scored – I just wanted to hear them cheer,” he explained. “I felt there was a bit of a momentum shift there – I just wanted them to get really excited.”

But excitement is in short supply at Tottenham right now. The travelling support once again displayed banners reading ‘Time for Change’, while anti-Daniel Levy chants echoed throughout the match.

Although Levy remains the main target of fan frustration, Postecoglou’s recent decisions and public reactions have started to wear thin among a section of supporters.

This is not the first time the former Celtic boss has clashed with the fanbase, having shown similar frustration at Fulham, Leicester City and Bournemouth.

Postecoglou’s honesty and conviction have earned him respect, but with results faltering and morale sinking, Tottenham now stand at a crossroads.

If performances do not improve – starting with their Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt – his project may not be given the time he had hoped for.