Alan Hutton: "All Their Eggs Are in This Basket: Spurs' Europa League Dream"

Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports, former Tottenham and Scotland defender Alan Hutton has spoken about the pressure on Ange Postecoglou and whether he can turnaround their poor form.

Hutton argues that the Europa League is their last chance at salvation this season and gives his thoughts on the potential of the Spurs squad long-term.

“Disappointing” Tottenham

To sum up Tottenham’s season in one word, I'd probably say disappointing if I'm honest. I just think the situation with the league at this moment in time with 19 losses, has not been ideal. I think they've got that one glimmer of hope and that's the Europa League. So hopefully they can take that further and that could be the shining light but overall disappointing I would say

Europa League “Pressure”

There is so much pressure on the Europa League, especially for the manager. I feel with the season and what's happened so far, he really needs to win something and get something over the line for the fans to get back onside.

All their eggs are in this basket, and I think they're more than capable. On their day, they can go up against anybody. I feel it's just they've been really inconsistent this season and they've struggled with injuries.

So that being said, if they can get this done, I think it will kind of ease the pressure on Ange a little bit.

Ange Could Be Sacked

Could Ange Postecoglou be sacked before the season is over? Yeah. The pressure's massive and he'll know that.

Coming from Celtic, the pressure was always on him to win, so he understands that feeling and what he needs to do. He knows it's not been good enough and you probably feel if they were to go out at this stage, it might be the final nail in the coffin for him.

The pressure just seems to be building week on week. So there's a huge opportunity for them to get to a final. It's not going to be easy. They're at home first and you feel that they have to get a good result to then take it over there.

With Ange, I have got a soft spot for him. I met him a number of times up here when he was at Celtic, and he was a real down-to-earth guy. Gave you his time, he wanted to speak to you and everything and I really liked that about him.

So I like the way he plays and sees the game, how he wants his team to attack and be open and aggressive. I think the injuries have been a huge concern for him.  The way they want to play with a high line when you're missing your two centre backs and they're the kind of lynchpin of the team, it's not been easy.

Then other players have been missing also; it's not been ideal.

Europa Dreams

If he gets Europa League over the line, that would be amazing for the club, the first trophy since 2008. I think he deserves the opportunity to have the summer window to try and go again and kick them on. So it's going to be an interesting one, but hopefully, he can do it.

Tottenham beat United

Would Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United in a one-off final? I think so. There's no reason why they can't go and beat Manchester United. I think they are very up and down themselves, so you don't really know what you're going to get.

Under Ruben Amorim, they've stuck to their formation and the way they want to play. I think in a one-off game Tottenham would feel that they could go and match anybody really, even though they've been inconsistent this year.

So I feel if that is the final, it's definitely 50-50. If Manchester United turn up, of course, they can win, but I think Tottenham have got the players to go and hurt them as well.

PochBack?

After the Champions League final, there was an opportunity for Tottenham to really go and kick on. If they were to bring in some players to help that squad that they already had, they could really go and challenge for a number of years. It didn't quite happen.

But I thought overall what Poch did was decent. He'd done a really good job. They were unlucky in the league as well. So for him to come back, I think the fans would be happy. Of course, he can't please everybody.

But he knows the club, he knows the expectations there and he can build good teams. So he probably feels he's got a little bit of unfinished business.

However, I think he's probably happy at this moment in time, the USA manager and he's got the World Cup next summer. So it might be difficult to get him out of that. But I think that would be a decent choice for Tottenham.

Xavi Would be “Very Special”

It would be very special to have Xavi as Spurs manager. We all know how he wants to play football and what he's done so far. He's had an outstanding career, and you feel that probably the Tottenham fans would probably like that.

You know he's going to play a style of football that all Tottenham fans have wanted ever since I've been there and before. They want to see exciting football.  So it's probably something that would excite the fans. But look, there'll be loads of candidates out there if Ange was to leave.

I look at the likes of Andoni Iraola and what he's done at Bournemouth has been exceptional. Could somebody like that come in and transform a team? But look, Ange is still on a job at this moment in time and it's up to him to turn it around.

North London Europe Hopes

Absolutely, of course, it will hurt Spurs. The rivalry is something special. I've been a part of it. I know what it means to each set of supporters. If Tottenham weren't to win the Europa League and Arsenal were going to win the Champions League, you can just imagine the bragging rights.

I've seen PSG up close and personal against Aston Villa. They're an outstanding team. It's going to be a great game to watch. I'm really looking forward to it. For Spurs, it'd be a difficult one to take.

Arsenal vs Barcelona?

I think it'd be a great game. That's if both teams get through. I think it'd be an exceptional one. I feel Arsenal could do it. You look at the Real Madrid games, and what they produced over both legs. If they were to go and then win tonight and get through and have a good second leg as well, I think you would look at them and say they're a really strong outfit that don't really fear anybody.

So to go into a final one-off game against a Barcelona team, I think they would feel that they could go and get the job done. I think it would be an outstanding final, but they've got what it takes, I feel, and they're building momentum. So I think that's always key going into what could be a final.

Worst Tottenham in Premier League History?

On paper, it is the worst Tottenham side in Premier League history. They are a point off 17th. It's been a disappointing season. I feel it's probably a bit harsh to say the worst team because I think in terms of the quality they have within the squad is right up there.

They've always had good scores, but at times just not quite being able to go over the line and it's kind of haunted them for a number of years now.  So yes, it'll be very disappointing on paper, and they have to do better, they know that. The fans, they expect better, and they have to get this season done.

The big thing is obviously the Europa League and then trying to kick on again. But they'll know that it's not been good enough. Everyone in that squad will know the league position is not where they should be.

Levy’s Spurs Financial Fortress

I just don't see Daniel Levy leaving any time soon or selling up. I think as a businessman, he's very shrewd, he knows exactly what he wants, where he sees the club moving in the future and I think financially in those terms he's done excellent with the stadium, the training ground, everything that goes along with it.

They've spent money, don't get me wrong, they have over the years, spent a lot of money. I just feel at certain times they maybe could have done a little bit more to really go and compete and kick on and get to the next level. They haven't quite done that.

I just feel he'll be there for a number of years to come. I know it's a split decision with the fans when it comes to Daniel Levy, but I think he has put them in a solid position, especially financially. But they just want to see a little bit more when it comes to maybe the transfer window so they can really compete at the top end.

Glenn Hoddle To Southampton?

Glenn Hoddle is an absolutely brilliant guy, a legend. He's one of those people that is very open. If you want to go and speak to him, he's always there. He'll give his opinion.

I  think that's a really nice thing to have, especially if you're a young player coming through and you see a club legend there who's been there, done it and bought the T-shirt. So to have that guy there and available, if there's any sort of problems, and he's very open with you and he'll give you his time.

So I think it's brilliant to have someone like that around the club to help people kind of bed in. Working with him is just absolutely brilliant. He's a genius. He knows everything about football and it's just brilliant to be involved with him at certain times.

His knowledge is exceptional. He's gone into the punditry side of it, and we all know how good he is at that, his knowledge is exceptional. So he knows exactly what he's talking about.  In terms of being a manager again, he was an outstanding footballer and has so much knowledge to give. So on that side of it, I think he could pass on a lot of information.

Where he's at probably at this moment in time in his life, he's probably happy doing the punditry work and being involved in that side of it. “In terms of going back into management, you can't really see it at this moment in time.”

Grealish To Tottenham?

Could I see Jack Grealish thriving at Spurs? Absolutely, I could.

Having played alongside him, I know exactly what he's like, he's outstanding. I feel at Manchester City, which was a great move by the way, 100 million, he and Aston Villa were never going to turn that down, but I feel it's very structured there under Pep Guardiola.

He's there for a specific job and depending on who they're playing against, he'll play, or he won't play. So that's kind of been his problem. I see him as a little bit of a maverick. You have to give him more freedom to go and play and express himself.

He did what he did at Aston Villa because he had the freedom to go and do whatever he needed to do. A team like Tottenham under Ange Postecoglou or somebody who plays expansive football, I think he could thrive, and you would see the best of him.

He probably hasn't played as much as he would like. So he's probably looking to the future, and I think that's something that could fit.

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