Three defeats in 11 games – Postecoglou’s record vs Rangers assessed ahead of Tottenham’s Europa League tie

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Spurs 1 place behind Rangers in table 

©IMAGO

After Tottenham’s latest capitulation against Chelsea on Sunday, there wasn’t even enough fans left in the stadium to hear audible widespread booing as the full-time whistle sounded. But there is becoming a clear feeling of frustration around the naivety of Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs team. Across 2024, only Wolves (20), West Ham (15) and Brentford (15) have lost more games than Tottenham in the Premier League. Considering the ambitions and expectations at Spurs, that is a damning statistic. 

There have without doubt been some great times under Postecoglou, such as the recent 4-0 victory at the Etihad, and the Australian’s team usually play very front-foot attacking football, but in their current state of football, leaking in naivety, lack of pragmatism, and basic errors, this Tottenham team won’t win anything. This Thursday Spurs have a huge Europa League game against Rangers. Ibrox has been a fairly happy hunting ground for Postecoglou from his time at their rivals Celtic, and the Aussie needs a result there this Thursday to start turning the tide.

Whilst Tottenham have done okay in this season’s Europa League to date, the same issues around consistency have cropped up. They managed to beat Qarabag, Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar, but lost 3-2 at Galatasaray, and twice surrendered the lead at home to Roma in a 2-2 draw. Spurs are currently in ninth position in the Europa League table, just missing out on the automatic qualification spots for the round of 16 that come with the top eight places. One place above them, clinging on to eighth spot is Rangers, whose goal difference betters Tottenham’s.

If Tottenham can get all three points at Rangers, it would put them in a position where they will be very likely to finish in the top eight. Lose and things could get tricky. Based on domestic form Spurs should wipe the floor with the Glaswegian club; Rangers are currently third in the Scottish Premiership, 11 points behind league leaders Celtic. But the Gers have saved their best form for Europe so far this season. One thing Postecoglou may be able to take some confidence from is his more than adequate record against Rangers from his time in Scotland.

As illustrated in the graphic above, in 11 games against Rangers in all competitions, Postecoglou has won six, drawn two and lost just three. Two of those defeats came in the Aussie’s first and last Old Firm derby, with the other defeat in the semi-final of the Scottish FA Cup. He managed to win at Ibrox in three of his six trips there as Celtic boss. Euan Robertson is one of Transfermarkt’s content managers based in Glasgow and reveals more about Postecoglou’s time north of the border: “Celtic and Rangers have enjoyed a duopoly of Scottish football for decades but in recent years the former have been completely dominant. Winning the Old Firm games are always decisive to collecting trophies and Ange Postecoglou boasted a strong record against Rangers.”

“Remarkably, they met 11 times in the Australian’s two years in Glasgow and he won six of this game which was crucial in winning five of the six trophies on offer during this period. Postecoglou can expect a warm reception at Ibrox, but Rangers will have one eye on their big cup final on Sunday…against Celtic!” Postecoglou will be hoping for another positive result at Ibrox – if it goes wrong, there will no doubt be pressure on the Australian’s job in north London.