It has been a reasonably tepid begin to the season for Tottenham Hotspur supervisor Ange Postecoglou, who should additionally brace himself for the potential for celebrity Spurs gamers contemplating a 2025 exit if issues do not enhance.

Spurs escape Coventry with dramatic late 2-1 win

Postecoglou was very near what would have been a damning end result on Wednesday night, and simply days after the Lilywhites succumbed to a 1-0 house defeat to Arsenal within the North London derby.

Championship facet Coventry Metropolis significantly threatened to finish the prospect of an EFL Cup run proper on the very begin of the competitors, with Brandon Thomas-Asante firing the house facet in entrance simply previous the hour mark.

It was an uninspiring show from Postecoglou’s facet, who have been rescued by two last-gasp strikes from substitutes Djed Spence and winger Brennan Johnson. Spence almost joined Genoa in the summertime, however the beforehand out-of-favour proper again helped to spare Postecoglou’s blushes alongside Johnson, who was additionally topic to on-line abuse within the build-up to this encounter.

Regardless of their underwhelming begin to the 2024/2025 marketing campaign, Postecoglou has advised his Spurs squad to maintain calm and preserve their efficiency degree in a behind-the-scenes message.

Following the conflict at Coventry, Postecoglou truly defended his Tottenham gamers in a post-match press convention, insisting that the crew confirmed spirit and character in opposition to a tricky Sky Blues facet.

“Yeah, I do not know, flat efficiency is a bit harsh. I assumed I used to be a typical cup recreation,” mentioned Postecoglou after Spurs’ 2-1 win at Coventry.

“I assumed Coventry have been actually good. They put some actual vitality into the sport, and we could not actually get a grip on it. So we needed to dangle in there. We needed to work actually, actually laborious simply to remain within the recreation and clearly going a aim behind makes it much more difficult. However such as you mentioned on the finish there we confirmed some actual spirit and character, which might be what’s been lacking within the first 4 video games.

Postecoglou has additionally been adamant that he at all times wins silverware in his second season, and supporters will probably be hoping that’s certainly the case, in any other case, a few of their most vital gamers could possibly be tempted by alternatives elsewhere.

Star defender Cristian Romero could also be considered one of them, because the Argentine World Cup winner continues to be linked with a transfer to Actual Madrid.

Cristian Romero refuses to rule out Actual Madrid transfer

As per Soccer Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Romero is refusing to rule out a transfer to Actual Madrid behind the scenes, as he’s “determined” to compete on the highest degree attainable and win trophies.

The Galacticos are concentrating on a blockbuster centre-back signing, and whereas Spurs are eager to tie Romero down with a brand new contract, it’s believed a future transfer to the Bernabeu remains to be an actual chance, with the participant opening the door to a possible exit.

The 26-year-old, who’s impressed since becoming a member of Tottenham for round £42 million from Atalanta in the summertime of 2021, will not be leaving on a budget. Membership insider Paul O’Keefe, talking to The Final Phrase On Spurs earlier this yr, mentioned that Levy is able to demand £150 million for Romero.

It’s unclear whether or not Actual president Florentino Perez can be keen to succeed in that determine, however the north Londoners are able to dig their heels in.