Tottenham’s deeply weird season reaches its biggest moment yet
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Spurs can take a step closer to Wembley and a first trophy since 2008 when they host Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. If it is sometimes said that there is always a crisis club in the Premier League, the warning for managers is don’t be it. As Russell Martin ran down the tunnel at St Mary’s, just as Southampton conceded a fifth goal before half-time, the relief for Ange Postecoglou was Tottenham were, for now at least, no longer that club.
![[Postecoglou and Spurs ended their winless run at Southampton]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/16/GettyImages-2190103746.jpg)
Russell’s immediate departure in the wake of the 5-0 defeat, following that of Gary O’Neil of Wolves and amid Manchester City’s extraordinary collapse in the derby on Sunday, ensured a break for Spurs in the Premier League’s whirring news cycle. Even on Thursday night, when Manchester United visit Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, the impact of Marcus Rashford’s comments on his future and Ruben Amorim’s decision over whether to recall him and Alejandro Garnacho to his squad means there is less focus on Spurs ahead of what is their biggest game of the season so far.
![[Archie Gray is likely to continue at centre-back while Van de Ven, Romero and Davies are out]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/18/16/GettyImages-2190094839.jpg)
Perhaps that is not surprising. Postecoglou did not care. “There’s always noise around Man United, mate, where have you been?” he scoffed. But there is a lot on the line for him, too. Spurs have not won a trophy since 2008 and there is an opportunity to change that with Wembley two rounds away. Postecoglou is also the manager who “always wins” trophies in his second season. A comment that was made in pre-season in reference to his previous success at Celtic and Yokohama Marinos has followed him around since. “If you ask me 100 times, I’ll answer 100 times,” he said. “I’m not walking around with banners saying ‘I win things in my second year.’”.
