EXCLUSIVE: Pallister warns Tottenham not to make Erik ten Hag mistake with Postecoglou ahead of Europa League final

Former Manchester United star Gary Pallister has warned Tottenham against making the same managerial mistake his club did with Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman was on the verge of being sacked last season before winning the FA Cup, buying himself more time but ultimately still being dismissed three months into the current campaign.

His replacement Ruben Amorim has spent the remainder of the 2024-25 season trying to pick up the pieces but is yet to mould the team into the shape he wants after Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS let the former Ajax boss have free reign in the transfer market.

Spurs could be at risk of doing the same with Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian has led the club to the Europa League final and on the verge of winning their first piece of silverware in 17 years.

But he also has the Lilywhites languishing in 17th place in the Premier League, with 21 defeats to their name, their worst ever return.

As a result, questions remain over whether Postecoglou will remain in charge even if he wins the Europa League against United on Wednesday, and Pallister believes he will depart regardless of the outcome.

It’s nearly time…

@MarkJohnson_ #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/Z7rG4vcVNr

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 19, 2025

Speaking exclusively to 101greatgoals on behalf of William Hill Vegas, Pallister said: “You’re looking at a Ten Hag situation. Last season, everybody rallied and said, ‘Oh, you know what? A performance in the FA cup, they turned up on a big date.’

“But you’ve gotta turn up every week if you’re playing for Manchester Utd or even if you’re playing for Tottenham.

“And both sides haven’t been doing that. So I think they might look at the situation and think did they make a mistake? Yes, they did. In hindsight, they made a mistake.

“You went three months of the season with Ten Hag, and all of a sudden you got a manager coming in and you can’t change the players really that much for the rest of the season, and it makes it difficult.

“I feel sorry for Postecoglou. I like his character, I like his personality. A lot of football neutrals out there, or people who are not really invested in Tottenham would like to see him stay because they like him.

“And I’m certainly in that camp, but you just can’t – a club, the size of Tottenham can’t finish where they’re going to finish this year. They’re getting worse and I don’t think a trophy can hide that fact. I would expect him to probably leave at the end of the season.”

Expect a classic

No.#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/hKCoFBiDth

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 18, 2025

Spurs and United have already met three times this season, with the former coming out on top in every occasion.

But many fancy the Red Devils in a cup final with silverware on the line.

Either way, with both teams in such poor form, fans could be in for a classic in Bilbao.

Pallister admits the Spurs camp will be confident after the results from this season, but there is a good chance of a real goalfest in Spain on Wednesday.

He added: “I think if you’re in the Spurs camp, you’re looking at that and going, ‘Wow we’ve already won three times this year, so we know we’re very well capable of beating this United team.

“You’d rather be there with three victories under your belt than losing all three games.

“It might give Man Utd incentive. It’s a one-off game. It’s a big final, as we’ve already said about experience. It could turn into be a classic, it could be anything.

“It could possibly stink the stadium out, but I’m hoping that both teams live up to the reputation of the club, maybe not the team at this present time.

“Spurs vs Man Utd has always been a great fixture over the years, been entertaining with plenty of goals. Probably usually ending with a United win, but they have turned the tables on that.”

The winner of the match will also secure Champions League football next season, meaning both sides will not be holding back in their final shot to salvage a truly awful campaign on both sides.