"It's Europa League or bust and the competition seems wide open," former Blackburn and Celtic striker Chris Sutton told BBC Sport.

"It looks winnable for all the teams that are left in it, and that's why you can't rule Tottenham out."

Tottenham haven't won a trophy since lifting the League Cup in 2008.

Postecoglou is in his second season at the club, and in September, he said: "I always win things in my second year."

Right now, his record looks to be in serious danger.

But if you rewind to the start of this campaign, hopes of success under Postecoglou didn't seem too outlandish.

The Australian had led Tottenham to a fifth-placed finish last season where, in moments, his side looked brilliant.

They were five points clear at the top of the league 10 games into the 2023-24 campaign, with Postecoglou named the Premier League's manager of the month in August, September and October.

Then, in November, came the injuries and suspensions. Inconsistency surfaced: Tottenham finished the season with five defeats from seven games.

It was also around this time a smattering of fans started to voice their frustration with Ange-ball and Postecoglou's lack of tactical plan B.

Those cries have since got louder, with Spurs set for their worst league campaign since 2003-04, when they finished 14th. They haven't ended a weekend in the top half of the table since November.

After needing extra time to beat non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup, they were then knocked out in the fourth round at Aston Villa.

They reached the EFL Cup semi-finals, where they beat Liverpool in the first leg but crumbled in the Anfield return for a 4-1 aggregate loss.

The Europa League is now their last chance of salvation. Without the trophy and a place in the Champions League next season, Postecoglou may find it hard to survive.

"He has his way of playing," added Sutton. "Last season there was great excitement, this season it hasn't worked.

"They have had a lot of injuries, of course. He always had this argument of 'we'll be all right once my best players are back' and people understood that, albeit every team has to cope with injuries, but the fact he has now got them all back and is still losing games, that does not help him."

"If he did win the Europa League, the fans would come back on board," former England midfielder Danny Murphy said. "Ange would get that connection back, because success gives you that wonderful feeling as a whole club.

"But if they go out of the Europa League with a whimper, I think it's too big a U-turn for Ange to get the fans back."

Opta's super computer gives Tottenham a 32.5% chance of winning their quarter-final return in Frankfurt.

Eintracht, third in the Bundesliga table, won the competition three years ago and smashed Eredivisie leaders Ajax 6-2 in the last round of the competition.

Whoever advances will face either Bodo/Glimt or Lazio for a place in the final.

It's no secret Tottenham's team has been decimated by injuries this season.

Of the 23 outfielders who have started in the league, only Pedro Porro, Archie Gray, Pape Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and January loanee Mathys Tel haven't been sidelined for at least one match.

Postecoglou hasn't been able to pick his best XI once this season.

The manager's tactics may be blamed for that, though, as Spurs' high-pressing style means they lead the league in total sprints and presses in the final third.

They also lead the league in hamstring injuries, an injury associated with players being overworked.

Meanwhile, Daniel Levy - chairman since 2001 - has become an increasingly unpopular figure for a perceived lack of investment to strengthen the squad.

Spurs have won just the one trophy under his watch, the 2008 League Cup, and sold all-time top scorer Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in 2023.

Five of Tottenham's past eight signings have been teenagers.

"I think ultimately the question is should Tottenham be doing much better with the squad that they have got - and the answer is yes," Murphy told BBC Sport.

"They have lost too many games and their performances haven't been good enough. They have conceded too many goals, and been beaten by teams they should not be losing to, with the players they have got.

"You can't be one-dimensional as a manager any more. You've got to win games differently at different stages of the season, based on the players you have got available, their fatigue levels and the opposition."