Photo: Imago

Matthew Wilkinson

Fri 18 April 2025 14:05, UK

Norwich City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup is under significant pressure ahead of the Championship showdown with Portsmouth.

Pompey will play Norwich on Good Friday in a crucial game at the bottom of the table, as the Blues fight for their survival at Carrow Road.

John Mousinho’s men are under significant pressure to avoid relegation as they are just three points above the relegation zone with four games to go.

However, out of the two managers, it is Norwich’s Thorup who is under the most pressure when it comes to potentially losing their job.

Norwich will need to perform

Norwich are heading into this game with very little to play for in terms of league position, as they’re away from the relegation zone and unlikely to finish in the playoffs again.

That would lead to most fans presuming they will coast throughout the remainder of the season, but it appears they will not be given that opportunity.

However, Football Insider has reported that Thorup could be sacked by Norwich and replaced by former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.

Sources have claimed that Thorup is under “big pressure” after he has disappointed during his first season at the club.

Wilshere is already at Norwich as he was brought into the club back in October to become a first-team coach, and he has been impressing since his arrival.

Portsmouth might be hurt by this decision

The potential sacking of Thorup is obviously a disappointing situation for him personally, and is something that will impact his process, it could also play a role in how it influences the game itself.

If the Norwich squad are behind Thorup as a manager and chooses to fight for him against Portsmouth, then it will be Pompey who are damaged by it.

This news will make the game significantly harder than it needed to be due to the pressure that will now be on the Norwich squad that wasn’t there before, making it a much harder challenge.