Archive May 22, 2025

Here in Bilbao, Ange Postecoglou backed it all up. Tottenham are Europa League champions. Their 17-year trophy drought is over. Their Champions League status reinstated.

But, for Postecoglou, the euphoria of his team’s historic win against Manchester United means far more.

It means he can puff out his chest and say: “I told you so.”

“I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed. I don’t say things unless I believe them,” said Postecoglou in September.

For nine months his critics have been waiting for his now infamous quote to bite him on the backside.

Well, it hasn’t. Postecoglou, against the odds, has delivered on his promise.

He has provided the trophy, in his second season at the club, that Tottenham’s supporters so desperately crave.

“I’m a winner. Win is what I do the most,” said Postecoglou after his side’s victory over Manchester United. “Even when I signed, Daniel [Levy] said ‘we’ve gone after winners and it didn’t work, now we’ve got Ange’. Mate, I’m a winner.”

It begs the question: what next for the Australian?

There remains major doubt over Postecoglou’s future despite this epic night.

In the immediate aftermath of arguably the most significant trophy of his career, Postecoglou hinted that he wanted to stay on as head coach – intimating that he wanted to build on this Europa League success.

His future will be confirmed in the coming days, but amid the jubilation remains clear indications that he will leave Tottenham ahead of next season.

It remains to be seen whether what unfolded here in Spain alters the direction of travel.

But if he does exit, he’ll go out via the front door – not ushered out the back. He’ll go out a winner.

The story of Tottenham’s campaign starts with the visit of one of European football’s emerging Golden Boys.

It is a little known secret that Spurs’ preparations for the 2024-25 campaign started with a visit from Desire Doue.

The young attacker, then of Rennes, was so intrigued by Postecoglou’s project that he dashed across the Channel to make an undercover viewing of the club’s training ground in Enfield amid optimism that a deal for the young attacker was achievable.

Fast-forward nine months and Doue – who signed for Paris St-Germain – is preparing for a Champions League final.

In retrospect, Spurs’ failure to lure the 19-year-old was the sign of what was to come – the start of a series of blows during a truly forgettable domestic season.

It’s important to stress that Spurs’ inability to land Doue certainly wasn’t for the want of trying.

Doue’s reputation has soared while Tottenham and Postecoglou, so often this season, have been left wallowing in despair.

That’s not to say Spurs haven’t spent. Dominic Solanke, Wilson Odobert and Archie Gray arrived in July – before Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso came in on loan during the winter window.

It was intriguing then that Postecoglou says that once the January window closed that he decided he would focus the team’s attentions on winning the Europa League.

He candidly admitted that his approach was “at odds” with certain people at the club. That was a stark confession and a clear indication of why – despite lifting a trophy – Postecoglou’s future is still under threat.

You need only look at the Premier League table to ascertain how putting all their eggs in the European basket affected Spurs’ domestic form.

Speak to those behind the scenes and they will explain injuries have been the most pertinent factor behind Tottenham’s predicament.

Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison and Guglielmo Vicario among many others have spent extended spells on the sidelines this season – many of them with muscular issues.

James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Kulusevski were all unavailable in Bilbao. Son started on the bench because he was deemed unfit having only recently returned from injury.

Indeed, multiple sources have told BBC Sport that the club’s crippling injury record has been at the centre of some friction between members of the coaching team and medical and strength and conditioning staff over the course of the season.

“It’s been the blame game,” one well-placed source said.

According to sources, Richarlison’s injury-disrupted campaign has proved a bone of contention, particularly in the aftermath of the 4-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool in February when, having only recently returned from respective hamstring and groin injuries, the Brazil international suffered a subsequent calf injury.

There have been other examples this season where Postecoglou’s team and the medical and fitness department haven’t seen eye-to-eye.

Has Postecoglou pushed players too hard? Or are the strength and conditioning and medical departments at fault? The answers will vary depending on who you speak to.

Interestingly, it is understood there were similar strains during Postecoglou’s reign at Celtic, with medical staff and the manager not always aligned.

It’s pertinent to add that those tensions at Tottenham have eased in recent weeks as the club’s walking wounded returned to availability, while Postecoglou has sought to factor in more days off for his players in recent months – their elimination from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup allowing him extra leeway.

Nevertheless, the sheer number of muscular injuries the club have suffered this season indicates an issue that requires rectifying.

As is normal at the end of the season, Tottenham will review the campaign with a view to making departmental improvements ahead of the next.

With the incoming arrival of Vinai Venkatesham as new CEO, it’s probable that current chief football officer Scott Munn’s position will come under scrutiny at the end of the season.

Tottenham have also held talks with former managing director of football Fabio Paratici over a return to the club following his exit in 2023 after an appeal against a two-and-a-half-year Fifa ban for alleged financial irregularities while at Juventus was rejected by Italy’s highest sports court.

It is also fair to assume the club’s horrendous injury record will be part of the review process.

The upside of the club’s injury issues has been the development of 19-year-olds Bergvall and Archie Gray this season.

Both teenagers were expected to be eased into first-team duty this season – but the pair have made 88 appearances between them so far.

Much has been made of Postecoglou’s attacking approach – or, more pertinently, the accusation that he was unwilling to adapt.

“It’s just who we are, mate,” he famously answered when questioned about his offensive tactics earlier this season.

Some continue to call his apparent refusal to ditch his philosophy as commendable. Others believe his stubbornness is at the root of Tottenham’s difficulties.

Indeed, certain members of the team felt that – during the opening half of the season – they were too open and Postecoglou should have considered making defensive tweaks. The Australian’s apparent reluctance to adapt led to a degree of internal frustration.

While letting a two-goal lead slip in the 3-2 loss at Brighton raised eyebrows, there was similar angst in the 4-3 loss to Chelsea in December after Spurs raced to a 2-0 advantage inside 12 minutes.

Intriguingly, well-placed sources insist Postecoglou did defensively tweak his approach in both games according to the fact his team had taken two-goal advantages.

Furthermore, Postecoglou was widely praised for the way he sturdily set up his team in the Europa League quarter-final second leg win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

They were particularly robust in the comprehensive semi-final victory over Bodo/Glimt, too. And then another European clean-sheet here in Bilbao to finish the job.

Those games represent a clear move away from ‘Ange-Ball’ towards a more cautious approach; the last few weeks of the European season illustrating that Postecoglou has a plan B after all.

In the end, Postecoglou was willing to change. Whether it’s enough to change the course of the exit strategy remains to be seen.

In Postecoglou’s defence, the club’s relentless schedule hasn’t necessarily lent itself to the exploration and embedding of new strategies.

Yet, the club’s poor domestic campaign – and the manner of victory in Frankfurt – does suggest the team may have benefitted from further defensive adjustments throughout the season.

Sentiments towards the manager and his methods vary at all clubs and are dependent on a myriad of variables.

Indeed, it is normal that negativity reigns during a season as bad as Spurs have had. It is also normal for the manager’s mood to fluctuate according to results.

Certain members of the squad have found Postecoglou increasingly distant at junctures this season.

At least two players during the second half of the season have approached alternative training ground staff on matters they would ordinarily go to Postecoglou with.

But by and large those at the club’s Enfield training facility have generally found Postecoglou a likeable character, certainly last season when things were going well.

They found him a refreshing change from the insular and sulky demeanour of Antonio Conte.

Indeed the jubilant scenes here at the Estadio San Mames conveyed an aura of togetherness.

There has been a perpetuated narrative that Postecoglou’s position depended solely on success in the Europa League.

That isn’t strictly true, though the tournament did offer Tottenham a route back into the Champions League and their first trophy since 2008 – and thus an opportunity to grasp what Postecoglou could claim to be a successful season.

But while it is undeniable the Europa League campaign is a factor in determining Postecoglou’s fate, it isn’t the only consideration.

Because it would be negligent of the Tottenham board to completely dismiss the team’s abysmal league campaign that has seen them lose 21 of their 37 games so far.

There is a general feeling at Tottenham the team is performing well below its means. The argument the club have underspent in the transfer market in recent years is hard to contest.

But, by the same token, they did smash their transfer record last summer by signing Solanke from Bournemouth for £65m.

Relationships are key here. Does Daniel Levy believe that the players are still with their beleaguered manager?

Some most certainly are; public comments from Maddison and Van de Ven backing their underfire manager in recent weeks.

The post-match scenes were another indication that Postecoglou’s players are on board.

But it is also true to say that others need convincing.

Another factor at play is Postecoglou’s connection with the club’s supporters.

The Australian put his infamous ear-cupping moment during the defeat by Chelsea down to misinterpretation, insisting he wasn’t goading his own fans after Pape Matar Sarr had just scored a goal – that was eventually disallowed – moments after Spurs followers barracked him for bringing the midfielder on for Bergvall.

Nevertheless, a large section of supporters, certainly prior to victory over Manchester United, had given up on Postecoglou and have been vocal in their disapproval. The club are aware of the discontent. Whether that feeling has shifted after Bilbao remains to be seen.

The merits of a fresh approach – a different set of eyes on the squad – is also a consideration.

Tottenham watched Manchester United retain Erik ten Hag last summer after leading them to the FA Cup only for the Dutchman to be sacked just five months later.

That Tottenham have won one of their previous 11 in the Premier League is damning. Of course, these are vastly unusual circumstances; when does a team 17th in the Premier League lift a European trophy?

How Tottenham would look to replace Postecoglou will depend on who is entrusted with making that decision.

For instance, if Johan Lange, the club’s technical director, has influence over the decision, the chances of Brentford head coach Thomas Frank of replacing Postecoglou could increase.

Lange is believed to be a big admirer of his countryman, who has vast experience of working within the sort of data-driven recruitment ethos that the Tottenham executive is implementing.

If Paratici is to return, he will have his own ideas.

Fulham manager Marco Silva, Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner also have admirers at Spurs.

Some supporters yearn for the return of Mauricio Pochettino, but removing the Argentine from his USA contract would cost close to £20m – a fee Spurs would be highly reluctant to pay.

Are those options improvements on Postecoglou? It’s a question Levy will answer soon.

In the weeks, days and hours before Manchester United faced Tottenham in the Europa League final, the messaging from inside Old Trafford was consistent: Win or lose, the club would be sticking with Ruben Amorim.

They hoped they would not be pushed to make that private view public.

But that is exactly what Amorim did with a punchy declaration at the end of his post-match press conference following the 1-0 defeat in Bilbao.

Amorim had begun his post-match assessment with a simple statement: “I am not going to talk about the future.”

But he ended up doing exactly that after being asked what words of comfort he could offer supporters after such a desperate season.

“I have nothing to show to the fans,” he said. “So, in this moment it is a little bit of faith.

“Let’s see. I am always open. If the board and fans feel I am not the right guy, I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation.

“But I will not quit. I am really confident in my job. And as you see, I will not change anything in the way I do things.”

The initial reaction from those who matter at Old Trafford when they heard what Amorim had said was simple – the sentiments expressed in the build-up to the game about backing Amorim still stood.

And the belief of those running the club is that they are in tune with supporters who they expect to be singing Amorim’s name even more powerfully on Sunday when they face an Aston Villa side who, unlike them, still harbour hopes of playing in the Champions League next season.

Amorim spoke of United having had “two plans” with which to attack the transfer market this summer.

Well, the most expensive of those can now be thrown in the bin.

There is to be no £100m windfall to ease the pain of a staggeringly bad season. For only the second time since English clubs returned to the European stage in 1990, there will be no continental campaign to plan, no top table combat with which to entice potential targets.

If Sir Jim Ratcliffe was focused on his cost-cutting before, now expenditure will be assessed with even more vigour.

Interest in Wolves forward Matheus Cunha is high. He would at least bring a history of scoring goals in the Premier League.

Only skipper Bruno Fernandes of the present squad has that and finding a goalscorer has to be a priority after the defeat in Bilbao. For the 15th time this season, or the 11th time in the past 33 games, or the third time in a row – take your pick – United failed to find the net.

“It was clear we were the better team, then we managed not to score again,” said Amorim.

“There were some occasions this season where we didn’t create situations. This was not one of them.

Last week, when Amorim said “we have to be brave”, he meant the whole club.

But what are the specifics?

Rasmus Hojlund has been described as “a Championship player” by someone who was part of the dressing room during Sir Alex Ferguson’s latter days. It is a brutal takedown. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is wrong.

Mason Mount spoke eloquently in the build-up to the game but was anonymous in northern Spain. Amad Diallo threatened but his end product was lacking. There was a huge slice of fortune for Tottenham’s winner. But, once they had the lead, they never truly looked like losing it.

“I am always honest with you guys,” said Amorim. “Tonight, we need to deal with pain of losing this match.”

His first task is Sunday’s meeting with Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and then, after that, two matches in Asia – to generate around £10m in income – which United’s players couldn’t be looking forward to any less.

Leading fan groups threatened to protest around the Villa game well before this latest body blow to club morale.

Amorim must get his players to put on a united front, visually and emotionally.

It was noticeable that as Tottenham celebrated their victory, United’s players, almost to a man, were alone with their thoughts.

Andre Onana sat in his penalty area, Harry Maguire was further upfield, Alejandro Garnacho was inconsolable close to the halfway line.

Amorim was pacing up and down, as he does, looking at the ground.

The backing remains. But for how long?

Amorim has won six games in the Premier League. Half of those victories came against the teams who got relegated.

There are echoes of 2021-22, a campaign they started under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a far healthier state than they are in now.

But because they lost the 2021 Europa League final – on penalties to Villarreal – the Norwegian had no buffer to protect him when results turned in a disastrous five-week spell from the middle of October.

Amorim has decisions to make. Some are tougher than others.

Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen will surely go after Sunday as their contracts expire on 30 June. Garnacho future is the subject of debate. The same is true of Kobbie Mainoo. Bruno Fernandes has been targeted by the Saudi Pro League even if United’s stance is that they have no intention of selling.

But, across the squad, how many would Amorim slap a ‘not for sale’ sign on? Not many, I would wager.

He knows he cannot get rid of 20 players and bring in another 20 more attuned to his preferred style, so he must rely on quite a few of those he needed in Bilbao.

After guiding Tottenham to their first trophy in 17 years, Ange Postecoglou claims he still wants to lead the team and that he has not “completed the job.”

Spurs defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final in Bilbao, Spain, thanks to Brennan Johnson’s scrappy first-half goal, followed by a determined defensive display.

The club won their first continental trophy since 1984’s Uefa Cup triumph, and it was their first silverware since winning the Carling Cup in 2008. Tottenham’s qualification for the Champions League will come after the outcome of a disappointing campaign.

The 59-year-old Australian said, “I’ve had such a laser focus on winning this, whatever happens, happens.” When asked about his future, he replied: “I’ve had such a laser focus on winning.”

The football club’s manager is not in my power to decide that. I’m only aware that wearing this medal around my neck signifies that we’ve won a trophy. I don’t believe my job has been completed.

“This team is still being built,” he said. We need to add experience because the Champions League is currently being played by a young team. For the next four or five years, I’ve been attempting to create a team that can be challenging.

Tottenham’s victory caused emotional scenes in their fans, with an open-top bus parade scheduled for Friday before their season-ending home game against Brighton.

Spurs will also have a chance to win the Uefa Super Cup when they take on Inter Milan or Paris-St Germain in Italy on August 13th.

However, it’s not known whether Postecoglou is still in charge of the club.

In the post-game press conference, he continued, “I would be disappointed if we don’t continue on this course.” One person’s vision is difficult to accept. I’ve won numerous prizes. Because it didn’t happen here, I’m aware that some people think my victories were well earned.

“There is a great relief,” I’ve spoken for this club 150 times, and you carry the burden of responsibility.

There aren’t any scheduled meetings, they say. I’ll return to my hotel room with my friends and family, start a nice bottle of Scotch, watch a massive parade on Friday, play a game against Brighton on Sunday, and then take a vacation. Then, “Sorry, Serena.”

Postecoglou, who has won five trophies during his two seasons at Celtic, including back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles, made his debut at Tottenham in June 2023.

He claimed in September that “he always wins things in his second season,” a claim that was accurate after two full seasons in charge of clubs.

In Bilbao, he continued that record and said, “People misinterpreted me. I just made a declaration, and I reaffirmed my innocence. More than anything else, I had this thing inside of me.

“I am aware that our league form has been unacceptable, but coming third would not change this football team; winning a trophy would do the same,” I said, “and I was prepared to wear it if it did not occur.”

Tottenham have scored 63 goals in the Premier League but only conceded 61 despite Postecoglou’s frequently harsh criticism of his all-out attacking style.

Gareth Bale, a former Spurs forward, thought Postecoglou could adjust after the victory showed him that.

Ange Postecoglou has worn his heart on his sleeve and protects his players, Bale said in a TNT Sports interview. He has been given what he deserves by the players who are behind him.

If Ange Postecoglou also matures and brings that type of defensive side to his teams, he can still have great success as a manager, according to Postecoglou.

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live that he should just “enjoy the moment and watch what develops in the coming days.”

Robbie Savage, a former Blackburn midfielder, added that he would go “with his head held high” if he went.

Johnson believed that winning a trophy would be the best way to silence the critics.

He said, “All the fans get battered, and we get hurt for not winning a trophy.” We had to obtain the first one, and I’m thrilled. Tottenham, a good team but can’t get it done, has been the refrain since I’ve been here, but we did it.

Not one of our players is concerned about the fact that this season hasn’t been great at all. It means a lot to this club, who hasn’t won a trophy in 17 years.

The Welshman praised Postecoglou’s impact on the club and said he deserved a lot of the credit.

Johnson thanked the manager for his trust in us and how well he handled it, “says Johnson.

He succeeded in his task. If there ever is a time for a mic drop, it is now, he claimed. “He said he wins in the second year and he has.”

“It’s just who we are, mate; it’s who we are and who we’ll be for the duration of our relationship here.” We will have a go if we reduce our team to five men.

Despite having only nine players in the team, Ange Postecoglou’s decision to stay in his attacking principles came after a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in November 2023, which attracted a variety of responses.

Some people admired his stance, while others thought it was foolish to be more flexible.

In the end, Postecoglou continued to adhere to those principles, but he did so for the most significant game of his tenure with Spurs and the club’s recent history.

They won their first trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Wednesday’s Europa League final, and the team spent almost the entire second half defending.

What caused Ange Postecoglou to say that he doesn’t change his tactics? Michael Brown, a former Tottenham midfielder, was posed for BBC Radio 5 Live.

Tottenham can rightly laud this season as a triumph despite the club’s miserable domestic performance thanks to its success in the Europa League and passage to the Champions League next season.

With just one game left, they are currently in danger of relegation from the Premier League, where they have lost 21 of their 37 games.

Even after this Europa League victory, Postecoglou’s future is still uncertain due to that form.

Therefore, the Tottenham manager might have had a chance to win the match on Wednesday.

Spurs had already defeated Manchester United three times this year, which highlighted Postecoglou’s high-pressing and swashbuckling play. All three victories came in the first three, with eight goals and six conceded.

However, there were indications that he was preparing to play the Red Devils in their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt in a more pragmatic manner for this fourth game.

In a mediocre opening period, neither team were particularly inventive or creative, but Brennan Johnson’s close-range goal from the start provided the breakthrough.

Then it was all about defending what they had.

They only had 19.8% possession in the second half, with just one touch inside the opposition box, and no shots on or off target.

And Postecoglou traded in Johnson’s replacement for a defensive player in an uncharacteristic way.

Paul Robinson, the ex- Tottenham goalkeeper, said: “Total destruction, Tottenham, but a poor watch.” The game was ruined by them. That was the strategy.

It was not what Ange Postecoglou’s style of storytelling has us used to believe. A gritty, terrible, defensive, determined, and rugged performance was expected.

Tottenham certainly had to make some impressive solo efforts, as well as some impressive goals, such as the impressive clearance from Rasmus Hojlund by Micky van de Ven and the impressive save from Luke Shaw late on.

Spurs finished with 115 passes and three shots overall, with only 27.7% of the total, which is the lowest total any team has ever had on record for a major European final (since 2009-10).

Former Tottenham forward Gareth Bale responded to TNT Sports with the statement, “This demonstrated there is a plan B.”

If Ange Postecoglou matures and adds that kind of defensive side to his teams, he can still have great success, I suppose as a manager.

Robbie Savage, a former League One midfielder, stated on BBC Radio 5 Live: “He’s adapted, big Ange.”

So did Postecoglou completely abandon his football-related behavior?

No, as the man himself claimed, the Europa League necessitated a different approach to Premier League football.

“I’ve always believed that knockout football is different from your league football,” Postecoglou said.

When faced with that circumstance, it really depends on good organization, belief, having a good game plan, and then moments, if you can minimize the opportunities the opposition have by having a really strong foundation.

I always believed that if Manchester United won, they could essentially negate the majority of what they would throw at us.

Postecoglou’s long-term future at Spurs is uncertain, but he is determined to stay and “complete the job,” as he puts it.