Europa League can be turning point for Tottenham Hotspur, says manager Ange Postecoglou

LONDON – Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou believes beating Manchester United in next week’s Europa League final would break the cycle of underachievement and mark a turning point in the history of the north London club.

Postecoglou is in the strange position of leading the club to their worst-ever English Premier League campaign, yet being one win away from ending a 17-year trophy drought.

The Australian’s future has been the source of constant speculation this season and the 2-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace on May 11 was their 20th league loss, leaving them in 17th place.

On May 21 in Bilbao, however, victory over United would not only deliver the club’s first European silverware for 41 years but also send them into next season’s Champions League.

“My view was that (winning a trophy) is what I’ll get judged on.” Postecoglou told reporters on May 12.

“I could have been sitting here fifth last year, fifth this year – maybe people wouldn’t be waiting for the white smoke to see if it’s my last one – but they’d still be saying ‘You know Ange, that’s great but it’s all been done before. Until this club wins something, you haven’t made an impact’.

“I kind of knew throughout my tenure, that’s what I was going to be judged on, so now we have an opportunity to do that.”

Tottenham fell just short of the Premier League title twice under Mauricio Pochettino and reached the Champions League final in 2019, when they lost to Liverpool.

There has been a regression since, but Postecoglou’s side have a golden opportunity to refresh the club’s trophy cabinet and the photos of trophy-winning teams of the past that adorn the stadium’s corridor, most of which Postecoglou points out are in black and white.

“When you look at the historical backdrop of this club and what it’s been through on the last 20-odd years, I feel like it could be a turning point in terms of the way the club is perceived but also more how it perceives itself,” he said.

“We’ve got to break the cycle. That’s the hurdle this club has to overcome because it’ll always be there. Until you actually do it, then you are fair game for people to say ‘you’ve always kind of fluffed it on the big stage’.”

In a boost for Postecoglou, Son Heung-min is on course to be fit for the final.

The 32-year-old attacker has been struggling with a foot injury but trained on May 12 having also managed time off the bench against Palace the day before.

“It comes down to getting him ready to play and then making a decision,” said Postecoglou. “It’s nothing more than that...

“He’s been a big catalyst this year and understands probably better than most what a trophy would mean for this football club and for him personally.

“Because he’s had an unbelievable career here in which he’s done just about everything apart from the key bit, that silverware that every player craves.”

Son added: “We’ve been talking about this for years. The biggest reason I stayed at Tottenham was because I wanted to do something others couldn’t achieve...

“It feels like I’ve been missing that one most important final piece and I’ve been trying to find it for the past 10 years.

“I really hope I can finally complete the puzzle this time.”
REUTERS, AFP