Ange Postecoglou slams critics, says people ‘fear’ Spurs might win Europa League

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou has lashed out at the club’s critics after they qualified for the Europa League final. The Lilywhites defeated Bodo/Glimt 2-0 on Thursday to win the tie 5-1 on aggregate and confirmed their berth in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has said that winning the Europa League will not save his team from the blushes as they have had a terrible run in the Premier League. Tottenham is also in 16th place in the Premier League standings, but Postecoglou had a different thinking as compared to the Portuguese manager.

“That [result] is going to upset a lot of people,” Postecoglou said.

“There’ll be debates now raging and neither of us [United and Tottenham] will be able to get a trophy. If we win, we’re just going to take a team photo because we’re not worthy.

“Who cares if we’re struggling in the league? Why is that important? If it’s so easy to get to a final, then why doesn’t everyone who finishes in the top three do it? I mean, it’s a separate thing. It’s got nothing to do with league form.

“We understand our league form hasn’t been great. We understand the struggles we’ve had. A lot of them are because of the situation we’ve been in, but how does that diminish the achievement of getting to a final?

“Like I said, this club and others have finished in first, second or third in the Premier League and haven’t made finals. So why should that be diminished? I couldn’t care less about who’s struggling, and who’s not.

“I think both us and Man United have earned the right to be there. I think we’re probably beating teams that will be in the Champions League next year on our road to getting there. So looking forward to it, it should be about game.”

Tottenham last won a title when they lifted the League Cup in 2008, and they would want to end their silverware drought.

“What’s happening right now is that people are fearing that it actually might happen because it might happen. ‘Let’s see how we can tear it down’ … somehow diminish it somehow by saying that it’s been a poor season and we don’t deserve this or we don’t deserve that. Or somehow comparing us to Manchester United,” Postecoglou said.

“If we had United’s success, maybe I’d have a different view. I could have been sitting here exactly in fifth position [in the Premier League] and I guarantee you that the commentary around me would be, well, that’s a great achievement, but this club needs to win something.

“That’s exactly what everyone would be saying. Of course this [making a European final] is massive.”

The Europa League final will be played on 21st May at Sam Mames.