Ange Postecoglou faces a make-or-break Europa League final as his Spurs future seemingly hangs on one night in Bilbao.
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Spurs reach Europa League final after 5-1 aggregate winPostecoglou dismisses critics, says league form irrelevantRobinson: Ange's job depends on final resultFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
After a 2-0 second-leg victory against Bodo/Glimt in Norway, Tottenham have secured a spot in the Europa League final, achieving a 5–1 aggregate semi-final win. Goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro in the Arctic Circle set up a showdown against their Premier League rivals, Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21. But while major silverware is at stake, so too might be Ange Postecoglou's future with the club. Spurs' Premier League performance has dropped and they find themselves in 16th in the table. Nevertheless, the story is different in Europe, where Postecoglou has led his side to the brink of ending a 16-year trophy drought.
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Throughout the campaign, Postecoglou has come under growing scrutiny. Injuries have wrecked his team, but Spurs' domestic decline has raised doubts about his long-term future. Former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson now thinks the Europa League final will determine the club's season, which goes hand-in-hand with their manager's future.
WHAT POSTECOGLOU SAID
Postecoglou came out swinging after reaching the final in Norway, striking back strongly at those who have mocked or insulted Spurs' European success.
"It's going to upset a lot of people isn't it," he said, according to . "The debate's now raging. The latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win — they're just going to take a team photo because we're not worthy."
The Spurs boss dismissed the idea that league form should diminish their achievement.
"Who cares if we're struggling in the league? It's a separate thing. It's got nothing to do with league form. I couldn't care less who's struggling and who's not. I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there."
Given Spurs' season, many have also asked whether winning this trophy would even matter. Postecoglou, however, made apparent its significance.
"I've said all along that this is important. What's happening now is people are fearing that — that it actually might happen, and let's see how we can tear it down somehow… by saying it's been a poor season and we don't deserve this or that, or somehow comparing us to Man Utd.
"Maybe if we had Man Utd's success then maybe I'd have a different view. So of course it's massive. You have to frame it against what this club has been through over the last 15 or 20 years and what the supporters have been through. We've given them some real hope and something to dream about — that we can do something special this year."
WHAT PAUL ROBINSON SAID
Former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson added fuel to the fire with a stark assessment. "If Tottenham don't win, he won't be in charge next season,” he told. "Ange Postecoglou's whole season and Tottenham career depends on that one result."
