Ange Postecoglou has led Tottenham to the Europa League final and wasted no time in firing shots at his rivals with his side regularly criticised for their exploits this season
Ange Postecoglou fired a dig at his rivals after leading Tottenham to the final of the Europa League as he questioned: "If it's so easy to get to a final, then why doesn't everyone who finishes in the top three do it?"
A number of top clubs in the Premier League have failed to progress in tournaments - both European and domestic - whilst Tottenham have the chance to land the Europa League despite their poor domestic season.
Their north London rivals Arsenal were beaten in two semi-finals - losing to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup and PSG in the Champions League. Tottenham were able to complete their last-four assignment by winning 2-0 in Norway against Bodo/Glimt.
It means they secured a 5-1 aggregate success and will take on Manchester United in the final in Bilbao later this month. Tottenham's trophy drought dates back to 2008 - since then they've lost three finals and been beaten three times in the round before that.
Postecoglou's future has been in the spotlight all season and the Australian hasn't been shy in fighting his corner and now he's 90 minutes away from achieving what Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino all failed to do whilst in charge at Tottenham.
He said: "It's going to upset a lot of people isn't it. 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. I mean, 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."
Tottenham's last European final loss came against an English side when they were undone by Liverpool in the Champions League final back in 2019. The club has not won the Europa League - previously known as the UEFA Cup - in 41 years with Postecoglou hoping to hush his doubters.
He said: "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 and diminish it somehow by saying it's been a poor season and we don't deserve this or we don't deserve that, or somehow comparing us to Man United.
"Maybe if we had Man United's success then maybe I'd have a different view. So, of course it's massive. Of course it is, because 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."