Ange Postecoglou said it would be “massive” for Tottenham to win the Europa League after they set up an all-English final thanks to a resilient 2-0 win over Bodø/Glimt.
Spurs, who have gone 17 years without silverware, made it through to their first European final since 2019 after producing a streetwise display on a plastic pitch in northern Norway. Goals from Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke sealed a 5-1 aggregate win, meaning the north London club will qualify for the Champions League if they beat Manchester United in Bilbao on 21 May.
It would be a stunning way for Spurs to end a troubled campaign. They have struggled in the Premier League but Postecoglou, who remains in danger of losing his job, did not downplay how significant it would be for his side to end the wait for a major trophy.
“It’s massive,” the Spurs manager said. “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. A final is a unique standalone game, it’s a bit different to everything you do in the buildup to it. But if you’re talking about resilience and adversity, this group of players have had it in bucket-loads this year and we’ve still found a way to deal with it.
“We’ve been losing players, key players, and yet they’ve still found a way to stick together and believe in what we’re doing. That gives me the belief that the challenge we have of trying to overcome a tough opponent in a massive game – I know the lads have it in them to rise to that.”
Postecoglou has previously spoken about watching European finals with his father when he was a child in Australia. “I’ve got friends who I grew up with who are probably booking tickets to Bilbao,” he said. “For all intents and purposes I’ll be on the touchline but almost with the imposter syndrome that I should be in the stands with them because that’s where it comes from. It’s my fourth year in European football and I’ve got the chance to lead a team into a European final.
“That’s something I will look back on but I’d rather look back fondly with a positive memory on the day. But yeah, [it’s] not just my dad but my family, my wife who was here today cheering on with the away end.
“Credit to her and two boys on a school night who I’ve promised a trip to Bilbao. There’s so many people you know who take the knocks and feel it more than I do. I’m sure they’re proud of me tonight but more importantly I’m just pleased I can give it back to them for all their sacrifices.”
Postecoglou, who can still make good on his promise about always winning a trophy in his second season, has adopted a more pragmatic approach in Europe.
“I love winning,” he said. “That’s what I’ve done my whole career. People will dismiss it, that’s fine. But I love winning, and I love the way the boys understood what we needed to do tonight. It’s a credit to the boys that they understood the task and still had the quality to score the goals.”