Tottenham Hotspur are 2024/25 Europa League winners – and by doing so have ensured their place in next season's Champions League.
Ange Postecoglou made the stunning vow that he 'always wins in his second year' with a club and then made good on that with Spurs on a triumphant night in Bilbao.
Brennan Johnson's first-half goal was ultimately the difference as the Londoners kept Premier League rivals Manchester United at bay, collecting the silverware desired for 17 long years.
In the context of this season alone, in many senses, it was all left to rest on that Europa League final.
Sitting 17th in the Premier League table, there was no other route available for Postecoglou's side to qualify for Europe and gain access to the riches that come with it.
It is just to their disadvantage that entering next season's Champions League, a 2024 rule change is going to make their task that much more challenging to deal with.
For the 2024/25 campaign, UEFA changed their competition formats to begin with a 'Swiss model' league phase, where all 36 teams are in the same points table and the results of eight fixtures - each against different opponents - compile together.
Part of this deviation from the traditional group stage format was to alter how seeding in the competition works.
In the past the Europa League winners, i.e. Spurs, would have been put into pot one of the draw - the highest in the competition, meaning they would face what would be weaker opposition, at least on paper.
Now in the new format, they are put into pot two so have an increased pool of tougher sides, again at least on paper, who they can draw.
There is also now no chance for a do-over if they get it wrong, as Champions League teams eliminated at the league phase of play-off stage do not enter into the Europa League as some previously used to.
Still, when the alternative was losing the final and succumbing to a league finish one place above the relegation zone, it is not as if Spurs will be complaining.
Participation in next season's Champions League will come with a £15.6m prize just for qualifying. There is also £1.7m for every league phase match won or £580,000 for a draw.
That is without considering the even greater prize funds unlocked through advancement to the knockout stage.
And lastly, as 2024/25 finalists Paris Saint-Germain have proven, you don't have to be the best in the league phase to have a chance of winning the entire thing.
Luis Enrique's side finished 15th in the standings and were required to play a play-off, but now are on a match against Inter Milan away from continental glory.