In a season which has been besieged by injury and poor domestic form Ange Postecoglou and his Tottenham team remarkably sit on the brink of winning the club's first European trophy since 1984 when they were crowned UEFA cup winners.
Tottenham's run to the Europa League final, where they will face another struggling English giant in Manchester United, has served as a saving grace for Postecoglou and his struggling Spurs outfit. He has led the club to what will be its worst league finish since being relegated from the top-flight in 1976-77.
Tottenham's run to the final has seen them overcome AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt, with Postecoglou looking to deliver on his record of a trophy in his second year, as he has reminded critics he always delivers.
Trophy or none, much of the goodwill that Postecoglou began the season with has diminished. Many pundits and fans believe the club need to move in a new direction regardless of the result in Bilbao.
Despite the outside noise, Postecoglou has been able to forge a sense of unity and purpose within his playing group, which has seen them perform admirably in Europe despite the ongoing domestic struggles.
Spurs will be missing the creative talents of Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall for the final but Postecoglou is firmly focused on achieving something special.
Talking to Sky Sports, the pioneering Australian manager reiterated the opportunity that lay ahead for him and his Spurs team.
"I'd never allow myself to miss an opportunity that's right before me by thinking about what's beyond that, it's just not the way I'm wired. All I'm thinking about is the possibility of doing something really special," Postecoglou said.
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Much of the criticism this season has targeted Spurs' defensive fragilities with many critics pointing to Postecoglou's inability to tactically adjust away from the open attacking style which has been a hallmark of the teams which have played under his tutelage.
In the face of ongoing conjecture around his future, Postecoglou most importantly has never lost the faith of the Spurs playing group, which has constantly backed him despite an underperforming season.
Spurs star James Maddison reiterated this belief in Postecoglou before the semi-final victory over Bodo/Glimt.
"We're behind the manager, 100 per cent. I think he's a great man. He's the first person to tell you, I've heard it myself, that we've been poor in the league," Maddison said.
"We've been great in Europe but it's been unacceptable in the league. He's my manager, my gaffer and I respect him."
Postecoglou is under no illusions regarding the enormity of the final and how a victory could transform a Spurs season which in many ways has failed to launch.
The collective spirit which he has been able to harness despite the difficult circumstances could in the end prove decisive in a final which will feature two desperate teams trying to salvage hugely disappointing seasons.
Postecoglou will be hoping this spirit is enough as he looks to become the first Australian manager to win a major European trophy.