The Guardian

Ange Postecoglou took Tottenham Hotspur on the wildest of rides. A record-breaking run to begin his first Premier League campaign in charge. An injury-riddled slump that led Spurs to within sight of relegation the next season. A promise to win a trophy in his second year. The club’s first piece of silverware since 2008. The sack coming just 16 days later.

All-out attack. Defensive dare. Stirring late comebacks. Calamitous and costly goals conceded at the death. No score was safe. No Spurs supporter, let alone pundit, was left without an entrenched view of his capabilities as a coach. No football fan, whether in north London or as far away as Australia, dared to look away.

The hair-raising adventure is one that Australian football fans have been on before. During Postecoglou’s time in charge of the men’s national team, as the Socceroos failed to earn a point in a horror group at the 2014 World Cup but rallied to win the Asian Cup the following year. When the coach had earlier led Brisbane Roar to a pair of A-League championships, and later won the J1 League with Yokohama F.Marinos and five trophies with Scottish giants Celtic. A manic press in attack. A high line in defence. Goals at both ends. Peaks and troughs across each game, let alone during a full campaign. A rollercoaster ride has always been part of the Postecoglou experience.

Taking the show on the road to Japan and Scotland sparked fresh Australian interest in Postecoglou’s teams and those leagues. But bringing it to the Premier League has steered Australia back to the big time. Not since the days when Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka graced the main stage have Australians been given such a solid reason to support a second English team. As fans relished watching Postecoglou rattle the football establishment, Tottenham Hotspur became the hottest club in his distant homeland.

A whirlwind stirred up around a brash foreign manager arriving in the Premier League is nothing new. A laconic Australian demeanour and press conferences peppered with gratuitous use of the term “mate” – while otherwise doing little to conceal a hard edge and stubborn confidence – left fans as much as the media hanging off his every word, while his compatriots were warmed by a sense of pride. The 59-year-old has been unwavering in his ideals, for better or worse, throughout his coaching journey. Postecoglou is not just comfortable dividing opinion. He often appears to go out of his way to hammer a wedge through it.

But whether Spurs’ ruthless decision to axe a coach who led the club to a European title just 16 days earlier is the right call is much less clear and will remain one up for debate. After a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, just two points and one spot short of a ticket to the Champions League, Postecoglou this season guided Spurs to their lowest top-flight points total in more than a century. Did Spurs pay a heavy price for their commitment to an intense style that caused the heart of the side to be ripped out through injury? Or was the coach handed a poisoned chalice with a thin squad relying too much on talented youth to compete on multiple fronts and then go all-in on a knockout competition in the chase for silverware?

Whether or not their Premier League campaign was truly allowed to just wither away, as Postecoglou has since suggested, Spurs found a back door to the lucrative continental competition on an emotion-charged night in Bilbao. Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought was finally broken with Europa League glory, leading to lifelong memories to be created in the Spanish city and later on the streets of north London, while Postecoglou was lauded back home as one of Australia’s great exports. It was as much validation for Australian football as a victory for a favourite son. Proof that one of our own not only belonged on the global stage, but could conquer it – even if for one night only.

The response in Australia to Postecoglou’s sacking has, perhaps unsurprisingly, been centred around dismay and disappointment rather than simply one of shock. Spurs, under chair Daniel Levy, are after all a club that sacked Mauricio Pochettino mere months after he took them to the 2019 Champions League final. Another divisive coach in José Mourinho was let go in the week leading into the 2021 League Cup decider. Here is further proof that winning a trophy isn’t necessarily everything in the high stakes world of football, or even just enough to save a coach’s job. Spurs will now have another new manager for the Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain in August, and never find out whether season three under Postecoglou would have been better than season two.

Postecoglou has arrived at a new coaching frontier after being sent packing while still under contract. Where he lands next, whether looking to right any perceived wrongs back in the Premier League or as a breath of fresh air elsewhere in Europe, we can be sure that he will take his principles with him and that Australian football fans will follow.

Ange Postecoglou advanced his case to the last. And it was a measure not only of his ability to own the narrative, to master it, but his body of work at Tottenham that he was able to do so with such conviction.

The manager was charged with three tasks when he was given the job in June 2023. To overhaul the team’s playing style, essentially to make them more entertaining. To reboot the squad with an emphasis on youth. And to win. Actually, there was a fourth, which talked to pretty much everything. To reshape the culture around the club, unifying everyone behind a cause, an identity.

The way that Postecoglou told it and will continue to tell it as he processes how he has become the latest statistic of the Daniel Levy era is he delivered on the principle three. And, despite all the external negativity, he struck a telling blow at the very end in the battle to tick the final box.

Ange-ball was a breath of fresh air at Spurs, the counterpoint to the counterattacking of the previous three managers – José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo and Antonio Conte. The club’s fans want their team to play on the front foot, to take chances and there is no doubt that Postecoglou has the same vision. It is how he always looks to set up, with pace and aggression, the change showcased to wide eyes from his first match – the pre‑season friendly against West Ham in Australia. The difference to what had been before was radical.

Postecoglou bought into the selection policy, the bets on players with high ceilings for improvement, even if he knew that moving on a good number of experienced ones, starting with Harry Kane, was a risk. In a sense the approach has represented Levy going back to what he has long believed in. A part of Postecoglou’s legacy is the successful promotion of a host of young signings – including Micky van de Ven, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Brennan Johnson. You can also include Destiny Udogie, who was new to the squad when Postecoglou arrived and also Pape Sarr, who had not played much for the team.

The most robust pillar of Postecoglou’s legacy is, of course, what he and the team achieved in the Europa League, beating Manchester United in the final in Bilbao to draw a thick line under the club’s 17-year trophy drought. It was so much more than Postecoglou making good on his “I always win things in my second season” comment.

The triumph brought a mass outpouring of emotion among supporters who have been mocked without mercy by their rivals in London and beyond. For those that made it to Bilbao, in particular, it was the night that will live for ever in their hearts. It has lifted a weight from the club, breaking a cycle that had almost become self-perpetuating, providing a riposte to the pundits who, as Postecoglou would have it, are quick to lead the pile-ons; to all of those who do.

Elite-level football is about the do-or-die moments. One result really can change perceptions, how a club feels about itself; the same with people on the outside. Thanks to Postecoglou, Spurs can call themselves winners. They have even kicked down the backdoor into the Champions League. So, how has Levy made this decision, one that has triggered the inevitable backlash? Trust him to sack a manager who has actually won. It is because Levy does not like winners. It is not who Spurs are, mate.

Here is the thing. When Levy weighed up the case against Postecoglou, he found that – weirdly, uniquely – it also carried an irresistible strength. The chair loved Bilbao. He is grateful to Postecoglou for it. But what Levy wants is more than a one-punch knockout. Consider the line in his programme notes from the last game of the season against Brighton.

“The Europa League is one trophy – our clear ambition as a club has always been long-term, sustained success … competing for top honours every year,” he wrote.

For the majority of his tenure, Postecoglou sung from the same hymn sheet. He said that a cup victory would not be a “panacea”. Consistency in the Premier League was the priority. Do that and the rest would take care of itself. He changed his tune from around the turn of the year, a shift born out of circumstance – specifically an injury-hit squad being unable to fight on multiple fronts.

Postecoglou would put everything on the Europa League, coming to rest and rotate for it; an all-or-nothing gamble, which he felt paid off handsomely. And yet – as even he admitted – not everyone at the club was happy with the strategy.

In the final analysis, Levy was unable to look beyond the league form and the sample size was huge. After Postecoglou made a thrilling start to his tenure, winning eight and drawing two of 10 league matches, his record in the competition read: P66 W23 D9 L34 Pts 78. Do the sums and it is 45 points per 38 games, the length of a season. This time out, Spurs collected just 38 points to limp home in 17th. Only once in their history have they had a worse record – in 1914-15 when they won eight and drew 12 of 38 matches.

In the Europa League knockout rounds, Postecoglou’s team beat AZ, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodø/ Glimt and the worst version of United since 1973-74 according to league statistics. In the cold light of day, Levy concluded that the run could not make up for the consistent vulnerability in the league.

He looked past Postecoglou’s assertion that 17th was a false position because of the bet on Europe; it was unacceptable, a failure to balance the demands. How could Levy be confident that Postecoglou would manage better in a Champions League season? Furthermore, were the injuries not a consequence of his full-throttle approach?

Whither Ange-ball? It was to Postecoglou’s credit that he rowed back on some of his fundamentals – most notably in the Europa League. One of the defining images of his tenure was in the early weeks against Chelsea when, despite two red cards, he ordered all of his remaining outfield players to hold a defensive line on halfway. That seems like a long time ago, as did the giddy praise for such derring-do. Equally, we did not see much of the fast and incisive stuff in his closing months.

“Are you not entertained?” Postecoglou once memorably asked, channelling his inner Gladiator. Yes, Ange, we were. The English game has lost a compelling character.

Tottenham have sacked Ange Postecoglou as their manager, describing it as “one of the toughest decisions we have had to make”, and are considering whether to replace him with Brentford’s Thomas Frank, who has a £10m release clause.

Postecoglou led Spurs to Europa League glory on 21 May, beating Manchester United in the final in Bilbao to end a 17-year trophy drought. It sparked delirium among the fans, an outpouring of relief and the feeling among some of them that he deserved the chance to continue in the role.

But the chair, Daniel Levy, and the rest of the board, having taken stock since the final game of the season against Brighton on 25 May, reached the unanimous conclusion that Postecoglou had to go based on performances in the Premier League over most of his two-year tenure.

Postecoglou won eight and drew two of his opening 10 games in the competition, having arrived from Celtic with Spurs at a low ebb on the back of an eighth-placed finish in 2022-23. But his league record since then showed 78 points from 66 matches – a detail that Spurs printed in the statement they issued at a little after 5pm BST to confirm Postecoglou’s departure.

The club also highlighted how the 17th-placed finish in this past season – with 38 points – was their worst of the Premier League era. Only once have they had a worse league record, in 1914-15.

As the Guardian reported earlier on Friday, Spurs have met with intermediaries to discuss a move for Frank, who has impressed with his stellar work at Brentford. The Dane moved to the club in October 2018 when they were in the Championship and got them promoted via the playoffs in 2020-21. He has established them in the top flight; they finished this past season 10th with 56 points.

Spurs, who have also considered Fulham’s Marco Silva, know what it would take to prise Frank away. Every player and member of staff at Brentford has a price. Spurs must decide whether to pay the £10m. The club have also shown an interest in Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace – both appear out of reach.

Postecoglou will go down as a hero at Spurs because of Bilbao and he released an emotional statement shortly after his sacking, saying he was “forever connected” to his players and staff, not to mention the supporters. He said his overriding emotion was pride and that Bilbao would live with him for a lifetime.

“Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream,” Postecoglou said. “There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible. We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success.”

The Spurs statement acknowledged how Postecoglou had sought to return the club to a more attacking style while there was gratitude for the trophy he delivered, a line noting he was now “alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw” as managers who have triumphed in Europe.

It said: “At times there were extenuating circumstances [for the poor league form] – injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League ranks as one of the club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph. It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond.”

Tottenham have met with intermediaries to discuss a potential move for Brentford’s Thomas Frank. Spurs have been considering whether to persist with their manager, Ange Postecoglou, since the end of the season and his future remains in doubt.

Postecoglou brought glory to the club when he ended a 17-year trophy drought by overseeing a win over Manchester United in the Europa League final. The victory transformed the mood in and around Spurs, with some fans feeling he deserves the chance to carry on.

The chair, Daniel Levy, cannot easily overlook the disastrous Premier League campaign in which the team finished 17th with 38 points. Postecoglou admitted after the last match against Brighton on 25 May that he was in the dark over his future and the silence since then has not boded well.

Spurs are giving serious thought to Frank, having been impressed with his stellar work at Brentford. The Dane joined them in October 2018 when they were in the Championship and got them promoted via the playoffs in 2020-21. He has established them in the top-flight; they finished this past season 10th with 56 points.

Brentford have thought that Frank will stay with them for another season and there would be obstacles for Spurs to overcome, including paying to acquire him. They would also have to pay off Postecoglou, who has two years on his contract.

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Alan Shearer, for one, isn’t impressed by Ange Postecoglou’s sacking. Here’s his response to the Spurs statement.

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Ange signed off his statement with a bit of latin. Audere est Facer – “to dare is to do”.

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Postecoglou issues statement on Tottenham sacking

And now it’s time for Ange to say his piece…

“When I reflect on my time as Manager of Tottenham Hotspur my overriding emotion is one of pride. The opportunity to lead one of England’s historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.

“Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget. That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream.

“There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible. We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 7 more years for their next success.

“I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them.

“I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club, the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on.

“It’s important to acknowledge the hard working people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis.

“And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special.

“We are forever connected. Audere est Facere.”

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Full Postecoglou statement from Tottenham

Here’s the full statement from the Tottenham website. At one point it notes: “We recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season.”

The other damning sentence is: “It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond.”

Anyway, here it is in full:

“Following a review of performances and after significant reflection, the Club can announce that Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties.

“Ange joined us from Celtic in the summer of 2023 and oversaw a period of change on the pitch, returning us to the attacking brand of football that has traditionally been associated with the Club, while writing a new chapter in our history by leading us to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao last month - an achievement that will live with us all forever.

“We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the Club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.

“However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season. At times there were extenuating circumstances - injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.

“It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.

“We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon. We should like to express our gratitude to him. We wish him well for the future - he will always be welcome back at our home.

“News on the appointment of a new Head Coach will be announced in due course.”

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Updated at 18.34 CEST

Tottenham have now officially announced Ange Postecoglou’s departure on social media with a graphic showing nine Ange’s of different sizes.

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Updated at 18.17 CEST

Ange Postecoglou getting the sack. Fair? Unfair? It’s very reasonable to see it from both sides, even though we’re in an age of furiously nailing opinions to a particular side of the line.

It depends how you view the number 17 I guess.

He ended Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought

He led Spurs to to an abysmal 17th in the Premier League

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Official: Tottenham sack Postecoglou

Ange has gone. It’s now been confirmed. Story here…

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Updated at 18.06 CEST

Tottenham’s latest tweet appears to be Archie Gray looking into a crystal ball. What did he see? Did he see this coming?

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Several bookmakers are offering prices on the next Tottenham manager and Thomas Frank is a clear odds-on favourite when checking the current lists.

Brentford boss Frank is 1/2, with Fulham’s Marco Silva next, some way back at 5/1. Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner is around 10/1 although one layer has Michael Carrick at 8/1 after he was let go by Middlesbrough earlier this week.

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Reports: Postecoglou sacked by Tottenham

Sky Sports are reporting that Tottenham have sacked manager Ange Postecoglou.

More on this as it unfolds obviously although note that less than a couple of hours ago we reported that Spurs had met with intermediaries to discuss a potential move for Brentford’s Thomas Frank.

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Updated at 17.55 CEST

Investigation into breakaway European Super League launched

An agreement UEFA reached with nine clubs who had been part of a breakaway European Super League is being investigated by the Spanish competition authorities.

Twelve clubs – including the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ announced their intention to form a Super League in April 2021 but the plan had collapsed within 72 hours as all but three announced they were withdrawing.

Those nine – again including the six English teams – reached an agreement with UEFA the following month, committing them to UEFA’s competitions and undertaking to accept fines of 100m euros each if they sought to join an unauthorised competition in the future.

The National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) said on Friday it was looking at that agreement for possible conduct contrary to European competition law, saying it had found “substantial evidence” of a breach.

“The CNMC is investigating a UEFA agreement with nine football clubs to prevent them from organising or participating in European competitions other than their own,” a statement on the CNMC website said.

“The body also reportedly adopted a series of measures to ensure the clubs complied with these restrictions. The agreement was signed after UEFA announced that it could exclude teams from its competitions and/or impose various measures on them.

“After analysing the information gathered during the confidential information phase, (CNMC) identified substantial evidence of potential violations of Articles 1 and 2 of the LDC, as well as Articles 101 and 102 of the TFEU.”

The CNMC said the opening of the case did not prejudge the outcome and that it could take up to two years to resolve the matter. The investigation followed an initial complaint from A22, a company set up to promote the Super League concept.

A spokesperson for A22 said of Friday’s announcement: “This is a sensible and timely action consistent with the December 2023 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) which found that UEFA and FIFA breached European competition law. This ruling confirmed that independent promoters such as A22 are fully entitled to create and organise pan-European club football competitions.”

The UEFA authorisation rules which were used to block the formation of the Super League were found to be contrary to European law by the CJEU, but had already been updated prior to the 2023 verdict.

UEFA said at the time of the CJEU verdict that it had developed its new authorisation rules in consultation with the European Commission. UEFA has been contacted for a response to the CNMC announcement.

(PA Media)

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Updated at 17.44 CEST

Championship transfer news. A couple of incomings for two sides who need a lift after disappointing finishes last season – 13th-placed Norwich and 14th-placed Watford.

Goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw has joined Norwich on three-year deal. The 27-year-old arrives at the Canaries from Plymouth on a contract running until summer 2028 and has previously worked with new boss Liam Manning at Belgian outfit Lommel SK.

Grimshaw began his career at Manchester City and spent three seasons at Blackpool before moving to Plymouth, where he made 21 Championship appearances last season.

Watford have confirmed their third summer signing following the arrival of Marc Bola on a three-year contract. The 27-year-old left-back joins from Turkish team Samsunspor and has had previous stints with Blackpool and Middlesbrough.

(PA Media)

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Roma appoint Gasperini

Roma have confirmed the appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini as the club’s new head coach. Gasperini announced his departure from Atalanta last week after nine years at the club. He bowed out by guiding them to third and a Champions League spot – two places above his new club, who will play in the Europa League next season.

Roma’s website says: “Gasperini’s career is defined by its creative tactics, dedication to hard work, and exceptional player development. Both Ownership and Claudio Ranieri believe Gasperini is the right man for the mission. Welcome to the Club Mister! Forza Roma!”

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Scotland v Iceland: Some stats to impress family and friends with ahead of tonight’s friendly international.

Scotland have won all six of their previous meetings with Iceland, only holding better 100%-win rates against Cyprus (9) and San Marino (8).

This will be Iceland’s first visit to Hampden Park since a 2-1 defeat in World Cup qualifying in April 2009, with Steven Fletcher and Ross McCormack scoring their first international goals for Scotland.

Scotland have won just one of their last eight home games in all competitions (D3 L4), having won six in a row at Hampden Park prior.

Iceland have lost each of their last three games in all competitions, last losing more consecutively between October 2020 and March 2021 (7 in a row).

Despite losing 3-0 last time out to Greece, Scotland have won three of their last four matches, after winning just one of 16 games prior across all competitions (D5 L10).

Since the start of 2023, Scott McTominay has scored more than double the number of goals any other player has for Scotland (11 – John McGinn, 5). The Serie A MVP has netted in three of his last four national team appearances when facing an opponent for the first time: vs Switzerland, Portugal and Greece.

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It’s Tony Yeboah’s birthday today. Happy 59th to the former Leeds star! A video here of his top five goals. I think we know what the top two are but always a pleasure to watch them again.

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Northern Ireland: Paddy McNair has been ruled out of the friendlies against Denmark and Iceland with a groin injury. The 30-year-old, capped 75 times, took part in a training camp in Marbella earlier this week but did not travel to Copenhagen for Saturday’s game against Denmark, returning to San Diego FC.

Michael O’Neill was already working with a very young squad – 12 of the now 25 players remaining are aged 21 or under – and McNair’s withdrawal has cost the manager his most experienced player for the final phase of preparations for their World Cup qualifying campaign.

“(Alongside) George (Saville), he’s our most senior player, he’s our most capped player in this group of players,” O’Neill said. “He’s obviously gone into a new chapter in his career as well, going to the MLS. I think he’s in a good place because San Diego have had a great start to their first season in MLS, but I think that the squad has to learn to deal with that.

“I think that whilst we’re young, the players are getting used to playing in these types of games and this is the reason we take these types of games so that they are ready to deal with this level of opposition.”

Northern Ireland have lost just three of their last 13 internationals, a run that started with a 2-0 win over Denmark in Belfast in November 2023 – a few months after a frustrating night in Copenhagen that saw a stoppage-time equaliser ruled out by VAR in a 1-0 defeat.

But they come here on the back of a 5-1 defeat to Sweden in March that handed out some harsh lessons. A game away to Denmark, ranked 21st in the world, has the potential for more but O’Neill said it is important his players face them.

“There’s no point playing teams you will beat all the time,” he said. “You won’t get any better if you do that. The result is always important but this is preparation for September. We talked about the Sweden game and we were very young on the night and the result was a little bit harsh on us but that is what international football can do. It can be harsh on you.”

Trai Hume has been named as captain for both fixtures as O’Neill continues to rotate the armband within a leadership group.

(PA Media)

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A quick plug for two other live blogs on a busy day of sport. Choose between tennis or racing. Or just open loads of browsers and follow everything.

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An email from Jeremy Boyce, who is dreaming of a somewhat unlikely reunion at Leeds.

“As a Nasty Leeds supporter I was chuffed to see that Jack Harrison has returned to the fold. He was great in Bielsa’s famous team of runners. Will there be a knock on the door from two trilbied dudes in glasses at Portman Road/London Stadium/Etihad (whoever holds his registration these days) for big Kalvin any day now : “Kalvin, we’re getting the band back together.” And from there to Barcelona: “Raph, we’re putting the band.....” We can always dream. Actually Kalvin would jump at that, and it might actually resurrect his stalled career.

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Tottenham plot bid for Brentford's Thomas Frank

Tottenham have met with intermediaries to discuss a potential move for Brentford’s Thomas Frank, reports David Hytner. Frank guided the Bees to 10th place last season while Spurs finished 18 points behind Brentford in 17th. But, of course, there was the UEFA Cup win as Ange Postecoglou delivered on his claim that he always wins a trophy in his second season. Spurs would have to pay off Postecoglou, who has two years left on his contract.

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Here’s Jonathan Wilson’s latest column on England as Thomas Tuchel’s men continue their World Cup build-up with a qualifier against Andorra in Spain on Saturday evening.

“England now are in a position not unlike that in which they found themselves in 1965. They have a year left before a World Cup for which they will be one of the favourites, and they have a manager who has made clear he is not concerned by such nebulous concepts as developing the culture or blooding players to be ready three or four tournaments down the line. Thomas Tuchel, no less than Ramsey, knows his job is to win.”

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Arsenal: An update on the Gunners and Benjamin Šeško. #advancing

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David Beckham’s Knighthood: More here for those who like a timeline of how we got to this point.

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Ligue 1 season review: Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Enrique and João Neves took PSG to new heights but they were not the only stars in France. Luke Entwistle from Get French Football News reviews the 2024/25 season. Désiré Doué only makes the bench in his team of the season by the way.

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Andorra v England: The two nations have squared off six times previously and the aggregate score is 25-0 to England. That suggests a 4.166666 victory for Tuchel’s men on Saturday evening.

Continuing the quiz theme: Harry Kane has scored in his first two matches under Thomas Tuchel and if the striker nets against Andorra – surely a formality if he starts – he’d become the first player to score in each of a new England manager’s first three matches in charge since… ? A clue: he’s tall.

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Afternoon quiz. There are some football ones in here. I do like the options for the Thomas Tuchel question.

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Thanks Yara. Just reading the story that David Beckham is to be awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours. Must be a while since a ‘David’ was knighted. I’m certainly not in contention. According to a quick google, the last one I can see is David Weatherall. Not the big centre-back whose headed winner on the final day against Liverpool once saved Bradford from relegation. No, this guy was a physician and researcher in molecular genetics, haematology, pathology and clinical medicine. He picked up his gong in 2017. And, of course, the football player is Wetherall not Weatherall. What a terrible first entry from me. It’ll get better.

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Handover: That is all from me. David Tindall is now here to take you through into the rest of the afternoon.

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Andorra v England: And on the men’s side Thomas Tuchel’s men will face Andorra in a World Cup qualifiers match. England are group leaders while Andorra are bottom, having lost their first two matches of qualifiers.

Tuchel will surely be using the international break to get to know his side on the pitch more and make some early decisions about who can make the difference at the 2026 World Cup.

Cole Palmer is keen to be on the plane despite competing positionally with Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden. The Chelsea player said he is willing to play “wherever” to be a part of the XI.

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England: Around this time yesterday Sarina Wiegman announced her squad for the Lionesses’ Euro title defence this summer.

Here is what she said on talks of a “crisis” within the camp.

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USA: A raft of absences and the nature of the Gold Cup means that, aside from a trophy, the USA’s goals are largely intangible.

The importance of identity and tactical systems probably gets overstated at the national team level, where a dearth of time means that an awful lot of teams play broadly the same way. But the coming month does offer Pochettino a chance to cultivate some of the closeness and feistiness that his best club teams displayed. There is perhaps a larger exploration to be undertaken at some point about the ways in which the improved conditions and job security of the modern American player have undercut the existential belligerence the Yanks used to play with, but, for now, any kind of low-level aggravation will do.

Here is Leander Schaerlaeckens with more.

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Liverpool: Arne Slot’s side are closing in on a deal to sign the Hungarian goalkeeper Armin Pecsi from Puskas Akademia, in what would be a record sale for the Nemzeti Bajnokság I (Hungarian top-flight) club. According to Fabrizio Romano the 20-year-old has already agreed to personal terms with Liverpool, with final negotiations between the clubs said to be progressing smoothly.

During the 2024-25 season Pecsi made 36 appearances across all competitions conceding just 43 goals and keeping 11 clean sheets.

Liverpool’s former No 2 goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher signed for Brentford earlier in the window for a fee that could rise to £18m. The club have also signed the Georgia international goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia.

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Manchester United: The club are understood to be confident that they can continue to strengthen their squad this summer after making reductions in the player wage bill and other cost savings.

The club posted a pre-tax loss of £3.1m for the third quarter of the fiscal year in results published today, way down on losses of £83.6m for the same period in the prior year.

Total operating costs were down 20.4% compared to the same quarter last year, driven by a reduction in the wage bill due to United’s involvement in the Europa League instead of the Champions League, plus the January loan exits of the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony.

The reduction in costs was also attributable to the redundancy programme affecting non-playing staff, which began last year.

The chief executive, Omar Berrada, admitted the club’s 15th-place finish in the Premier League this season was “below our standards” and said there was a “clear expectation of improvement” next season.

Changes in personnel seem certain to be required to achieve that and, while United insiders say the club intend to be disciplined about any investment they make this summer in order to remain compliant with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), the reduction in operating costs alongside a 17.4% increase in revenue does give them room for manoeuvre in the transfer market.

The club are close to completing the £62.5m signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves once his international duty is over and are also understood have a firm interest in Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, with contact having been initiated with the London club. PA Media

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Thanks Barry and hello all! Let’s start with some Manchester United news.

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Handover: That’s me done for now but Yara El-Shaboury is here to take up the Heavy Cudgels O’News.

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Arsenal: Sky Sports Italia have reported that Arsenal are mulling over the possibilit of triggering Kepa Arrizabalaga’s £5m release clause from Chelsea. The Spanish goalkeeper spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, is not believed to feature in Enzo Maresca’s plans and could move to Arsenal in place of Neto, who spent last season on loan at the Emirates from Bournemouth as understudy to David Raya. Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García, who is believed to prefer a move to his club’s bitter city rivals Barcelona.

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Updated at 13.53 CEST

Liam Delap: England U-21s head coach Lee Carsley has insisted he is not in the least bit upset by Liam Delap’s decision to miss the Euros in Slovakia in favour of travelling to the Club World Cup with Chelsea, who he signed for this week. The striker was not among those included in Carsley’s squad, which was announced this morning.

“I’m definitely not disappointed,” said Carsley at a press conference at St George’s Park. “I’m delighted for Liam and his family. It’s a brilliant thing for an English centre-forward to play in the Premier League at such a prestigious club like Chelsea. Hopefully, he’ll do really well there and push for the senior team. We’ll move on. We’ve moved on quite quickly.

“We’ve always known that two or three of the players could move to clubs that were playing in the Club World Cup. The Club World Cup hasn’t come out of the blue. We’ve been preparing for this competition for two years, knowing that the Club World Cup was always in the background. It’s not frustrating one bit. I definitely still see the importance of some of our players that will play in that competition. It’s a brilliant thing for them to do.”

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Rangers: While the news that Russell Martin is the new manager of Rangers may have prompted more excitement among Celtic fans than those of their city rivals, Patrick Stewart, the chief executive at Ibrox, admits the club hierarchy are “not oblivious to the noise” surrounding the appointment of the former Southampton manager, whose arrival has not been met with universal approval by Rangers supporters.

Stewart revealed Martin was the only person offered the job and believes the Ibrox club have taken a diligent approach to finding a successor to Philippe Clement, who left in February before former captain Barry Ferguson took over until the end of the season.

“Firstly, we’re always very sensitive and aware of supporters’ sentiment on any issue,” he said. “And, yeah, I’m aware that supporters have strong views on who the right person for the role is. So we’ll always factor that in to a degree, but equally, I’ve been talking a lot about process and making sure we’ve got people and experts in that are qualified to make decisions. So we’ve really put our trust in our process, making sure we’ve got right people in to make decisions and with a lot of discipline. We’re not oblivious to the noise at all, not at all.

“But I think, because we conducted such a thorough process to take us to this point where we’ve appointed Russell, we’re confident the supporters will get behind him, particularly when they see him in action.”

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Liverpool relaxed despite Luis Díaz comments

Andy Hunter

Luis Diaz’s candid press conference performance in Colombia on Thursday may have caused the usual ripples on social media but it is safe to say Liverpool remain relaxed about his situation and, more importantly, in control of it.

Diaz was subject of an approach from Barcelona on Wednesday – when their sporting director, Deco, was informed the 28-year-old is not for sale – and also has interest from Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. The forward has two years remaining on his contract and, despite having no immediate plans to open talks over an extension, Liverpool want to keep him.

Speaking about his future ahead of Colombia’s World Cup qualifier at home to Peru, Diaz admitted holding talks with other clubs. “I’m very happy at Liverpool, I’ve always said so,” he said. “They’ve welcomed me very well from day one. We are currently in contact with Liverpool because we are talking to clubs, and that’s normal given the transfer market that’s opening. We’re trying to arrange what’s best for us.

“I’m waiting to see what happens. If they (Liverpool) offer us a really good renewal, or since I still have the two years left on my contract I will definitely stay there happy and content. It all depends on them.”

Liverpool are prepared to let Diaz see out the final two years of his current deal and leave on a free in 2027 if necessary. It would take a significant offer that would allow the Premier League champions to replace the former Porto winger, or afford an upgrade, to test that stance.

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Updated at 13.22 CEST

Newcastle United news: Callum Wilson is in talks with the club over the possibility of getting a new deal when his contract expires this month. Newcastle reserve goalkeeper John Ruddy is in the same boat but Jamal Lewis will leave the club. Lloyd Kelly’s loan at Juventus will become permanent on June 30, meaning the defender will have spent just half a season at Newcastle since signing from Bournemouth on a free transfer 12 months ago. The club hierarchy has recently agreed new contract extensions with Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles, Martin Dubravka and Sean Longstaff.

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Angel Gomes: The diminutive English midfielder will be a free agent when his contract with Lille expires this month and reports suggest he has agreed terms to join Marseille after rejecting overtures from Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.

The 24-year-old from Edmonton in north London has four England caps, all of which were won during Lee Carsley’s time in interim charge of the national team but has yet to feature in any of Thomas Tuchel’s squads.

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Ivan Juric: Despite a disastrous five-month spell in charge of Southampton in which he won just one of his 14 Premier League games in charge, Ivan Juric is on the verge of being announced as the new manager of Serie A side Atalanta. The Croatian will replace Gian Piero Gasperini, who is taking over at Roma after nine years in Bergamo.

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West Ham: The club have confirmed defender Jean-Clair Todibo will complete a permanent transfer from Nice when his season-long loan deal expires at the end of this month. The France centre-back joined the Hammers last summer on loan with an option to make the transfer permanent for an undisclosed fee.

Todibo, 25, who suffered a mid-season injury, appeared 29 times across all competitions. West Ham have also announced that loanees Carlos Soler (Paris Saint-Germain) and Evan Ferguson (Brighton) will return to their respective parent clubs at the end of their deals.

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Andy Hunter

Liverpool fundraiser: Liverpool’s official charity and former players association have donated £50,000 to the Liverpool Spirit Appeal, set up to help those most affected by the appalling incident that followed the parade last week, helping to bring the current fundraising total to over £106,000.

The donation from the LFC Foundation and Forever Reds is from proceeds raised at the recent LFC Foundation Gala Ball, which was attended by Jurgen Klopp. The money will prioritise individuals who experienced physical and psychological injury at the event, and required hospital or medical treatment, and also community organisations who have been offering emotional and mental health support.

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New five-year deal for Jones at Charlton

Nathan Jones has signed a new five-year deal with Charlton Athletic two weeks after masterminding their promotion to the Championship through a playoff final win over Leyton Orient at Wembley. The Welsh coach subsequently linked with the vacant manager’s role at Cardiff City but has agreed a new five year deal with Charlton.

“I’m very proud and delighted,” he said. “I still had three years left but for the club to come to me and want to continue that journey meant a lot to me because it’s a club that I love. We’ve just taken one big step, but that’s only one big step, we still have a long way to go to achieve our goals and I’m glad that I’ll continue to work towards that.”

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Updated at 12.40 CEST

An email: “Please don’t say you’re one of those people who believe football in Lansdowne Road only started when the stadium was redeveloped,” writes Eoin. “Senegal are not the first African team to visit the ground; I was at the Nigeria game in advance of the 2002 World Cup finals!” Apologies, I stand both corrected and gulled by the Football Association of Ireland website. Let the record show that Senegal will be the first African team to visit Landowne Road since the builders turned it sideways.

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As we reported earlier, news broke this morning that Gabriel has signed a new and improved deal with Arsenal which is believed to be for four years. The Brazilian has been talking to the club’s media team. “Arsenal is an amazing club and I’m so proud to sign a new contract,” he said. “I love this club, I love the supporters, my teammates, I love this stadium. I’m so proud and thank you for all the support. We continue together for the future.

“I hope I win some trophies with this club, because I love this club and my family loves the club, too. I arrived here as a young player and after almost five years I’m so happy and I’ve learned a lot. I’m so proud of myself, it’s an amazing journey, and I’m so happy to continue it.”

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Updated at 12.39 CEST

Delap left out of Carsley's Euro U-21s squad

England Under-21s: Having just wrapped up his £30m move from Ipswich Town to Chelsea, Liam Delap has been left out of England’s U-21 squad for this month’s European Championships in Slovakia and will travel to the USA with his new club for the Club World Cup instead.

Sunderland midfielder Jobe Bellingham is currently in talks with Borussia Dortmund, who are also participating in the Club World Cup, but has been included in Lee Carsley’s squad, along with Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott and Jarrell Quansah, Manchester City’s James McAtee, Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, Tottenham’s Archie Gray, Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri and Birmingham City’s Jay Stansfield.

England’s campaign gets under way with a match against the Czech Republic next Thursday, followed by group games against Slovenia and Germany.

Goalkeepers: James Beadle (Brighton and Hove Albion), Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Chelsea), Tommy Simkin (Stoke City)

Defenders: Charlie Cresswell (FC Toulouse), Ronnie Edwards (Southampton), CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Brooke Norton Cuffy (Genoa), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton and Hove Albion), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), Alex Scott (AFC Bournemouth)

Forwards: Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town), Sam Iling Jnr (Aston Villa), James McAtee (Manchester City), Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Jonathan Rowe (Marseille), Jay Stansfield (Birmingham City)

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Updated at 13.30 CEST

Jordan and Uzbekistan secure World Cup qualification

Asian World Cup qualifiers: Jordan and Uzbekistan have secured qualification at the World Cup finals for the very first time, while South Korea also booked their place in the tournament for the 11th time on the bounce. The three teams join Argentina, New Zealand, Iran and Japan in qualifying for World Cup 2026, while the USA, Canada and Mexico qualify automatically as co-hosts.

Uzbekistan, who count Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov among their number, booked their place courtesy of a scoreless draw with the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, while a 3-0 win over Oman was enough to secure Jordan’s place at the tournament. South Korea beat Iraq 2-0 to win their place in the Fifa tombola.

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Updated at 11.58 CEST

South American World Cup qualifiers: Carlo Ancelotti’s first match in charge of Brazil ended scoreless as his new team were held by Ecuador at the Estadio Monumental. The stalemate means Ecuador stay second in the South American World Cup qualifying table, 10 points behind the already-qualified Argentina. Brazil are fourth, a further two points back and seven points above the play-off spot with just three games remaining.

“I was on the bench for more than 1,800 matches and this one was special,” said Ancelotti after the game. “I think I can make an assessment of this first period; I was happy with the reception. I feel delighted to work with the CBF [Brazilian Football Confederation] and, for me, it is a gift to be here. It was a very good match defensively.

“I saw the team playing better with the ball, with a slightly more fluid game. It was a good draw and we left satisfied, with confidence for the next game. We have very good quality players. There is not much time to work, but there is the possibility of improvement because we have quality. I am sure that we will improve in attack. Today we were missing an important player in Raphinha [who was suspended]. We have to play a game with more rhythm, mobility and intensity. I believe we will do that at our home ground.”

Elsewhere in South America, Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay lost 2-0 away to Paraguay and drop one place and one point below Brazil in the table. Paraguay are third and level on points with Ecuador. Brazil host Paraguay on Wednesday.

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Updated at 12.39 CEST

Republic of Ireland v Senegal: Pape Matar Sarr, Idrissa Gueye, Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson will be among the familiar faces at the Aviva Stadium tonight when Senegal become the first African side to play the Republic of Ireland at the ground. The match is Ireland’s final home game before they start their World Cup qualifying campiagn against Hungary in September and Ireland’s Icelandic coach Heimir Halgrimsson is hoping to use this friendly and next week’s match against Luxembourg to build on recent back-to-back successes against Bulgaria in the Nations League. The Lions of Taranga are on a run of 22 games unbeaten and will follow up tonight’s fixture with a friendly against England at the City Ground on Tuesday.

“They are a massive team, first goal is important and that’s another aspect of the game when we play them, and individual qualities, similar to Portugal, all players can hurt you so one-v-ones will be massively important,” said Halgrimsson when asked for his thoughts on tonight’s opponents.

“Everything happens a little bit quicker, when we need to defend and that’s a good step, if we are ready for that, it’s a good preparation for Hungary and Portugal. The preparation is mixed with what is going to happen in September. We started the camp by talking about what is coming up, and why it is important to play games like Senegal and what can we take from these games to transfer to the games in September. It is important that we have more than 11 players ready to play and knowing everything about how we want to play.”

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Gabriel agrees new long-term deal with Arsenal

Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes has committed his future to the club by agreeing a new long-term contract. The 27-year-old had two years to run on his current deal and his contract extension will be viewed a major boost for the Gunners ahead of what is due to be a pivotal summer in the transfer market. Gabriel played 42 matches for Arsenal last season before a hamstring tear sustained in his side’s 2-1 win over Fulham on April 1 required surgery and brought his campaign to a premature end.

Arsenal announced earlier this week that midfielder Jorginho and defender Kieran Tierney will officially leave the club when their deals expire at the end of the month.

Jorginho is due to sign for the Brazilian side Flamengo, while Tierney is returning to Celtic, his boyhood club. The contract of midfielder Thomas Partey is also due to expire but talks over an extension are ongoing.

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Updated at 10.58 CEST

Scotland v Iceland: Hampden Park is the venue for Scotland’s first match since being relegated to the second tier of the Nations League after losing 3-0 against Greece in March. In yesterday’s pre-match press conference, much of the talk centred around the Italian adventures of Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson, who between them bagged two Serie A winners’ medals and hoisted the Coppa Italia. Ewan Murray reports …

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Updated at 10.48 CEST

The Rumour Mill: Yara El-Shaboury is here with your daily dose of tittle-tattle and tell-all that includes talk of a potential Arsenal move for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, the latest news of the chase to secure the services of Sporting striker Viktor Gyökeres, and much, much more.

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World Cup qualifying: Wales host Liechtenstein at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight, with Craig Bellamy’s side second in Group J behind North Macedonia on goal difference having played two games. It’s worth noting that Belgium are also in Group J but have yet to play to a game; Rudi Garcia’s side travel to North Macedonia this evening before hosting Wales in a crunch match on Monday.

Bellamy took as many of his players as were available on a nine-day training camp split between Cardiff and Alicante last month to keep those from the English Football League ticking over after their season had ended and has said he will not be taking his team’s game against the minnows of Liechtenstein in any way lightly.

“I honestly believe if you disrespect the game, it will catch you out,” he told reporters. “The same messages have been fed to the players as well. We have to be us. Fight for every ball. Recovery runs. Reactions. We have to be consistent no matter who we’re playing against. The top teams are the ones that are consistent.”

On the flip side, it could be argued that the bottom sides are also consistent – Liechtenstein have only won one of their past 46 games and despite what Bellamy says, anything other than an emphatic win for Wales tonight would constitute a seismic shock. There, I’ve jinxed them.

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Women’s Euro 2025: A glitzy, celeb-speckled Euro squad launch helped the feelgood factor around England’s Lionesses a month ahead of this summer’s Euros but there are still questions over squad harmony, strength in depth and player welfare. Words: Suzanne Wrack.

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Spain 5-4 France

Nations League semi-final: Down 5-1 after 67 minutes at the Stuttgart Arena, France scored three goals to reduce their deficit but it was Spain who advanced to Sunday’s final against Portugal. Sid Lowe reports …

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Preamble

The season may be over but the Big Wheel O’Football keeps on turning. And how! Last night, Spain and France served up a delightful goalfest that wasn’t nearly as tight as the 5-4 scoreline suggests in their Nations League semi-final, with Lamine Yamal putting on another masterclass as he and his chums survived a late French comeback to book their place against Portugal in Sunday’s all-Iberian final.

There’s plenty more international action to look forward to over the coming weekend, with all four of the home nations and the Republic of Ireland due to play assorted World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. We’re here to bring you build-up to those games, transfer news and any other stories of note that break throughout the day, so don’t dare touch that dial please stay tuned, but only if you want to.

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Pedro Porro had to take a pee. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” the Tottenham Hotspur defender says and then he laughs, which he does a lot. It was late in Bilbao and in the home dressing room at San Mamés, up the tunnel and to the right, players divided by metal bars, the party had begun. But he had been selected for the drugs test and was stuck in a much smaller and much, much quieter room, drinking as much possible as quickly as possible until he could go. And that, he says, took ages. “It was hard for me. You’ve just won something huge, you have all your family there, all your teammates, all the people and … ”

And the party would have to wait. Porro missed those moments but at last they did all come together, the Europa League champions in their kit – “clean,” Porro adds swiftly – and winners’ medals round their necks, families joining them dancing downstairs at the Carlton Hotel, a mile east of the stadium where they won the tournament. Around 3am, someone turned the main lights on, so someone else turned them off again; some didn’t stop until they reached Tottenham High Road the next day, although he wasn’t one of them. “We wanted to carry on a bit, that’s normal,” Porro says, “although I had to go because my little daughter was tired. It had been a long, hard year and it was lovely to celebrate together.”

A long hard year? How about 17 of them? Or more. Even sitting here in the sunshine at Spain’s Las Rozas training camp, focus now turned instead to the Nations League semi-final against France on Thursday evening, Porro admits they still haven’t quite assimilated what they have done, despite the congratulations with which he has been met upon arrival – along with Fabián Ruiz and Marc Cucurella, he is one of only three members of the squad to have won a European title this season – and despite seeing it for himself. He had imagined the scenes, he says, but not quite like what he witnessed in N17.

“It’s more than 40 years since a European trophy. People’s reaction was lovely. When you get on the bus and go round London, you get a feel for how important it is. You change families’ lives. They had suffered. We had suffered too inside, day by day.” It’s not just that Spurs’ season had been mostly awful, or that they hadn’t won for almost two decades; it was that they had become a kind of running joke. “A meme”, in Porro’s words. “That’s just, like, people’s opinion. Of course that reaches you, but we don’t care … actually, in fact, I would say thanks to them because it can be extra motivation, petrol to fuel you. And we won. Let them talk and do all the memes they want now.”

There may be no meme, no trope, quite like the old favourite. Lads, it’s Tottenham. Porro laughs; oh he heard that one, all right. And? “And it was used. The coach said: yes, we’re Tottenham. We have to believe we’re a big team. Now people have to respect Tottenham a bit more because they’re Europa League champions. The season had been really bad in the Premier League and winning a European title brought such happiness. The fans had suffered, we had suffered too. But it’s not how it starts, it’s how it ends.” So much for Spursy.

There is always vindication in victory. For Porro, for the club, and of course for the coach. Yet that is no guarantee that Ange Postecoglou will continue, his future uncertain, the axe still hovering over his head however much of hero he became in Bilbao, even if those familiar old lines were replaced by the one about always winning in his second season, a vow now fulfilled. If at first this is something that the full-back would rather not be drawn into, his position is clear.

“I’m not thinking about club football right now because I am here with Spain and we have two important games this week,” he says, “but him continuing would be good for the dressing room. He has built a very good group and coaches also need time. In the league things didn’t go well but he makes you win a trophy. That’s important too. The people in the dressing room with weight have to understand that. But as I say I’m thinking about the national team now; there will be time for that.”

Hang on, do you mean there are some players who don’t understand that? “No, it’s simply just that ... we’re inside and we know more or less how things are, no? I’m not going to lie, it did impact me to see [people say] they were going to sack him to be honest. I’m very close to him. He’s been an important coach for me and it’s thanks to him that I have brought out my [best] football these two years. It’s complicated because in football in general things don’t always depend on you but, honestly, in the team – I think, in my opinion – we’re happy with him.”

Yet a trophy is one thing; the daily reality another, and the doubt lingers over whether silverware should eclipse all else. On some simple level, it’s almost baffling. How do you explain the difference between domestic form and European success? How can the worst season in decades end up being the best, a team that lost 22 times in the Premier League lifting a trophy at last? “It’s football,” Porro says, smiling. And supporters deserved something good at the end of all the bad, the suffering, he suggests, almost as if fate repaid them. But there is something else: priority, environment, a shift.

“The coach wanted to compete in both competitions because he’s a winner,” Porro says. “[But] when you have a clear idea that you can do something big, you focus more on one thing than another. We knew that through the Premier League it was impossible to reach Europe and that the only option, the only objective, was to win the Europa League. In the Europa League, different demands are made of you. You have focus on pressing better, defending better. You saw it: three clean sheets in the last three games. Don’t let in goals, and we have dynamite up front. We said if we kept a clean sheet we had a good chance.”

That doesn’t sound like Angeball, Postecoglou altering his approach; this was a success that was countercultural, the principles the coach spoke about laid aside, pragmatism allowed in, especially from January. “Well,” Porro says. “Look, it’s like the final. I say to everyone: people can tell the story of that game any way they like; what matters in the end is that you win it. People say, we didn’t have a shot on goal … what does it matter? Football is like that. Sometimes you have 50 shots on goal and you don’t score any, and others one is enough.” He laughs. “That’s called effectiveness.”

It brought a Champions League place, even if Arsène Wenger, the former Arsenal manager whose rivalry with Manchester United was fierce, suggested before the final that it should not have done. Both teams had been too bad to be handed such rich reward, the 15th or 17th best teams in England permitted to play alongside the continent’s elite. “That rule has been there for years, it’s not news,” Porro says, shrugging. “We have to concentrate on ourselves, not what old coaches say … even what old coaches of our own say.”

That’ll be Tim Sherwood, then? When Porro made his debut, a 4-1 defeat at Leicester in February 2023, the former Spurs coach described him as “so bad it’s unbelievable”. A smile flashes across the Spaniard’s face, that fuel there again. “You can ask him from me what he thinks now,” Porro says, laughing. “People can think what they want. I’ve got no problem with him or anyone. It’s normal. It’s his opinion. Lots of people have an opinion: if you’re good, if you’re bad.

“In truth, it does affect you, of course. It’s normal. You’re new, you have only been in the team a week, it was my first game. But it’s football. And football is capricious. A year later I went back to Leicester and scored the first goal of the season. Football is like that. That toughens you. And as I have said before: thanks very much for having a go at me because that makes me strong too. It’s true that at first it hurts because you think: ‘Bloody hell, let me breathe.’ But that’s normal: it’s the pressure that comes with football. They’ve paid £50m for you. And I have always had that mentality to change people’s opinions.”

To change himself too. Porro eloquently discusses the shifts between full-back and wing-back, for example: when to move, when to wait, when to step out, when to hold. There is, though, a twinkle of mischief when he admits that it’s still the “offensive weapons” that set him apart, even if that spirit may also be what balances him on knife-edge. There’s the warrior in him too. Above all, he describes it as a “mental change”. Opportunity counts and can’t always be controlled. “You have to be hard, self-critical. If someone says something like that, it’s because you have to change. You grow. It’s a process.”

It has been played out here too, with the selección. Two years passed between Porro’s first Spain game and his second. Nineteenth months passed between his second and third. In the meantime, he missed Euro 2024; his absence was possibly the one big surprise in the squad. Now though, still only 25, he has played five of their last six. He is likely to start against France in the Nations League semi-final.

“Look, I’m not going to lie: it hurt [to miss the Euros] because it came off the back of a very good year,” Porro says. “But, well, football is like that. I had two legends in front of me – Dani Carvajal and Jesús Navas – so it’s understandable. They both have their trajectories. It’s like what happened with Rodri and Sergio Busquets: until your moment comes [you have to wait]. There’s no need to even talk to Luis [de la Fuente, the Spain coach]: I know that if that’s what he decided that was what he thought was best for the team. We have known each other for a long time and he doesn’t have to explain anything to me. He had his two players and that’s that. What matters is that we won the Euros.

“I wouldn’t say I feel like a fixture now but I do feel more confident every day. Continuity and confidence is very important, you let go. If you play a game every year it’s not the same: you come with the pressure to prove yourself. But Luis has always trusted me. And now we have a semi-final against a very competitive team. Their wingers are very fast, but then almost all the wingers in the Premier League are fast and strong. France have great players but so do we. We have our weapons too. Then there’s the final. I played more minutes than anyone this year which is important to me. It’s been a big season and hopefully we can put the icing on the cake on Sunday. It’s a Nations League, a trophy. And whenever you play for a trophy, it matters.”

James Milner has opened up over the freak knee surgery complication that left him unable to move his foot for months and fearing he would not walk normally, let alone return to football.

The 39-year-old Brighton midfielder made an emotional comeback as a late substitute at Tottenham on Sunday after nine months out – it took him to 638 Premier League ­appearances; Gareth Barry holds the competition record with 653.

Milner has it in his sights because he is close to signing a one-year contract extension, with the Brighton manager, Fabian Hürzeler, making it clear that he values his experience and leadership.

However, Milner was more keen to reflect on the journey he has taken since being forced off at Arsenal last August in the third game of the league season. He needed a knee reconstruction and the idea was for him to return in early December. That was before he sustained nerve damage to a tendon during the procedure.

“After the operation, I couldn’t lift my foot or my toes,” Milner said. “December 31 was the first time I saw any flicker of life. It [the complication] wasn’t age-related. It was just a bit of bad luck – one in however many thousand.

“There was a chance I might not have come back at all. I didn’t know whether I could walk properly again let alone play football. I don’t think many people would have come back from this. The medical staff have been incredible, Sean Duggan [the Brighton physiotherapist] has been absolutely unbelievable. We worked hard and the hard work’s paid off. To be part of it on the pitch again made it all worthwhile.”

Milner was asked whether any medics had told him he might have to retire. “Nobody said quit the game,” he replied. “There were obviously doubts from some people that I would get back but nobody said quit it. Not many people have had this and with my age it was highly unlikely I would get back. But I think that was one of the things that drove me most.”

Milner turns 40 in January and he is determined to have an impact next season in what would be his 24th in the Premier League. This time out, he became the first player to play in 23 seasons in the competition. He made his debut for Leeds as a 16-year-old at West Ham in November 2002.

“I would like to keep playing,” he said. “I’ve definitely got another year left in me. We’re in talks with the club and quite close so it will be nice to be here and be part of the team and help the boys.”

For Ange Postecoglou, it was not the most damaging defeat of what has been a traumatic Premier League season. What happened on Wednesday night in Bilbao ensured there was zero jeopardy on the outcome here, the Tottenham fans still floating on the euphoria of the Europa League triumph against Manchester United.

Brighton wanted to lock down eighth place to give themselves hope of a Uefa Conference League finish. They got the result thanks to a pair of Jack Hinshelwood goals, a penalty from the substitute, Matt O’Riley, and a cracker from another replacement, Diego Gómez. Sadly for them, it would not be enough in terms of the European picture, results elsewhere not falling for them.

The real story felt like Postecoglou. Would the Spurs fans show their backing for him to continue as manager despite everything in the league? This was a 22nd defeat in the competition for the club, equal to the all-time low from 1934-35 and that was in a 42-game campaign.

There were bursts of support for Postecoglou, his name rolling around the stadium at times, including after the Brighton crowd informed him he would be sacked in the morning. It was generally a little subdued, hungover; the definition of an event after the parade, which had taken place on the open-top bus on Friday.

Spurs pushed some of their legends on to the pitch after what was a dismal second-half capitulation, Steve Perryman and Martin Chivers, Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles among those forming a guard of honour for the current team as they celebrated the Europa League. And tried very hard to overlook this non-event from their point of view.

Postecoglou has claimed that “in all the best TV shows, season three is better than season two.” It is unclear which series he was referring to but everybody recognises the point he wants to make. It is now very much over to the Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy.

The vibe among the Spurs support was happy and relaxed, plenty of Europa League-winning merchandise on show, the scene coloured additionally by Levy’s programme notes. The chairman did mention Postecoglou, having chosen not to do so at the end of March in his statement that accompanied the club’s financial report.

Levy thanked him for making the trophy success possible. But that was it. No clues as to what he might do next with him. Certainly no vote of support. It was easy to read it negatively from Postecoglou’s point of view.

The manager was without Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero, the latter present in his civvies, pictured on the big screen beforehand with another injured player, James Maddison, who delighted in whipping up the crowd. Maddison was one of two Spurs players to complete the all-nighter after the win over United. The other was Sergio Reguilón.

Spurs enjoyed playing without pressure at the outset and they enjoyed a break when Mats Wieffer lunged into a silly challenge on Mathys Tel. Wieffer stood on the Spurs’s winger foot as he jinked inside the area, going away from goal. Tel went down. Dominic Solanke converted coolly from the penalty spot.

Brighton had a few moments in the first half, Hinshelwood working Guglielmo Vicario with a header from a corner but they had to show more purpose and intensity. Tel ought to have made it 2-0 in the 38th minute after being played in by Pedro Porro. He shot for the far corner only to see Bart Verbruggen produce a smart low save.

The visitors needed to wake up because with Brentford winning at Wolves, they could feel their grip on eighth loosening. Fabian Hürzeler made half-time changes, introducing Kaoru Mitoma and Gómez, dropping Hinshelwood into a deeper midfield role. It might have been Mitoma’s farewell appearance; Bayern Munich are interested in him.

Brighton duly stirred, coming to dominate. Carlos Baleba exerted himself in midfield, Mitoma made a difference. The equaliser came when Adam Webster attacked a corner and the ball fell kindly for Hinshelwood.

Brennan Johnson fluffed a decent chance on 56 minutes but it was all Brighton, Hurzeler’s team creating a fistful of chances. Vicario saved from Gómez and the dangerous Yankuba Minteh, who also saw a shot blocked by Kevin Danso. Baleba rattled an upright.

Brighton had advertised the next goal and Hinshelwood got it from another corner, Spurs again defending weakly. This time, he had his back to goal when the ball ricocheted for him. The improvised back-heeled finish was a beauty.

Brighton turned the screw. It was a tired challenge by the Spurs substitute, Yves Bissouma, on Gómez to concede the penalty. And Gómez had the last word when he scored his first Brighton goal with a wonderful curler from distance.

Ange Postecoglou has yet to discuss his Tottenham future with key figures at the club after guiding Spurs to a first trophy in 17 years, but joked he will turn up next season anyway.

Speculation over the Australian’s tenure has been rife due to poor Premier League form, but Europa League glory may have earned the Australian a reprieve.

After being serenaded by thousands of Tottenham supporters at Friday’s open-top bus parade, where Postecoglou declared “season three is always better than season two”, the 59-year-old has no clarity on whether he will stay or go.

“I should have thought about it a bit more because sometimes they kill off the main character,” he said, joking. “I said before the game, I really feel we’re building something. It’s exciting I have a group of players, a group of staff and a club that knows how to win.

“I haven’t had any discussions with the club and maybe they were waiting for clear air. I haven’t given it a lot of thought, I just refuse to be distracted by anything. I assume at some point someone will tell me something, otherwise I’ll just turn up next season and get on with my job.”

Pressed on if he had considered both scenarios of staying or leaving, Postecoglou referenced the American television sitcom Seinfield and an episode where character George Costanza turns up for work after leaving his job. The Australian, who has two years to run on his original contract, added: “I just refuse to be distracted by anything in terms of the opportunity that was before us. And since the game, I just wanted to take the opportunity also to enjoy that as well.

“I haven’t thought about it. I assume at some point somebody will tell me something. If not, I’m just gonna roll up next year and be a bit like Costanza from Seinfeld. I’ll just sit in the desk and get on with my job.”

Spurs celebrated their cup victory in north London on Friday in a parade near their stadium

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham journey a reminder the world of football is vast and rich

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