Ange Postecoglou kept his promise to win a title in his second year, leading Tottenham Hotspur to their first silverware in 17 years as the Lilywhites beat Manchester United on Wednesday to win the Europa League in Bilbao. The trophy came at the back of a horrendous campaign for Spurs, who currently sit 17th — just one spot ahead of relegated teams — in the Premier League and are the lowest-ranking team in history to have won the European title.
“It wasn’t me boasting. It was me making a declaration. I believed it. Finishing third wasn’t going to change this football club. Us winning something changes this football club,” said Spurs manager Postecoglou on him winning a title in his second season. “I’m not afraid to declare that. If I felt short then I was happy to cop it. That was my ambition. I could say that. I was prepared to wear it. People kept reminding me of it but that was only because there was an opportunity to win something,” he added.
Postecoglou had said in September after back-to-back defeats in the Premier League, “I always win things in my second year. Nothing has changed.”
Spurs sit 17th in the Premier League and are enduring one of their worst seasons since the club returned to the top flight in 1978. They have lost a club-record 21 games in the English top flight and sit with 38 points.
“It’s how the club perceives itself. People are quick to take shots at the club, who haven’t defended themselves as much as it should. I understand that as people have been here a long time and haven’t had anything to lean on. I’m hoping this does. There’s no reason why they can’t go into next year believing they can win again and building a team that strives to win things. If you see yourself in that way, irrespective of what the noise is, that’s what the great clubs do. They expect success as they’ve had it. Hopefully this takes the club forward,” said Postecoglou.
