Ange Postecoglou has come to the defense of his Tottenham Hotspur side and Manchester United, despite criticism over their respective league struggles, ahead of their upcoming Europa League final. The two English clubs will face off in an all-English final after both overcame their respective opponents in convincing fashion. Tottenham triumphed 5-1 on aggregate over Bodo Glimt, while United triumphed 7-1 against Athletic Bilbao.
Despite their success in Europe, both clubs have faced significant scrutiny due to their poor performances in domestic league play. Tottenham and Manchester United find themselves languishing near the bottom of the Premier League standings, separated by just one point in 16th and 15th place, respectively. This has prompted widespread criticism, with many questioning whether the clubs deserve to be in a European final considering their struggles in the league.
However, Postecoglou has been quick to dismiss such criticism, emphasizing that the two competitions are separate and should not be judged in tandem. “It’s going to upset a lot of people, isn’t it?” Postecoglou said in response to the criticism. “The debate’s now raging. The latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win, they’re just going to take a team photo because we’re not worthy.”
For Postecoglou, such comments hold little weight. “Who cares if we’re struggling in the league? It’s a separate thing. It’s got nothing to do with league form,” he added. He expressed a strong belief that both Tottenham and United have earned their places in the final, regardless of their domestic performances.
“I couldn’t care less who’s struggling and who’s not. I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there,” Postecoglou asserted. His words reflect a sense of pride in his team’s achievement, as well as a conviction that the Europa League final should not be overshadowed by league performance.
Tottenham’s coach is also aiming to build on his philosophy of success, which has defined his managerial career. At every club he has coached, Postecoglou has delivered silverware in his second season, and he is eager to continue that trend at Spurs. A victory in the Europa League would not only give Postecoglou the desired trophy but would also break the club’s decade-long drought, with their last major trophy being the 2008 Carabao Cup.
Meanwhile, Manchester United, led by their own manager, Erik ten Hag, are also looking to add another Europa League trophy to their collection. United’s previous triumph in the competition came in 2017 under the guidance of José Mourinho, and they are determined to repeat that success.
Both clubs are now poised to focus their attention on the final, with the result set to shape the remainder of their season. Despite their domestic struggles, both Tottenham and Manchester United have shown resilience in Europe, and the upcoming match promises to be an exciting clash of two teams seeking redemption and glory on the continental stage.
Postecoglou’s remarks underline the importance of the final for both teams and highlight the broader context of their European campaign. With silverware on the line, the outcome of the Europa League final could go a long way in determining the trajectory of both clubs in the years to come.
