Speculation over Postecoglou’s future has been rife throughout Tottenham’s run to Bilbao.
Ange Postecoglou feels his work at Tottenham is far from finished (Alex Pantling/UEFA Handout/PA)open image in gallery
Ange Postecoglou feels his work at Tottenham is far from finished (Alex Pantling/UEFA Handout/PA) (PA Media)
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Ange Postecoglou told his critics he was not a “clown” after he revealed his desire to remain Tottenham boss whatever happened in Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Speculation over Postecoglou’s future has been rife throughout Spurs’ run to Bilbao, with make-or-break ties against AZ Alkmaar, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bodo/Glimt navigated.
With Tottenham down in 17th in the Premier League, Postecoglou admitted last month the “general sentiment” was he would leave even if he ended the club’s 17-year trophy drought, but during a fiery press conference at San Mames, the embattled head coach felt his work in north London was far from finished.
“I don’t think my job is done here,” Postecoglou said before Wednesday’s showpiece with Manchester United.
“I really feel like we are building something and what a trophy does is hopefully accelerate that. So I still think there is work to be done.
“It is quite obvious with the challenges we’ve had this year, which I think are well chronicled,. There is some reasoning in the context of that, but also there has been some growth I would like to see through.
“Whether that happens or not is not that important right now, but far from it is this job finished. I certainly feel there is some growth there that we can take this club to where it needs to be.
“I’ve been in this position before where the big game was the last game I managed. It’s not unusual territory for me.
“I have always navigated it pretty well because, for me, nothing is more important than my responsibility for this football club and its fans that tomorrow me, the players, our mind is only on one thing and that is to create something special.”
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Spurs’ domestic struggles mean Postecoglou has presided over the club’s worst ever Premier League campaign with a record tally of 21 defeats, but he also stands on the brink of the holy grail – eagerly-awaited silverware.
Asked about the fine line between “infamy” and “legendary status”, Postecoglou snapped: “I’ll tell you one thing, irrespective of what happens tomorrow, I’m not a clown and I never will be.
“I’m really disappointed that you would use such terminology about a person who for 26 years without any favours from anyone has worked his way to a position where he’s leading out a club in a European major competition (final).”
Postecoglou played down Lucas Bergvall’s chances of being fit to face United after an ankle injury, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski (both knee) also sidelined, but Pape Sarr is available.
The big choice for the Australian ahead of his 100th game in charge of Spurs is who will provide creativity in a three-man midfield alongside Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur.
Wilson Odobert was used in the attacking midfield role at Aston Villa, but another alternative is to drop Dominic Solanke slightly deeper.
Despite continuous discourse over his future, Postecoglou will not lose focus on Tottenham’s chance to taste European success for the first time since their 1984 UEFA Cup victory.
“Whatever happens beyond tomorrow is kind of irrelevant when you think about the opportunity that exists right now,” Postecoglou said.
“That opportunity is to provide something special for the football club, for the supporters and for everyone who has worked so hard.
“Not just this year, but for the 15, 16 years, however long it has been without a trophy and also the 41 years without a European trophy.
“I’m pretty good at just making sure all my focus is on giving this football club the best opportunity that it’s had for a while to do something special.”