Ange Postecoglou said he would win silverware in his second season and now he's stuck two fingers up to all those who mocked him by beating a shambolic Manchester United in the Europa League final
22:24, 21 May 2025Updated 22:31, 21 May 2025
Ange Postecoglou celebrating the Europa League win for Spurs against Man Utd
Ange Postecoglou celebrating the Europa League win for Spurs against Man Utd(Image: PA)
Tottenham turned their season from catastrophic to historic on a frantic but famous night in Bilbao.
One which saw Ange Postecoglou hand Spurs the perfect leaving present before his expected exit as boss - a first trophy in 17 years and place in the Champions League. At the expense of a Manchester United side which subjected themselves to one final humiliation in an utterly shambolic and embarrassing campaign.
The implications of this crushing Europa League final loss will be defining for United for all the wrong reasons. But more of this later. Because the evening belonged to Spurs, Postecoglou and the club's travelling supporters. Some of which will had never seen their team win silverware. Until now.
And what a farewell this could now be for Postecoglou, thanks to Brennan Johnson's first half goal at the crackling San Mames Stadium. The bristling Aussie said he would win silverware in his second season - and now he's stuck two fingers up to all those who mocked him.
Now he can ride off into this summer sunset knowing he's left a warm glow inside a club which doesn't appear to want him anymore. Since Spurs last got their hands on something to polish, the UK has had seven different Prime Ministers and two monarchs.
Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson celebrates scoring the winning goal
Tottenham Hotspur's Brennan Johnson celebrates scoring the winning goal(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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But Postecoglou will feel like a king himself tomorrow morning, when he wakes up to a combination of a hangover - and heroes welcome awaiting him back in north London.
That persistent stain on the name of Tottenham Hotspur FC has been removed. But so will the Australian as well, irrespective of this seismic result. Chairman Daniel Levy doesn't tend to indulge in emotional decisions.
While up north in Manchester there will be some big calls for United to make. This was a game United simply couldn't afford to lose. Quite literally.
But Ruben Amorim's men butchered their big chance of salvation in Spain. It was akin to them taking a Stanley knife to a Picasso painting.
Ruben Amorim's abysmal first season at Manchester United somehow got even worse
Ruben Amorim's abysmal first season at Manchester United somehow got even worse(Image: Getty Images)
Which left United heading home from a stadium known as 'The Cathedral', praying the fall-out from this Spanish Inquisition won't be as bad as people have feared. But it will be.
This result will deprive United of around £100m in revenue - and leave them without European football for only the second time since English clubs were allowed back into competition by UEFA in 1990.
The competition has provided United with some salvation this season. But this sanctuary was wiped out in devastating fashion.
The vanquished of United were left to wonder around the pitch in a zombie-like state after the final whistle.. Overwhelmed with desolation, having underwhelmed once again.
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But this loss was different. Because failure to grasp the prizes at stake will have colossal consequences. It was a crossroads moment for the English giants, and will dictate which direction United will travel in for the next few years.
Which will be backwards. This was a final from which the outcome promised to feel absurd. Which is what made it as exciting as it was terrible.
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But who could be the best of a very bad bunch? The answer was Spurs, who secured a remarkable fourth victory over United this season, despite inviting huge pressure on themselves.
So the winners took it all - leaving losers United to brace themselves for one heck of a fall.