Gareth Bale said Postecoglou was now a ‘legendary Tottenham manager’ as he delivered a first trophy in 17 years
Ange Postecoglou delivered and won a trophy in his second seasonopen image in gallery
Ange Postecoglou delivered and won a trophy in his second season (Getty Images)
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Ange Postecoglou wants to build on Tottenham’s Europa League triumph and said he always believed that the club could win a trophy this season.
Spurs’ victory in Bilbao delivered a first trophy in 17 years and saw Postecoglou live up to his words of “always winning in his second season”.
Postecoglou had been under pressure all season, with Tottenham losing 21 Premier League games and sliding to 17th in the table.
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The manager hit back at the wording of “teetering between hero and clown” ahead of the Europa League final but was vindicated in Bilbao.
“I think people misinterpreted it. I wasn’t me boasting,” he told TNT Sports. “It was me making a declaration. I had this thing in me: I know that our league form has been unacceptable but us finishing third was not going to change this football club. The only thing that was going to change this football club was winning something.
“When I said that, that was my intent. I’m not afraid to declare it and if I fell short I was happy to cop it, but I believed in it. I couldn’t expect anyone from the club to say that. But I can say that. I was prepared to wear it. People kept reminding me of it. I was comfortable with it.”
Postecoglou said he wanted to build on Tottenham’s triumph and believes his job is not done.
“I’m trying to build a team that can be successful for four, five years. I’m the manager and the decision is not my hands, but it’s not going to affect me. If it affected me, this [medal] would not be around my neck, because that means this football club has a trophy.
open image in gallery
(REUTERS)
“I don’t feel I’ve completed the job here. The moment I accepted the role, the one thing I have in my head was to win something. We’ve done that now so I want to build on it.”
Tottenham’s match-winner Brennan Johnson said Postecoglou had “done his job” and had deserved his “mic drop” moment after the criticism he had received.
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“He said he wins in the second year and he has,” Johnson said. “If there's ever a time for a mic drop, it's now.
"I can't thank the manager enough for how much trust he has in us and he has a really good way of getting us up for it."
Former Tottenham forward Gareth Bale said Postecoglou would go down as a “legendary manager” after leading Spurs to a European trophy.
“Amazing for the club. It has been a long time coming. Delighted for the club and all the fans,” he told TNT Sports. “Now Ange goes down as a legendary manager.”