Winning Europa League will change Tottenham – Ange Postecoglou

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has insist that finishing third in the Premier League would not have changed the London club- but winning the Europa League will.

Spurs were 1-0 winners against Manchester United thanks to Brennan Johnson’s first-half goal – bringing truth to Postecoglou’s claims earlier this season that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club.

It is the first silverware Tottenham have won since 2008 and will see them compete in the Champions League next season. That in itself will bring increased revenue to the club.

Discussing his second season comments, Postecolgou told TNT Sports: “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.

Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur kisses the UEFA Europa League trophy following the victory over Manchester United. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

“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.

“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.”

Despite winning the Europa League title, MEDIA reports have suggested Postecoglou could be relieved of his duties as Tottenham manager this summer after a disappointing domestic campaign, in which Spurs are set to finish in 17th place.

But the Australian was keen to stress how he wants to build on his European success, adding: “I’ve had such a laser focus on winning this. Whatever happens, happens.

“We’re still building this team. It’s a young team, we need to add experience. My thought process has been about building a team that can be successful for five or six years.

“But I’m the manager – that decision is not in my hands. It doesn’t affect me. You would have seen that in the build-up. All I care about is [the medal] as this means this football club has won a trophy.

“I don’t feel like I’ve completed the job. We’re building. The moment I accepted the role I had one thing in my head – win something. We’ve done that now and I want to build on it.”