Ange Postecoglou has declared a Tottenham versus Manchester United Europa League final is going to “upset a lot of people” after both Premier League strugglers booked their spot in the decider on Friday morning.
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Spurs clinically shut out Bodo/Glimt 2-0 to seal an all-English final as Manchester United disposed of Athletic Bilbao 4-1, setting up what — at least on the surface — is a showdown between two unlikely finalists given their Premier League form.
But Postecoglou rallied back at that narrative in the wake of Tottenham’s win on Friday.
“It’s going to upset a lot of people isn’t it?” he said.
“The debate is now raging. I’ve heard the latest one is neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win. We’re just going to take a team photo because we’re not worthy.
“I mean, who cares if we struggled in the league? Why is that important?”
He then posed a particularly thought-provoking question for Tottenham and United’s critics.
“If it so easy to get to a final, then why doesn’t everyone who finishes in the top three do it?” Postecoglou asked.
“I mean, it’s a separate thing. It’s got nothing to do with league form.
“We understand our league form hasn’t been great. We understand the struggles we’ve had and a lot of them have because of the situation we’ve been in but how that diminishes the achievement of getting to a final?
“Like I said, this club and others have finished in first, second or third in the Premier League and haven’t made finals, so why should that be diminished?
“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. We’ve probably beaten teams that will be in the Champions League next year on the road to getting there.”
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Later in the press conference, one journalist mentioned that United manager Ruben Amorim had previously admitted that winning the Europa League wouldn’t save their season, asking Postecoglou if he felt the same way about Tottenham.
Although the journalist didn’t get much of a chance to finish his question before Postecoglou stepped in.
“I don’t care. Why would I care what Man United think? Why? Why is that relevant to me?” the Australian replied.
“Ask the Manchester United manager why he said that. Me? I’ve said all along this is important.”
Postecoglou then posed a question to the journalist, asking what he thought a trophy would do for the club, which is looking to win its first silverware in any competition since the League Cup in 2008.
“Exactly right,” Postecoglou responded, when the journalist said it would be “massive”.
“So, the question answers itself. What’s happening right now is that people are fearing that. That it actually might happen and because it might happen, let’s see how we can tear it down somehow, diminish it somehow by saying that it’s been a poor season and we don’t deserve this and we don’t deserve that, or somehow comparing us to Manchester United.
“Maybe if we had Manchester United’s success, maybe I’d have a different view. But I came into this role, like I said you know it better than me, I could’ve been sitting here exactly the same time in fifth position.”
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That was the case at the end of Postecoglou’s first season in charge. So, the Australian was speaking from experience when he continued: “I guarantee you the commentary around me would be, ‘Well, that’s great Ange, but this club needs to win something’.
“That’s exactly what everyone would be saying. So, of course, it’s massive, of course it is because you have to frame it against what this club has been through over the last 15 to 20 years and what the supporters have been through.
“Man United have got their own journey to go on. Maybe if they go 15 years without winning something they’ll change their perspective on things as well.”
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