Tottenham’s Europa League Glory: A Bittersweet Victory
The Tottenham afterparty was in full swing at the Hotel Carlton in Bilbao, with players, management, and family members celebrating long into the night. The Europa League trophy, a 15kg symbol of their achievement, took centre stage, surrounded by the team’s players, still in their match kits and medals draped around their necks. According to The Guardian, the trophy was “heavier than you think”, with Son Heung-min, the Spurs captain, admitting that he had accidentally head-butted it while hoisting it high into the sky after their 1-0 win over Manchester United.
The celebrations, which began at around 3am, showed no signs of slowing down as the night wore on. Despite the hotel staff’s attempts to usher the revellers off to their beds by switching on the lights, the party continued into the early hours. The players, still basking in the glory of their victory, were determined to make the most of their momentous achievement. As The Guardian reported, the team’s players had been waiting 17 years for a trophy, and 41 years for one in Europe.
The night was a vindication of Ange Postecoglou’s approach, which had been questioned by many earlier in the season. When he pointed out that he always won a trophy in his second season at a club, it was seen as an attempt to rally the troops behind him. However, as The Guardian noted, this comment came back to haunt him, with many questioning his managerial tenure. The Australian manager’s decision to omit Son from the starting XI was also a talking point, with the player admitting that he was “a bit disappointed” but committed to the team.
The victory has raised two key questions: did the glory of San Mamés make this a successful season for Tottenham, and will it mean that Postecoglou’s managerial tenure continues? According to The Guardian, Spurs fans would probably say that the trophy trumps everything, even a season in which they have lost 21 times in the league, a club record for a 38-game campaign. However, whether chair Daniel Levy feels the same way is key. As The Guardian reported, it is easy to believe that he does not, even if Champions League qualification via the Europa League has been salvaged.
The players, while celebrating their victory, were diplomatic in their responses to the questions surrounding Postecoglou’s future. Guglielmo Vicario and Micky van de Ven stressed a desire merely to celebrate, while Brennan Johnson, who scored the goal in the final, hinted that Postecoglou’s future was secure. Son, however, came closest to calling on the hierarchy to stick with Postecoglou, saying that “he won the trophy, nobody [else] did it, so … “. As The Guardian noted, the South Korean’s comments were significant, given his influence within the team.
Postecoglou’s speech at the afterparty, in which he talked of his players as family and paid tribute to their nearest and dearest, was a testament to his man-management skills. The team’s players had been shown video messages from their family members before the game, which had a profound impact on their performance. As Vicario said, “It was very emotional and in the back of our minds they were a big part of the game.” Son added that “people think players are deserving of this trophy but it’s the families who deserve this for their sacrifice, their commitment.” According to The Guardian, this victory will be remembered for a long time, and Postecoglou’s legacy will be secure, regardless of what happens next.
As the team prepares for an open-top bus parade on Friday, the focus will be on celebrating their achievement. However, Levy faces a difficult decision regarding Postecoglou’s future. The Australian manager has delivered a trophy, and his players are clearly devoted to him. As The Guardian reported, only two previous Spurs managers have won European silverware: Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw. Postecoglou’s achievement will be remembered for a long time, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for him and Tottenham.
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