Ange Postecoglou changes his trophy tune but Spurs glory may not save him

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Tottenham’s Europa League Final: More Than Just a Trophy?

It was never intended as a “cure-all,” as Ange Postecoglou might say, perhaps because the issues at Tottenham are so extensive. While clinching a cup triumph would be fantastic, a welcome accomplishment, the manager believes that it would not, in isolation, ensure sustained success. This long-term success was the ambition when he joined the club in the summer of 2023. As Tottenham prepares for the Europa League final, the focus is not just on winning a trophy, but on sustained growth and overcoming deep-seated issues.

Building a Foundation for Future Success

Consider Postecoglou’s perspective after Tottenham’s early Carabao Cup exit against Fulham with a weakened squad. He stated, “I’m here because I want to forge a club that has the chance to achieve victories annually. There’s a distinction. Us securing a Carabao Cup and ending up 10th isn’t what this club is about.”

For Postecoglou, establishing a solid groundwork and constructing something enduring is crucial, prioritizing consistency in the Premier League as the most reliable indicator of advancement. Achieve that, and everything else will naturally follow. Postecoglou maintained this philosophy even before the November international break this season.

He elaborated, “I could easily focus solely on winning a trophy this season. However, if we clinch a trophy, finish 10th, and I’m dismissed five games into the following season—although it’s not about me—the club would need to change course once again. So, would anything truly be accomplished? I don’t believe so. It won’t be one straightforward achievement that unlocks everything.”

Postecoglou’s Perspective: A Lone Voice?

We hear extensively from Postecoglou, perhaps excessively, as he might jokingly admit, displaying a self-deprecating humor that fans don’t consistently witness during television appearances. This is often overshadowed by his unwavering confidence and resolute stance. Postecoglou finds being the solitary public voice of Tottenham’s senior leadership challenging. At times, he has seemed isolated, even unsupported, which he accepts as part of his responsibilities.

Despite Postecoglou’s accessibility, he has proven adept at managing the narrative, employing skill and persuasiveness. As he approaches a pivotal moment—the Europa League final against Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday—a shift in his mission declaration highlights Tottenham’s present condition as a club. They are striving to break free from restrictive constraints and a culture characterized by anxiety and pessimism, a situation that mirrors his own.

A Trophy as a Turning Point

Postecoglou likely still subscribes to his belief that clinching the club’s first trophy since 2008 wouldn’t instantaneously propel them into the elite sphere. However, circumstances have evolved, impacting even his personal stance. As Tottenham experiences one of its most challenging league seasons, marked by 21 defeats and rising, which begins to spell the end for Postecoglou, he has started to view a triumph against United as possessing significant transformative potential—particularly as a way to diminish the most substantial obstacle hindering the club.

Postecoglou has grown weary of the ridicule that accompanies Tottenham’s quest for silverware; specifically, the notion relentlessly pushed by critics that things will inevitably falter. He has alluded to a “hysteria” surrounding the club, intentionally designed to produce a specific negative result.

This negativity undeniably affects the players, potentially infiltrating their mindset and promoting self-fulfilling prophecies. Postecoglou concludes that only a trophy can provide liberation, marking a stride toward the grander period he initially envisioned. “With all of these things, there’s only one remedy: win,” he noted.

Postecoglou has primarily focused on instilling conviction in his players, effectively conceding his inability to influence external factors such as fan anxieties and long-standing narratives. He considers this attempt a “losing battle.”

Inside the Dressing Room: Inspiring Change

The club strategically released the video of Postecoglou’s post-match speech following the semi-final victory over Bodø/Glimt to reveal his ability to captivate and inspire. “You can change things,” Postecoglou encouraged the players. “I keep saying to you: ‘This is the group that is going to do it.’”

In recent months, Postecoglou has sought to redefine the challenge, urging players to embrace a “greater purpose” beyond simply securing a trophy and “silencing critics.” Essentially, he aims to transform the achievement into a defining moment that alters the club’s trajectory, public perception, and self-image.

Legacy and the Road Ahead

Postecoglou’s positioning reveals an element of legacy protection, transcending the common trope of securing a trophy in his second season. His comment after the derby defeat against Arsenal in September was not intended as boasting. Instead, it served as a confident, assertive declaration designed to boost morale.

Postecoglou aimed to remind everyone of the situation he inherited at Tottenham. Following Antonio Conte’s departure, morale was low. The team finished eighth, missing European football for the first time since 2009-10, and Harry Kane was on the verge of being sold.

Rebuilding the Squad

Postecoglou was tasked with transforming the style of play, shifting away from the counter-attacking strategies favored by José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo, and Conte. The emphasis was now on delivering greater entertainment. He also oversaw a squad overhaul, prioritizing younger players with potential. Tottenham released numerous experienced players, and while their departures—except for Kane—weren’t greatly mourned; the cumulative loss of expertise has been evident this season.

“We’ve signed a lot of young players with the right kind of thinking for the future,” Postecoglou explained. “That’s costing us now because we don’t have a squad that can cope with what it’s going through now.”

Challenges Beyond the Pitch

The shift in direction was never expected to be easy, not to mention the numerous additional elements, especially the atmosphere surrounding the first team. Postecoglou noted that he is often the only voice publicly defending the club, while others, especially pundits, seize opportunities to highlight problems and undermine the team. Postecoglou has increasingly felt this pressure and struggled to manage it. The anti-Daniel Levy sentiment among fans and internal leaks of sensitive injury information have also created distractions.

The Silence From Above

The lack of support from the top has been conspicuous, particularly when Levy failed to mention Postecoglou in his annual chairman’s statement at the end of March. Seasoned Levy observers understood this as ominous. Since then, Postecoglou has made several jokes about his future at the club, suggesting he knows something.

Could Postecoglou spin a season with a Europa League title but a 17th-place league finish as a success? Tottenham has never lost more league games in a 38-game season. Their lowest record is 22 defeats from 1934-35, when they were relegated—over 42 matches.

Postecoglou has skillfully navigated these challenges, highlighting the injury crises and recently emphasizing the focus on the Europa League. Supporters have generally refrained from calling for his dismissal during games, though they have expressed frustration. As he nears his 100th game in charge, Postecoglou continues to navigate the complexities.

Postecoglou’s Perspective on Judgement

“My view was that’s what I’ll get judged on,” Postecoglou said last Monday, referring to Tottenham’s pursuit of a trophy. “I could have been sitting here fifth last year, fifth this year … and maybe people wouldn’t be waiting for the white smoke to see if it’s my last season. But they’d still be saying: ‘That’s great, Ange. But it’s been done before. Until the club wins something, you haven’t made an impact.’ I kind of knew throughout my tenure last year that that’s what I was going to be judged on.”

It might not have unfolded as Postecoglou had hoped, but this is the present reality.

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