Can Ange Postecoglou Silence Critics with Europa League Win?

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou faces a make-or-break Europa League final against Manchester United. Can a win save his job and bring silverware to the club?

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to salvage their season with a Europa League win against Manchester United in the final. The team has endured one of their worst domestic seasons in nearly 50 years, but a trophy would provide significant redemption. Ange Postecoglou's side had a promising start to the European campaign and are eager to claim their first major trophy since 2008.

Bilbao bound 🫡 pic.twitter.com/f7bCKn3rz8

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 19, 2025

Despite a dismal Premier League season, both Tottenham and Manchester United have reached the Europa League final. The teams have combined for 39 league losses, with Tottenham finishing 17th and narrowly avoiding relegation - a feat they last experienced in the 1976-77 season, when they suffered 21 defeats, the same number as this year.

The humiliating league season will be forgotten for 90 minutes as Tottenham seeks redemption in the Europa League final. A win would bring the club's first trophy since 2008 and their first European silverware in 41 years, when they won the UEFA Cup. Moreover, victory would catapult Tottenham back into the Champions League, a competition they memorably reached the final of in 2019, only to suffer heartbreak against Liverpool in Madrid.

Ange Postecoglou believes a Europa League win can alter the perception of Tottenham, a club he says has a profound impact on its supporters. A trophy would also vindicate his approach and silence critics, given his bold claim earlier in the season that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club. This win would give him the last laugh.

After disappointing exits in the League Cup and a struggling Premier League campaign, Ange Postecoglou's claim of winning a trophy in his second season seemed far-fetched. The manager has grown increasingly defensive, citing the club's chronic injury list and fiercely defending his attacking philosophy, which has yielded 63 league goals but also 61 conceded.

After a thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester United in the League Cup, Postecoglou's tactics were questioned by Sky Sports pundits. He responded defiantly, “Are you not entertained? I know the studio is probably having a meltdown over my lack of tactics,” emphasizing his commitment to attacking football. This approach aligns with Tottenham's motto, “To Dare Is To Do.” However, a Europa League defeat to Manchester United would likely seal Postecoglou's fate as Tottenham manager.

Spurs are on their way to Bilbao 🎶 pic.twitter.com/rVNJFnIDSk

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 17, 2025

Even with a Europa League win, Postecoglou's job might still be at risk. However, if he does depart, he'll likely leave as a cult hero among fans who have supported him, instead directing their frustration towards chairman Daniel Levy.

“For me personally, (winning) the trophy will mean I can reminisce in my old age, but more important is what it means for the club, I think I've always said,” he told reporters.

“You look back at the history of the club for the last 20-odd years, I feel this could be a turning point in the way that it's perceived and how it perceives itself.”

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou noted that the photos in the walkways of their stadium are mostly in black and white, but a Europa League win would put the current squad's names in color, cementing their place in the club's folklore. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario echoed this sentiment, saying, ”17th and in the Europa League final! We know our performances in the league haven't been good enough, the table says that. But now we have the opportunity to create history for this club.”