Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has declared himself “very” hungry to build on the club’s recent UEFA Europa League (UEL) triumph, even as speculation continues to swirl around his future following a dismal domestic campaign. The Australian’s position remains under scrutiny, with Spurs currently languishing in 17th place in the Premier League, a situation he acknowledges is not entirely within his control.
Tottenham ended a 17-year trophy drought by defeating Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao on Wednesday, securing their first European trophy since 1984.
“Very (hungry to build on it), we’ve got a really young group of players and you can talk to them about success and what it means but until they feel it, it doesn’t become real,” Postecoglou told reporters after the historic win.
Despite the club’s struggles in the league, Postecoglou believes the Europa League victory can serve as a crucial springboard. “I still feel there’s a lot of work to be done and I think that’s quite obvious – but not as much work as people may think,” he asserted. “People can bang on about our 20 league defeats and where we are but they’re missing the point of what we’re trying to build here or what I’m trying to do anyway and I really feel that tonight can be a great platform for us to keep on.”
The coach, who has consistently stated his belief in winning trophies in his second season at clubs, saw his words come true at San Mam�s. “It was me just making a declaration, and I believed it – at the time I said it, I was still looking out for our club,” the 59-year-old explained. “I know our league form has been terrible, but us finishing third wasn’t going to change this football club. The only thing that was going to change this football club was us winning something. And when I said that, that was my intent.”
Postecoglou, who has a proven track record of winning titles with Celtic, Australian side Brisbane Roar, and Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos, remains confident in his ability to deliver further success for Tottenham. “Relaxed is not the word (for how I feel), because I’d be disappointed if we couldn’t continue on this path,” he continued, acknowledging the difficulty for a club of Tottenham’s stature to fully embrace one person’s vision.
“I’m a winner, I’ve been a serial winner my whole career… people dismiss my achievements because they didn’t happen on this side of the world but for me they’re all hard-earned and all I’ve done my whole career is win things.”
With Tottenham now qualified for the Champions League next season, Postecoglou reiterated his long-term vision. “We’re in the Champions League (next season), my thought process of what I’ve been doing this year is trying to build a team that can be successful for four, five, six years,” he told TNT Sports. However, he concluded with a pragmatic note on his personal future: “But I’m the manager of the football club. That decision is not in my hands.”
