Postecoglou brings Tottenham players to tears with Europa League final gesture
Ange Postecoglou guided an emotional Tottenham to Europa League glory against Manchester United.
Brennan Johnson’s scrappy goal proved the difference in a tense final, which was arguably won on resilience and defensive qualities not commonly associated with the former Celtic manager.
It was just reward that a player in whom the Australian has shown extreme loyalty repaid his faith when it mattered most.
The 59-year-old’s tactics and approach have drawn a lot of criticism in his two years at the club, but throughout the uncertainty, he has retained the belief of his coaching and playing staff.
The Spurs players expect the Tottenham boss to leave, but they will be thankful for the sentimental memories and unwavering faith he showed in them.
Postecoglou produced moving pre-match video
James Maddison corroborated Postecoglou’s claims after the final that one of his go-to motivational speeches was to point to the pictures on Tottenham’s walls of past winners and emphasise that most of them were in black and white.
It was just one of many devices the Australian used to inspire his squad, but he took it to a whole new level ahead of the Europa League clash against United.
According to the Times (23 May), Postecoglou organised a video full of messages from the player’s family and friends to be compiled, before showing it to them at the hotel ahead of the game.
It brought many in the room to tears.
He later referenced the video in a post-match celebratory speech, thanking all the people close to the players who contributed to the video.
Postecoglou’s evolution at Spurs
Postecoglou arrived at Tottenham with a self-anointed reputation for being extremely stubborn on his tactics and principles, while insisting he maintains a form of detachment from his players.
The final in Bilbao, along with the Europa League knockout campaign in general, proved otherwise.
| Teams | Possession | Shots (on target) | Passes | Pass Accuracy | Fouls |
| Manchester United | 74% | 16 (6) | 514 | 84% | 10 |
| Tottenham | 26% | 3 (1) | 184 | 60% | 22 |
Spurs were willing to concede on their attacking, free-flowing possession football in exchange for a much more dogged, pragmatic approach heavily reliant on defending, which has left United in dire straits.
He also displayed a much-changed demeanour contrary to his initial stance, clearly sharing the joy on a personal level with the players and staff and cutting a far more emotionally invested figure.