Ange Postecoglou is eager to prove his critics wrong by securing silverware in his second season at Tottenham, as they face Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has expressed that a victory in the UEFA Europa League would be an ‘enormous’ achievement, particularly for club captain Son Heung-min, who is on the brink of becoming a Spurs legend.

As Spurs prepare to face Manchester United in the final on Wednesday, May 21, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, the team is looking to end a tumultuous season on a high note. Currently, they find themselves just above the relegation zone in the Premier League, but their European campaign has seen them thrive.

Earlier in the season, Postecoglou made a bold claim, stating, “I always win things in my second year.” This assertion has been revisited frequently during what has been a challenging second season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With the final approaching, the manager believes this statement has provided extra motivation for the squad.

“I didn’t realise at the time, but it’s a decent grab for people to kind of clutch onto,” Postecoglou remarked. “As much as people try and make it a sort of irritant for me, I think the fact that they’re still talking about it means that there’s still a chance for it.”

The manager acknowledged the lack of external support this season, which has only strengthened the resolve of his players. “We haven’t had a lot of allies externally, so you kind of need to band together, particularly with the issues we’ve had this year,” he said.

Postecoglou highlighted the collective effort required due to injuries to key players, stating, “It’s taken a collective effort and I think that’s brought the lads closer together.” He believes that this unity will be crucial as they approach the final.

“The number one priority, particularly for the fans, was to win a trophy and that’s what we’re going to try and deliver tomorrow,” he added.

As for his pre-match preparations, Postecoglou has opted against a scripted motivational speech. “I always feel that it’s about reading the room, what the lads need. For me, that’s the most important thing,” he explained. “Tomorrow is really about the players and how I can best prepare them and get them in the right frame of mind, physically, mentally, emotionally to perform at their best.”

Postecoglou’s faith in Son Heung-min is evident, as he made the South Korean international the club’s captain upon his arrival. Son is now just one win away from becoming the first Spurs skipper to lift a major trophy in 17 years.

“He’s been an outstanding servant of this football club,” Postecoglou praised. “He’ll go down as definitely a legend of this football club with what he’s contributed. To see him lift a trophy would be, just for him personally, a testament to everything he’s done in his career to get to this point.”

The manager concluded, “The excellence he’s maintained to be at this level for so long, it would be enormous for him, and I think it would be enormous for the football club if he were to lift the trophy.”