None of the games was brilliant or particularly adventurous in a first dull half, but it was Tottenham who obtained the breakthrough when Brennan Johnson was at close range.
After that, it was a question of defending what they had.
In the second half, they had only one touch inside the opposition box, had no shot on the objective or out of the objective, and only 19.8% of possession.
And unusual fashion, Postcoglou sacrificed an offensive player for a defensive defender when Johnson was replaced by Kevin in the Capital Center.
The former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson said: “It was a bad watch, it was really a horrible game, but Tottenham ruined him. They spoiled the game. It was the match plan.
“It was not what we used to see Angel Postcoglou. It was a grainy, horrible, defensive, determined and robust performance.”
Tottenham certainly took his chance at times and also needed great individual performances when Micky Van de Ven has made an incredible clearance of Rasmus Hojlund, while goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario made a big stop from Luke Shaw late.
Overall, the Spurs succeeded three shots, at only 27.7% possession and made 115 assists, all the lowest figures that OPTA recorded by any team in a great European final (since 2009-10).
“It has shown that there is a plan B,” said the former Tottenham striker, Gareth Bale, on TNT Sports.
“I suppose that as a manager if Angel Postcoglou also matures and brings this type of defensive side to his teams, of course, he can always have great success here.”
The former Leicester midfielder Robbie Savage added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “He is adapted, Big Ange.
“He did not make a complete press, he did not leave with a high line. He sat deep down and won the match because he adapted.”
