Ange Postcoglou had a lot to say after guiding Tottenham Hotspur to the title of the Europa League with a 1-0 victory against Manchester United and we have each word he said after the final in Bilbao.
Postcoglou made a big decision by appointing his captain his son Heung-min on the bench, but at the end of a first nervous half-time quality on both sides, the Spurs forced the only goal of the game. Pope Matar Sarr curled up in a low cross and Brennan Johnson touched him to Luke Shaw and the ball turned back to the net with goalkeeper United Andre Onana unable to keep him away.
Tottenham fought in the second half and united at a distance with a few great moments from Micky Van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario to finally end 17 years of the Northern London club for a trophy and a expectation of 41 years for a European triumph.
Our Tottenham correspondent, Alasdair Gold, was one of those who asked the questions to Postcoglou after the match. Here is the full transcription of the Bilbao press conference which started with a series of media applause for the Australian.
You have constantly told players that they were going to do something special this season. How do you feel that it realizes?
It is difficult to put in words emotions. I am super proud of the players. To quote my first favorite Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating, after an unlikely victory, he said: “This is one for real believers”. And he is certainly one of the real believers. It means an incredible group of players who have never hesitated, have never lost self -confidence and what we were doing. Incredible football staff, led by brilliant coaches. The people who work at the board of directors, Lilywhite House, the training ground. Supporters.
I know people think I have this fractive relationship, but every supporter I met was so nice when reassuring myself that they believe in what I was doing. I have never felt … I understand the disappointment that we put them through this year, especially in the League, but seeing them tonight, the impact that it has on some on them. It is obviously 17 years since our last trophy, 41 in Europe, some have never had night like this. It is a reward for them. Finally to my beautiful wife, my boys, my family, my friends. They are all my inspiration. I am in a way the head man, it is easy for me to assume responsibility but they have no choice but to come for the journey. To see them on the ground, a smile on their faces, made me happy.
Is it your greatest success?
Listen, I think if I say it decreases other achievements. Not for me but the people I shared with them with. But it is definitely the most difficult thing I have ever done without the shadow of a doubt. And I knew it. This club had incredible world class coaches, world class players and they did not have at night like this. And it is just to say that it was really difficult because wherever I was successful, at this stage, I have somehow had the faith and the confidence of everyone.
And here it was different. And I understand. It is not a criticism. It’s just that I think, because of the club, and in the way, it’s history, I don’t think they can never go on one person. For me, that’s how it worked well, when people support my vision. But in this, I think that when we arrived at the end of January, the end of the transfer window, and that we evaluated our situation, I just took over there, then that it was the trophy that we were going. And was probably disagreeing with what the other people of the club believed at the time that we should do.
Again, it is understandable. But I really thought we could win this. And all that we have done since then, everything we have done in terms of games, the teams I have selected, was to ensure that when these games arrived, the Europa Games, that we are in the best possible condition to approach them. It was cost, for sure, in the league. And I have to take responsibility for it. I just felt like the end to win something more important, and it was the only way I was going to do it.
Are you hungry to advance the club?
Very. Because we have a very young group of players. And you can tell them about success and what it means, but until they feel it, it does not become real. I have no doubt that all these boys tonight, having this feeling will want it again. And to recover it, they will have to make similar sacrifices. They have climbed the mountain now. They know what it takes to get to where we are. I think it accelerates the opportunities to build a team that can succeed and play at a high level for the years to come.
As I said yesterday, I still think there is a lot of work to do, I think it’s quite obvious. But not as much work as people may think. People can strike around 20 championship losses and where we are, but they lack the goal of what we are trying to build, or what I try to do anyway. I really think that this evening can be a great platform so that we can start.
You said that at the end of the January transfer window, everything focus on the Europa League, this explains the really ruthless effective style that we saw Bodo / Glimt, Frankfurt and now overcome and how did you find the players bought?
No, it was not part of it. I have always been very successful in my career, not only to win leagues, but also … In Australia, I grew up playing football in the final to win a championship. Direct elimination football is still different. All my teams have always played a little different in direct elimination games, because you know you have to have a real clear match plan.
Large games are summed up at times. You must limit the moments of the opposition. You have to change your approach. The players adopted this because it was always going to be our approach in Europe and that is why we did well in the Carabao Cup. We beat decent teams in the Carabao Cup, including City, United and we beat Liverpool in the first step playing in the same way.
But it also helps that I have Van de Ven and Romero and Vicario, Udogie and Porro and all these guys available. Again, it was part of the state of mind to make sure they were available for these big games. I thought the guys had manipulated him, all the direct elimination stages of Europa brilliantly. They knew what we had to do and we were really effective with what we did. They obtained their awards.
Your father is no longer with us, what would this victory do and what does that mean in Australia?
He is always with me guy. His voice is in my head all the time and as I get older, I look in the mirror and I sometimes see his face, as scary as it may seem. He is with me all the time, guy and my dear mom is with my sister in Greece and my nephews and I am sure they have on the moon.
Yes, it’s massive in Australian and Greece. I have family in both countries and friends in both countries. They were along the trip throughout the way. It is difficult because I am quite tall and ugly enough to take everything that comes to me, but they injure themselves when people come to me and they pay the price, especially those who are closest to me, my beautiful family and my friends. They want to defend me but I don’t stop telling them that it’s a little price to pay when you have nights like this. I was lucky to have had a lot of nights like this. Just see them tonight and everyone in Australia, they will get up early in the morning and they will buzz, and people in Greece and people here with me. It is another special evening that we share together.
How did a club drop a manager who has just delivered his first European trophy in 41 years?
Listen, I think I said yesterday, I’m not a little relaxed. Relaxed is not the word because I would be disappointed if we could not continue on this path, but it is not a criticism. I understand why it would be difficult for a club like this to buy a person’s vision. I remember that even when I signed, the club and even Daniel said: “We made winners, it did not work and now we have an angel”, but guy, I am a winner. I was a series winner all my career.
This is what I did more than anything else. I know people talk about my football, of which I am very proud. I know that people reject my achievements because they did not occur on this side of the world, but for me, they were all hard won and all that I did all my career is to gain things. I understand the look, obviously the way things took place in the league, people are right to worry, but I do not think it is a real reflection of its place. Whatever happens, my own belief in what I do does not vacillate and I will continue to continue and do what I do.
It was perceptible at the end that the players celebrated and you took a step back, is it just your style or a feeling of relief there?
Ah, there is a huge relief. You ask any manager and I tell you, it is the greatest feeling because you bring the weight of responsibilities. I think it may be our 59th or 60th game this year and it means that I and Anthony have been in front of you 120 times. In addition, the extras that we make, that probably 150 or 160 times, I have been spokesperson for this football club. I know that everything I say is important. Just to say that I don’t always understand things. All this kind of responsibility weighs on your shoulder, so it is a relief, but I am also much older than them and I learned to understand what makes nights like this memorable is to remember it. I go back in a way and watch everyone enjoy it. That’s all I need.
Are there any meetings scheduled for the coming days about what comes next?
No, no scheduled meetings. I had no discussion, no one told me about anything. Maybe they had the impression that they did not need or that they were waiting for this game what I know, it is that I will go back to my hotel room, that I bring together my family and my friends, opened a beautiful bottle of tape, I have a few silences, I prepare for a massive parade on Friday, I will play Brighton on Sunday – I really deserve it and we want to end up with my beautiful family. And what will be.
