Europa League final: Tottenham boss Postecoglou claims fans are ‘waiting for the white smoke’ over his future

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May 12, 2025 - 15:45

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says he has “changed pretty much everything” at the club and would face doubts over his future even if he had secured Champions League qualification through the Premier League this season.

Spurs are fourth-bottom after suffering their 20th league defeat of the season at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday, with their dismal domestic campaign leading to frequent speculation over Postecoglou’s future despite the Australian guiding his team to the Europa League final against Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21 (20:00 BST).

“I could have been sitting here [with Tottenham] fifth last year, fifth this year, and maybe people wouldn’t be waiting for the white smoke to see if it’s my last one,” said Postecoglou, appearing to reference the symbol that is seen above The Sistine Chapel in Vatican City when a new Pope is selected.

“They’d still be saying ‘Ange, that’s great, but it’s all been done before. Until this club wins something, you haven’t really made an impact.’ I knew that was what it’s going to be judged and measured on.”

🗣️ “I’m putting them in cotton wool for the next ten days” 🤣
Ange Postecoglou reveals how his Tottenham Hotspur side are preparing for the Europa League final ⚪ pic.twitter.com/GDwx6OAXxu
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 12, 2025

📰 Table Of Contents

Tottenham league positions

Tottenham started brightly in Postecoglou’s first season in charge in 2023/24 but fell short of the fourth-placed finish required to secure Champions League football during that campaign, coming fifth and entering the Europa League.

England’s coefficient performance this season means that fifth place will be enough to reach the Champions League, but Spurs are on course to finish in their lowest position since the modern Premier League began in 1992/93 and lowest overall since suffering top-flight relegation in 1976/77.

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Postecoglou has tended to win trophies during his second season in charge of clubs and the reward for the winners of the final will be Champions League football, with much being made of the curiosity that the two teams immediately outside the relegation zone – United are a point above Tottenham – are competing to join Europe’s elite.

Postecoglou record: ‘Heavy lifting’

“You can’t dismiss the fact that I’ve also had to change pretty much everything at the club in terms of playing style and the squad,” said Postecoglou, whose attacking brand of football has regularly been criticised as excessively cavalier.

“It’s not like I took over a team that finished third or was constantly [up there]. The year before I took over, we finished eighth and didn’t even qualify for Europe.

Ange Postecoglou on why his Tottenham side have suffered 20 league defeats this season 😳#THFC #Spurs pic.twitter.com/3qvBOamTgO
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 11, 2025

“I’ve had to do a whole lot of heavy lifting, a lot of young players with the right kind of thinking. That’s costing us now. It hasn’t just been psychological; it’s about trying to change a whole range of things.”

Tottenham’s only trophy of the 21st century was the 2007/08 EFL Cup. “You just have to look at where the club’s been for the last 20-odd years,” argued Postecoglou, who succeeded Antonio Conte.

“It’s not for the lack of quality players or managers. I realised when I took the role that it was going to be a massive opportunity. We’ve given ourselves an opportunity – the key is to take that.”

Tottenham vs Man United: Kulusevski ‘sore’

Forward Son Heung-min returned from the bench against Crystal Palace following a foot injury but midfielder Dejan Kulusevski limped off during the 2-0 loss.

“We’ll see,” Postecoglou replied when he was asked about the Sweden international. “He was a bit sore this morning with his knee.

“We’re going to let it settle for 24 hours and assess it. The initial [diagnosis] was that it’s more of a knock than anything.”

Have Tottenham ever won the Europa League?

Tottenham won the inaugural edition of the competition – known as the UEFA Cup until 2009 – with a 3-2 aggregate win against Wolves in the 1972 final.

They have triumphed once since then, beating Anderlecht on penalties after both legs ended 1-1 in the 1984 final.

#OnThisDay in 1984 we beat Anderlecht to lift the UEFA Cup at White Hart Lane! #COYS pic.twitter.com/fFOGWxb5kt
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 23, 2017

Europa League final 2025 TV channels

The Europa League final will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Ultimate.

TNT Sports has four TV channels, up to six digital or red-button channels between TNT Sports 5 and TNT Sports 10, as well as TNT Sports Ultimate and TNT Sports Box Office HD. Fans can watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

To find out the schedule for matches on TNT Sports, visit the schedule on TNT Sports’ website. Prices for TNT Sports vary. Visit TNT Sports for full details.

⏪ Nacho Novo 🥶@RangersFC | #UEL pic.twitter.com/4y0EPB3HNe
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) March 24, 2025

Europa League final online streams

TNT Sports will provide live coverage, highlights and more in the UK on discovery+, with a subscription including TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment.

Last season, fans who registered for a free account on discovery+ were able to watch the final for free without a subscription.