Postecoglou Blasts Arsenal As Tottenham Reach Final

Tottenham are set to face Manchester United in the final of the Europa League.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou took a thinly-veiled dig at Arsenal after reaching the final of the Europa League. Spurs got the job done in the Arctic Circle, winning 2-0 away to Bodo/Glimt after already beating the Norwegian side in north London. They will face Manchester United in the final.

There have been some complaints raised that either Tottenham or United will be in the Champions League next season, courtesy of winning the Europa League, despite their disastrous Premier League campaigns. United and Spurs are 15th and 16th respectively, with just 21 combined wins in 70 matches, causing legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to lead furious calls asking if they deserve a spot in Europe’s premier competition next year.

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But Postecoglou has hit back, claiming that those inside the top three league positions, including Arsenal, should simply win a trophy “if it’s so easy to get to a final”. He claimed that those critics are trying to diminish Spurs’ European run.

“It’s going to upset a lot of people isn’t it,” Postecoglou said in his press conference. “The debate’s now raging, the latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win, they’re just going to take a team photo because we’re not worthy.

“I mean, who cares if we’re struggling in the league? Why is that important? If it’s so easy to get to a final, then why doesn’t everyone who finishes in the top three do it? It’s a separate thing. It’s got nothing to do with league form.

“We understand our league form hasn’t been great. We understand the struggles we’ve had. A lot of them are because of the situation we’ve been in. But how that diminishes the achievement of getting to a final. Like I said, this club and others have finished in first, second or third in the Premier League and haven’t made finals.”

Postecoglou argued that his side have beaten teams who will likely be in the Champions League next season, including Eintracht Frankfurt, and that Spurs’ potential accomplishments are already being undermined.

The Aussie asked: “Why should that be diminished? I couldn’t care less who’s struggling and who’s not. I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there.

“I think we’ve probably beaten teams who will be in the Champions League next year, on our road to getting there. So looking forward to it, should be a great game.

“What do I care what Man United think? Why is that relevant to me? You [media] know better than me, you follow this club more than I have. What do you think a trophy would do for this club?

“People are fearing that it might actually happen. They’re trying to tear it down and diminish it and try to compare us to Man United.”

Express.co.uk