- Tottenham beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 to reach the final four of the competition
- The win eased the pressure on Ange Postecoglou, who bit back at his doubters
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Ange Postecoglou hit back at his critics after leading Tottenham into the Europa League semi-finals.
‘I am the same manager today that I was yesterday,’ said Postecoglou, after a Dominic Solanke penalty won the tie at Eintracht Frankfurt and secured a place in the last four against Bodo/Glimt of Norway, with the first leg at home in a fortnight.
‘So if people think us winning makes me a better manager or whoever thinks I wasn’t doing a good job yesterday, should be feeling the same way.
‘I don’t care, it doesn’t bother me, it doesn’t affect what I do. For me, it’s always about the dressing room. Do the players believe? Do the staff believe? That’s much is more important than what others may make of me.
‘So, unfortunately for a lot of you, you’re going to have to put up with me for a little bit longer, so let’s see how that goes.’
Postecoglou’s players were certainly playing for him. James Maddison was pole-axed by the goalkeeper to win the penalty and forced off soon after the collision.
Ange Postecoglou hit back at his critics after Tottenham beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0
The result booked their spot in the Europa League semi-finals against Bodo/Glimt
Postecoglou declared his doubters would ‘have to put him with him for a little bit longer’
‘He is fine,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘Unbelievable courage in that moment to put his body on the line knowing full well that he was going to get a pretty severe knock.
‘It was a clear penalty. I was surprised it wasn’t a red card. He is sore but I’m sure that has all been numbed knowing he has helped us progress.’
Postecoglou’s pride was clear as he hailed the performance from his team, who protected the lead.
‘I’m delighted with many things,’ he said. ‘Away from home in a quarter final against a very good side, you know you’re going to have to work really hard, be really disciplined and we needed to score.
‘To a man I just thought they were outstanding, I’m so proud of them. In such a big game, they delivered a performance. We’re through to a semi-final and over the two legs we got what we deserved.’
Postecoglou refused to get carried away with the possibility of winning a trophy but made clear his thanks to those who stuck with him in difficult times this season.
‘We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves,’ he said. ‘We’re in the semi-final and will play a difficult opponent in the semi. But it’s not about my belief in the team.
‘What’s more important is the belief the team has had because after a season like ours, it would be very easy for the players and staff, they could have left me in a pretty vulnerable place in terms of them splintering, but I’ve never felt that, even with all the noise around our season.
He shared his pride with his team’s battling performance after their 2-1 aggregate victory
Postecoglou refused to get carried away but thanked those who have stuck with him
‘They’ve been so united in believing in what we’re trying to achieve here and that is what gave me heart all along that if we got our own slice of luck in terms of getting some players back that I really believed this team could achieve.
‘That is what keeps driving me. It isn’t so much my belief in them, it’s their belief in what we’re doing and both players and staff have been outstanding.
‘I am the front man for it but they take responsibility for it as well and all my decisions and everything I do, but not at any stage have I felt they lost any belief in me or what we’re doing.
‘That is crucial when you’re having a difficult season, but there is also a season of opportunity there.’
