Thought for a couple of seconds
Ange Postecoglou defiantly told his critics they would “have to put up with me for just a little bit longer” after Tottenham Hotspur secured a place in the Europa League semi‑finals with a 1-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.
Dominic Solanke’s penalty in the 43rd minute—awarded after James Maddison was brought down by Eintracht keeper Kauã Santos—sealed a 2-1 aggregate win for Spurs. Their reward is a May semi‑final showdown with Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt.
Coming into the tie on the back of seven defeats in 12 matches, Postecoglou’s job security had been under intense scrutiny, with reports suggesting he could be dismissed if Spurs failed to overcome Frankfurt. Instead, he emerged from the press conference brimming with confidence.
“Sadly for some of you, I’m not going anywhere just yet,” Postecoglou quipped. He praised his players’ performance, especially under pressure in a hostile away quarter‑final: “We needed a goal tonight and to show our quality. Every single one of them was outstanding in a big game. We’ve earned our semi‑final spot.”
Postecoglou insisted that his approach hadn’t changed despite the ups and downs of the season. “I’m the same manager today as I was yesterday,” he said. “What matters is that the players and staff believe in me. I’ve never doubted what we’re doing, and they’ve never doubted me.”
Throughout a campaign plagued by injuries to key figures, Postecoglou has seldom been able to select his strongest side. Yet at Deutsche Bank Park, nearly everyone was available—only captain Son Heung‑Min and defender Radu Drăgușin were sidelined. The boss took heart from how that full-strength lineup performed.
“Many of the setbacks we’ve suffered this season simply wouldn’t have happened,” he noted. “Having Vicario, Romero, Van de Ven, Bentancur, Solanke—and a few others—available tonight proved we can compete with anyone when fully fit. That’s what kept my belief alive all year.”
Still cautious about overconfidence, Postecoglou warned that their semi‑final opponents will pose a stern test. He also confirmed that Maddison, despite having to leave the field, avoided serious injury. “He showed incredible bravery,” he smiled. “He’s sore but proud—rightly so, because his challenge won us the penalty.”
On the decision-making, Postecoglou expressed mild surprise that the foul wasn’t dealt with by a straight red card, though he had no complaints about the eventual VAR verdict. With that single moment of controversy decided in their favor, Spurs can now turn their attention to the next hurdle, and Postecoglou’s critics will have to wait just that bit longer.
