Ange Postecoglou leads Tottenham into a UEFA Europa League semi-final on Thursday evening.
The Australian has a chance to salvage this miserable 2024/25 campaign by becoming the first Spurs manager to win a trophy since Juande Ramos lifted the League Cup in 2008.
Doing so would mostly wipe away the stain of being 16th in the Premier League – as UEFA Europa League glory would also see Tottenham qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
| Position | Team | Played MP |
Won W |
Drawn D |
Lost L |
For GF |
Against GA |
Diff GD |
Points Pts |
| 16 |  |
34 | 11 | 4 | 19 | 62 | 56 | 6 | 37 |
Ahead of Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt – however – Ange Postecoglou has snapped back at what people tell him about his Spurs side and Manchester United.
Ange Postecoglou sternly says Tottenham winning the UEFA Europa League would be incomparable to Manchester United winning the FA Cup
One school of thought ahead of Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt is that UEFA Europa League success would merely be papering over the cracks, and would not signify a successful project, nor would it suggest Postecoglou is the man to take Spurs forward.
That much was evident at Manchester United last season, when Erik ten Hag managed to win the FA Cup despite finishing eighth – saving his job in the process – but was sacked just nine games into the new campaign.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe even said he regretted keeping Ten Hag after reflecting on the decision.
Now – after hearing this comparison – Postecoglou angrily hit back, saying: “People almost try to diminish it, in some respects. I’ve heard people say, well it’s the equivalent of Man United winning the FA Cup. No it ain’t. I’m sorry, not in any planet is it the equivalent.”
“I’ve heard people say it’s the equivalent of Man Utd winning the FA Cup. No it ain’t.”
Ange Postecoglou on the importance of Spurs’ quest for the Europa League trophy ⤵ pic.twitter.com/Ul86Jgwk0Z
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 30, 2025
We agree.
It would be vastly different to Manchester United winning the FA Cup – a competition the Red Devils have won 13 times, whereas Tottenham have only ever won four European titles in their history.
- UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
- Winners (1): 1962/63
- UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League
- Winners (2): 1971/72 and 1983/84
- Anglo-Italian League Cup
- Winners (1): 1971
Daniel Levy does need to have a replacement in mind
If Postecoglou wins Tottenham the UEFA Europa League, he surely deserves to stay and keep building in N17 – it would be a fine achievement considering the circumstances at Spurs, where success seems hard to come by under ENIC.
However – as aforesaid – Ten Hag was afforded that luxury, but failed to improve, so Daniel Levy will need to have an option in mind who can be hired swiftly, should Postecoglou stay but continue to struggle in the Premier League.
Spurs have already approached Oliver Glasner of Crystal Palace – Tottenham have also contacted Niko Kovac – so work seems to be taking place behind the scenes to prepare for any outcome.
