"We came together, and you deserve to enjoy this. Now, there are 2 weeks left."
Tottenham Hotspur defeated FK Bodø/Glimt 2-0 in the second leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League semifinals held at the Asmir Stadium in Bodø, Norway, on the 9th (Korean time).
Following a 3-1 victory in the first leg, Tottenham dominated with a total score of 5-1 and heads to the final stage in Bilbao, Spain.
The match took place amid the extreme cold of the Arctic Circle, artificial turf, and the absence of Son Heung-min and James Maddison, but Tottenham remained unfazed. From the outset, they disrupted Bodø's buildup with high pressure and operated the game stably without allowing a goal.
The first half ended 0-0, with neither team able to create decisive opportunities. In the second half, Tottenham made substitutions to change the flow of the game. In the 63rd minute, during a corner kick situation, Cristian Romero headed the ball down, and Dominic Solanke dove to finish with the opening goal.
Six minutes later, luck was on their side. A cross from Pedro Porro unintentionally hit the opposite goalpost and was pulled into the net, resulting in a second goal. Porro celebrated by performing Maddison's "dart ceremony," dedicating the goal to his teammate who has been sidelined for the season due to injury.
As a result, Tottenham will face Manchester United in the final. With Son Heung-min's first career championship on the line, Tottenham has the chance to escape a 17-year trophy drought and contend for a Champions League ticket.
After the match, Tottenham released a video on the official website of coach Ange Postecoglou's locker room speech. Postecoglou began by praising the players, saying, "I have been in this industry for a long time and have experienced a lot. But I am really proud of how you have stayed together until the end."
He noted, "Not once did I feel that anyone here lost faith or gave up what we had. That is truly remarkable. People will never know how much you have endured to stand here today. You deserve all the praise for that."
He continued, "You did incredibly well, almost beyond belief. To come to such a difficult place and win so comfortably is amazing. Much has happened for us to get to this point. There are also those who could not be here today. They who stayed home played a significant role too."
He emphasized, "Fraser Forster, Son Heung-min, Maddison, Lucas Moura, Radu Dragusin... everyone played an important role in this journey. Everyone contributed, and that is the most important reason we could get this far."
Postecoglou said, "Of course, there were problems. But we came together, and you deserve to enjoy this. Now, there are 2 weeks left. We need to prepare well over the next 2 weeks. Every day is important. Every training session, every match we will play in the meantime, all preparations for that 'big match.'"
He emphasized, "You can change the situation. The 400 fans who came here today watched what you achieved, and you must never forget that. The thousands of fans at home feel the same. You can create something truly special."
In conclusion, he added, "I keep saying this, but this is a team that can accomplish great things. From now on, you need to focus solely on that goal. You deserve all the praise. It was truly excellent. So from tomorrow, let's get back to focusing."
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