In January this year, I decided to make this trophy my goal.
Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0 against Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League final for the 2024-2025 season held at Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, on the 22nd (Korea time).
As a result, Tottenham succeeded in escaping the drought of titles after 17 years since the 2007-2008 League Cup. At the same time, Son Heung-min succeeded in winning his first major trophy in his career. It was a moment that shook off the disappointment of being the runner-up in the UEFA Champions League in the 2018-2019 season after six years.
Both Tottenham and Manchester United faced a desperate match for the chance to enter the Champions League. Tottenham had their first opportunity for a championship in 17 years, while Manchester United was assessed to have over £100 million in revenue on the line for the final.
Tottenham lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, and Brennan Johnson were positioned at the front, while Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr, and Rodrigo Bentancur filled the midfield. Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro formed the back four, with Guglielmo Vicario guarding the goal. Son Heung-min was on the bench.
Manchester United faced off in a 3-4-3 formation. Mason Mount, Rasmus Højlund, and Amad Diallo were at the front, while Patrick Dorgu, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Noussair Mazraoui stood in the midfield. Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, and Leni Yoro formed a back three, and goalkeeper gloves were worn by André Onana.
From the early moments of the first half, Tottenham sought opportunities with aggressive pressing and quick transitions. In the 41st minute of the first half, Tottenham opened the scoring with a focused shot from Brennan Johnson. When a cross from the left side deflected off a defender, Johnson quickly got his foot on it and shook the net.
The first half concluded with Tottenham in the lead, and as the second half began, Manchester United's counterattack intensified. In the 68th minute, Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario cleared the ball, but Højlund connected with a header in front of the goal. However, defender Micky van de Ven made a crucial defensive play, kicking the ball off the goal line to prevent a goal. After this moment, Tottenham focused more on defense and weathered Manchester United's persistent attacks.
In the 67th minute, captain Son Heung-min was substituted in for Richarlison. He contributed to forward pressing and counterattacks with his vigorous activity and created a shooting chance for himself in the 81st minute.
Tottenham remained unshaken by Manchester United's attacks leading up to the end of the match, blocking them without conceding during the 7 minutes of added time, ultimately finishing the game 1-0. Tottenham secured their first Europa League title in club history, embracing their first trophy under manager Ange Postecoglou.
For Coach Postecoglou, the significance was particularly special. After taking over Tottenham last summer, he finished his first season without a trophy, but he had publicly stated, "In my second year as a coach, I will definitely bring a trophy." And indeed, that statement became a reality.
After the match, Postecoglou interviewed with 'TNT Sports,' saying, "I still can’t grasp everything. I know how much this victory means to this club. Unfortunately, as the time without a title stretches, breaking that cycle becomes harder. I felt that everyone in the club was tense because they have experienced this situation many times. Until I put down the burden I have been carrying on my back, I won’t know the liberation I will feel."
He continued, "I have always felt that tournament football is different from league football. In such situations, organization, belief, prepared tactics, and moments are crucial. It’s important to have a strong defensive organization to minimize the opponent's critical moments. If we take the lead first, I believed we could neutralize most of the attacks Manchester United would throw at us."
Regarding the emotions he felt while serving as a coach, he emphasized, "It's hard to put this feeling into words. I’m proud of the players. A saying from a former Prime Minister of Australia comes to mind: 'Unexpected victories belong to those who truly believe.' Our team did not lose faith and remained steadfast in what I do."
Explaining why he aimed for the Europa League, he said, "In January this year, I decided to make this trophy my goal. Although my opinion differed from others in the club, I believed that we could win this tournament. It was important to lift the trophy, and I judged that it was the only way."
Regarding personal feelings, he said, "My father is still inside me. His voice is always in my head. As I get older and look in the mirror, I occasionally see my father's face, which is honestly a bit scary. My mother is currently in Greece with my sister and my niece. She must be very happy. This victory holds great significance for both Greece and Australia (Postecoglou is of Greek origin). My family and friends have been with me throughout this journey."
Finally, he said, "I will return to the hotel now to spend time with my family and friends. And I will prepare for the large parade that will be held on Friday."
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