Ultimately, will winning lead to an extension of life?
Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0 against Spain's Athletic Bilbao at Estadio San Mamés on the 22nd (Korean time) in the UEFA Europa League final for the 2024-2025 season.
Thus, Tottenham successfully escaped from its trophy drought after 17 years since the 2007-2008 League Cup. At the same time, Son Heung-min accomplished his first major trophy win. It marked the moment when he shook off the disappointment of being a runner-up in the UEFA Champions League in the 2018-2019 season after six years.
The match was a desperate 'match' for both Tottenham and Manchester United, as Champions League qualification was at stake. This was Tottenham's first opportunity to challenge for a title in 17 years, while Manchester United anticipated over $100 million in revenue from the final.
From the early stages of the first half, Tottenham aggressively pressed and sought opportunities through quick transitions. In the 41st minute, Brennan Johnson scored the opening goal with a focused shot. After a cross from the left side deflected off a defender, Johnson managed to get his foot on it again, shaking the net.
The first half ended with Tottenham in the lead, but Manchester United's counterattack intensified in the second half. In the 68th minute, Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario cleared the ball, which was headed towards the net by Hojlund, but defender Micky van de Ven made a crucial save by kicking the ball away from the goal line. After this moment, Tottenham focused more on defense and withstood Manchester United's relentless onslaught.
In the 67th minute, captain Son Heung-min was substituted in for Richarlison. He contributed to frontline pressing and counterattacks with vigorous activity, and in the 81st minute, he even created a shooting chance for himself.
Despite Manchester United's attacks that continued until the end of the match, Tottenham remained unshaken and held on for a scoreless seven minutes of stoppage time, ultimately finishing the game at 1-0. Tottenham confirmed its first Europa League title in club history and claimed its first trophy under the management of Ange Postecoglou.
For Coach Postecoglou, this victory was particularly significant. After taking the reins at Tottenham last summer, he finished his first season 'without a trophy' but had publicly stated, "In my second year as a coach, I will definitely bring home a trophy." And indeed, that statement became a reality.
In an interview with 'TNT Sports' after the match, Postecoglou said, "I still can't grasp it all. I know how significant this victory is for this club. Unfortunately, the longer the trophy drought lasts, the harder it can be to break the cycle. I could feel that everyone in the club was tense; we've been through this situation many times. You don’t know the sense of liberation until you put down the burden you’re carrying on your back."
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 is important to have a strong defensive organization to minimize the opponent's critical moments. I believed that if we took the lead first, we could largely neutralize the attacks from Manchester United."
Regarding the emotions he felt while performing as a coach, he said, "It’s hard to express this feeling in words. I’m proud of the players. A quote from a former Australian prime minister comes to mind: 'Unexpected victories belong to those who truly believe.' Our team did not lose faith, and I remained steadfast in what I was doing."
Regarding his aim for the Europa League, he explained, "In January of this year, I decided to target this trophy. I had different opinions from others in the club, but I believed we could win this tournament. It was important to lift the trophy, and I judged that it was the only way."
On a personal note, he stated, "My father is still with me. His voice is always in my head. As I grow older and look in the mirror, I sometimes see my father's face, and honestly, it’s a bit scary. My mother is currently in Greece with my sister and nephews. I’m sure she is very happy. This victory holds great significance for both Greece and Australia (Postecoglou was born in Greece). My family and friends have been with me throughout this journey."
Finally, he mentioned, "I will go back to the hotel now to spend time with family and friends. And I will prepare for the large parade happening on Friday." However, irrespective of this match victory, Coach Postecoglou's future remains uncertain. Chairman Daniel Levy is reportedly considering disciplinary action against the coach, regardless of the Europa final.
However, due to the Europa win, the Tottenham squad has turned to fully support Postecoglou. "Captain" Son Heung-min remarked, "Coach Postecoglou has greatly helped us win the trophy. This is an achievement that no one accomplished before him,” and emphasized, "We must face the facts. For 17 years, no one has won a trophy before Coach Postecoglou."
Son Heung-min stated, "Today is the day we finally won the trophy. While players are important, in the end, it is the coach who secures the trophy," and emphasized his position, saying, "This is not a matter for me or the players to interfere in. However, it must be acknowledged that the coach has won the trophy."
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