Spurs boss Postecoglou: 'I'm not a clown'

Tottenham Hotspur coach Ange Postecoglou insisted on Tuesday that his future at the club doesn't depend on whether he leads it to success in Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United in the Basque city of Bilbao.

The two sides travel to the San Mames Stadium after disastrous domestic seasons with Manchester United are 16th in the Premier League, while Tottenham is a place below in 17th after suffering 21 league defeats and conceding 61 goals.

Ange Postecoglou, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, attends the press conference at the Singapore Festival of Football held at the National Stadium in Singapore, July 25, 2023. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

That has left to speculation that even if Postecoglou's side lifts the trophy and qualifies for the Champions League as a result, he will leave at the end of the season.

"Whatever happens beyond tomorrow is irrelevant when you think about the opportunity that exists right now and that is to provide something special for this football club, its supporters and everyone that has worked so hard for a trophy."

"If I was worried about my tenure at this football club, it's fair to say we wouldn't be in this position because I would have been distracted long ago," responded the coach when asked about his future.

Postecoglou said he was focused on "giving this football club its best opportunity that it has had for a while to do something special."

"Whatever happens after that, I'm very comfortable that I will continue trying to win trophies wherever I am," he continued.

Despite Tottenham's poor league season, he insisted he has worked to the "process of getting the club to a position where they can challenge for trophies and at the same time, rejuvenate the squad and change the playing style. It has been a fair assignment with plenty of challenges along the way."

"With such a big game tomorrow, there is an opportunity to fulfil at least the main task I was given which was to bring trophies to the club," continued Postecoglou, who was annoyed by a journalist who asked if Wednesday's result would mean he would go down in history or infamy.

"That depends on your outlook but I'll tell you one thing, irrespective of tomorrow, I'm not a clown and never will be," he replied.