Europa League final: Will Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham win against Manchester United?

Win or lose the Europa League final, Ange Postecoglou’s time as Tottenham manager might be up. We examine what’s next and what victory in Europe would mean for Australian soccer.

His domestic season has broken records for all the wrong reasons, but if Ange Postecoglou guides Tottenham Hotspur to a historic Europa League title former Socceroo Mark Bosnich says it will be “absolutely huge” for Australian football.

Standing in Postecoglou’s way is Bosnich’s former club Manchester United.

Neither team has excelled this season — Tottenham sits 17th with 21 losses and United 16th with 18 losses.

“(Tottenham) have had a glut of injuries this season, it is not an excuse just a fact, but overall the performance, and Postecoglou knows that, has not been good enough — 21 defeats is a record for Tottenham in the Premier League era,” Stan football expert Bosnich said.

“They haven’t won a trophy since 2008 and they haven’t won this competition for 41 years. It will be a hell of an achievement if they do that.”

Postecoglou is no stranger to the pressure of big games — he has a good track record too — winning eight of his nine major finals.

His journey to the Premier League has been a long one — starting in the A-League, then the Socceroos before heading to coach in Japan and Scotland.

“A lot of people will say that Scottish football is not a top tier league and that’s a fair comment but you can only beat who’s in front of you,” Bosnich said.

“But this will by far be the biggest one, it will be absolutely huge.

“Not just for Tottenham supporters but for Australian football too.

“It would be a great yardstick, something to aim for young coaches to aim for here in Australia.

“It is a superb achievement.”

The feat is so monumental that Bosnich won’t shed a tear if his much loved Manchester United doesn’t win.

“I was a kid at Manchester United, if it wasn’t for them giving me my opportunity I would never have had the career that I had so I’ve always got a soft spot for them,” Bosnich said.

“I do want Manchester United to win, I do think they will win, however I won’t be as disappointed as normal if Ange’s Spurs do happen to get up.”

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou fronts a press conference on May 20, 2025. Picture: YouTube

UNDER FIRE

Postecoglou is in his second season at Tottenham and neither have been particularly drama free.

Before he even got his feet under the desk the club transferred out Harry Kane – one of the biggest names in English football and a huge part of Tottenham’s strike force.

Bosnich said criticism started to be thrown towards Postecoglou early in the first season – in a match against Chelsea in November 2023 when Tottenham had two players sent off at home and ended up losing 4-1.

“He kept playing in his characteristic swashbuckling way and a lot of people from that moment started to really question his tactics and sometimes his philosophy,” Bosnich said.

“I’ve never been a coach but I’ve been fortunate to play under some of the very best, generally they always say your philosophy remains the same but tactics change. But Postecoglou was adamant that he was going to sort of remain the same and they dropped off a bit last season, came fifth.”

This season has obviously gone well off plan.

Postecoglou’s frustration at the team’s inability to thrive this season often resulted in dramatic post match press conferences – Bosnich went as far as to call them “hostile”.

“But you can understand that because he has been under a lot of pressure,” he said.

As the number started to grow to double digits in the loss column next to Tottenham’s name on the competition ladder, talk of him being sacked got louder and louder.

The Europa League became Postecoglou’s main focus — resting his best players in Premier League games so they would be in top shape for the tournament.

Despite reaching the final and putting Tottenham on the brink of their first major trophy win since 2008 many still believe his time at the club is over regardless of the result — the damage can’t be undone.

Postecoglou has a word to his team while training in Bilbao. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

THE FUTURE

Bosnich doesn’t have a magic crystal ball but the retired goalkeeper does believe if Postecoglou lifts the trophy on Thursday morning, putting Tottenham through to the Champions League, he has earned the right to keep his spot at the club.

“From my experience, there are always things going on behind the scenes that we’re not privy to and sometimes we will never be privy to, but personally I think if he wins this trophy he’s earned the right to stay.” Bosnich said.

“A lot of people say even if he wins it or not he’s out but there’s also our experience here in Australia – remember when things got a little prickly towards the end of his tenure at the Socceroos, he resigned himself.

“So maybe he might do that, we don’t know.”

If Postecoglou is shown the door or decides to depart Bosnich is certain he will be a wanted man.

He might not be fielding offers from Liverpool, Real Madrid or Barcelona — but plenty of mid to low range Premier League clubs would be brave enough to give the Australian a second chance to show what he can do.

“The top level Premier League clubs will want to see how he goes after what has happened this season,” Postecoglou said.

“He’ll be wanted, it will just depend by what level. The temperature gauge will go really high if he wins this, if he doesn’t it won’t go as high but whether he wins or not the level of interest will come from teams around that Tottenham level or maybe just a bit below.”

Ange Postecoglou after his team’s semi-final victory in Norway. Picture: Mats Torbergsen/NTB via AP

WINNING THE GAME

In finals football season form and past results become irrelevant.

Bosnich said the fact Tottenham had beaten United three times this season wouldn’t play a part in Thursday morning’s game. Nor would it matter that United are undefeated in the Europa League this season.

It will come down to moments.

“It could be a great save, a magnificent goal, could be a mistake, or a dicey decision, big games are always decided by men and moments,” Bosnich said.

“Just because you have control of the game doesn’t mean you win the game.

“It will come down to who is going to seize the day on the vital moments and take their chances.”

Originally published as Europa League final: Will Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham win against Manchester United?