Five things we learned as Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United in Europa League final

Tottenham Hotspur have made their dreams a reality and won the UEFA Europa League!

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao.

Ange Postecoglou means what he says

I always win in my second season is the message Ange Postecoglou sent to the media. All season he has been mocked for such a bold statement, but everybody is silent now. The Aussie is a serial winner everywhere he goes and he does not make claims without backing them up.

Say what you will about the terrible Premier League season. Many thought Postecoglou should have been sacked already. However, all we can do is credit him for providing us with our greatest achievement in recent memory.

Spurs coped without James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall

There were questions about how Tottenham would cope without their key midfielders, as well as Dejan Kulusevski. Spurs certainly did not control the game and struggled to get forward. However, that did not matter because the game plan was effective.

The performances of players like Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr definitely helped Spurs. They have faced their fair share of criticism, but they did what they needed to do. Credit to every single one of them.

Ange Postecoglou has adapted at Tottenham

Postecoglou has been blasted for his apparent inability to change the way his team plays. He has been accused of showing naivety and always looking to attack even when Spurs have the lead.

Today, that could not be further from the truth. Tottenham essentially parked the bus for most of the second half. It felt a bit like when Jose Mourinho was in charge, but this time it worked a treat. Postecoglou showed he had a plan B.

Previous Spurs managers were wrong in their priorities

Mauricio Pochettino was one of the best things to happen to Tottenham in the 21st century, but he could not secure a trophy. While he did reach some finals, it often felt like he did not prioritise cup competitions, particularly the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

Regularly finishing in the Premier League top four is a nice achievement, but it cannot compare to winning silverware. Plus, Spurs have qualified for the Champions League, despite sitting 17th in the Premier League table.

Tottenham are Manchester United’s bogey team

It is quite remarkable that Man United have not beaten Spurs in around two and a half years. On top of this, the Lilywhites have won all four meetings between the sides this season. Even in a cup final, a match where Tottenham have rarely shown up in previous years, United could not get a win in this fixture.

It is rather amusing how Spurs have been beaten by every Premier League team this season except United. Whether it was Erik Ten Hag or now Ruben Amorim, they just cannot push aside the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

An additional point to consider

Spurs did what was required on Wednesday and now it is time to celebrate. However, it is essential in pre-season that the Tottenham first-team squad is strengthened. Last night’s strategy worked against the Red Devils, but would it be as effective against a team like Inter Milan or PSG? This season has ended in the best possible way, but it has not been a good campaign. 

Daniel Levy cannot use this as an excuse to remain complacent. Spurs need to keep progressing and that means investing proper money in the summer.

But for now, let’s just enjoy this one. Come on you Spurs!

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