Ange Postecoglou launched a defiant defence of his Tottenham Hotspur side after guiding them to the Europa League final with a 2-0 victory over Bodo/Glimt in Arctic Norway on Thursday night, brushing aside criticism of their league form as Spurs remain on course to end a 17-year trophy drought.
Second-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro sealed a 5-1 aggregate win for the North London club and set up a mouth-watering all-English final against Manchester United in Bilbao on May 21.
Tottenham’s last piece of silverware came in the 2008 League Cup, and their progress to only a second European final in four decades has come in spite of a turbulent Premier League campaign which sees them languishing in 16th.
The Australian manager, however, dismissed suggestions that the Europa League run is a smokescreen for domestic failings, and said reaching the final was a significant achievement in its own right.
“It’s going to upset a lot of people, isn’t it?” Postecoglou said, bristling in his post-match press conference. “The latest thing now is that neither of us [Spurs or United] should get a trophy if we win, we’ll just get a team photo because apparently we’re not worthy.
“Who cares if we’re struggling in the league? Why is that even relevant? If it’s so easy to get to a final, why doesn’t everyone who finishes in the top three manage it?”
The Spurs manager, who has faced growing scrutiny over his future amid their domestic slump, referenced the club’s long-standing struggles in major competitions.
“Of course it’s massive. Frame it against what this club and these supporters have been through over the last 15, 20 years. We’ve given them something real to hope for. That matters,” Postecoglou added.
The semi-final, played under freezing conditions in the Arctic Circle, proved to be a challenge for Spurs, but Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale run finally came to an end. The Norwegian champions, from a town with a population of just 55,000, were undone by Tottenham’s quality and experience.
“We should congratulate Tottenham for a good plan,” said Bodo coach Kjetil Knutsen. “They took away our tempo, and we never really got into the match. They had the energy and the power – they wanted it more.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s opponents in the final, Manchester United, completed a commanding 7-1 aggregate win over Athletic Bilbao with a 4-1 victory at Old Trafford, thanks in large part to a Mason Mount double and goals from Casemiro and Rasmus Hojlund.
Despite the emphatic scoreline, United manager Ruben Amorim admitted the Red Devils’ vulnerabilities remain evident.
“We have many weaknesses, but we’re fighting,” said Amorim. “If you look at both games, we deserve to be in the final.”
The May 21 final offers both clubs a route to salvage their seasons. Like Tottenham, United have struggled in the Premier League and sit just one point ahead in 15th.
“We’re struggling, both of us,” Amorim said. “But in a final, everything is different. It’s all or nothing now.”
Tottenham have already beaten United three times this season, but Postecoglou isn’t reading too much into past results.
“What matters now is May 21,” he said. “We’ve earned the right to be there. And we plan to make it count.”
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
RESULT
Deportivo La Coruna 2 Barcelona 4
Deportivo: Perez (39'), Colak (63')
Barcelona: Coutinho (6'), Messi (37', 81', 84')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20ASI%20(formerly%20DigestAI)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Quddus%20Pativada%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Artificial%20intelligence%2C%20education%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243%20million-plus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GSV%20Ventures%2C%20Character%2C%20Mark%20Cuban%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Racecard
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah Group Two (PA) US$55,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Trophy (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,200m
8.15pm: Balanchine Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Firebreak Stakes Group Three (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections: 6.30pm: RM Lam Tara, 7.05pm: Al Mukhtar Star, 7.40pm: Bochart, 8.15pm: Magic Lily, 8.50pm: Roulston Scar, 9.25pm: Quip, 10pm: Jalmoud
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
