Tottenham have travelled to Bilbao for their huge Europa League final against Manchester United on Wednesday night, with the club desperate to end their 17-year wait for silverware
Tottenham legend Jurgen Klinsmann believes the Europa League Final could be the game that makes or breaks Ange Postecoglou. Spurs face Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday night with a place in next season’s Champions League up for grabs.
Both Postecoglou and Reds’ boss Ruben Amorim will finish the Premier League campaign in the lower reaches of the table after suffering defeats at Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively on Friday night.
And Klinsmann said: “It’s such an interesting game because both clubs have been so disappointing in the Premier League this season. Of course it is an important moment for both clubs because there is a place in the Champions League for the winners.
“But it is also a huge game for both managers – and especially Ange. I think Amorim will be given more time to establish his own team at United, but for Postecoglou it is clear that he is in a completely different position at the end of his second year.
“If he wins the Europa League then I hope it will buy him more time to get things right because I know that Spurs is such a fantastic club.
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“There is so much on the line in this final and because the teams have been so inconsistent, it’s impossible to predict what would happen.”
Klinsmann became a Premier League pioneer in the one season he spent at White Hart Lane before blazing the trail that would eventually be followed by Harry Kane by joining Bayern Munich in 1995.
Like Kane, he left to win trophies – and both men have a Bundesliga title medal after Bayern clinched the title last weekend. Tottenham have won just two League Cups in the 30 years since the German World Cup star was in London.
And Klinsmann said: “This is such a massive opportunity for Spurs. First of all then can end that long wait for a trophy – and that would open the door for the Champions League. There is also the added factor that they can win a trophy during a season when Arsenal haven’t won anything.
“Look, Arsenal are a much better team than Spurs. But football is about those moments when you see your team win something, so this is a huge deal in North London.”
Spurs are currently 17th in the Premier League table after 21 defeats and they come into the final following a run of five defeats in their last six Premier League games.
Manchester United, meanwhile have won just once in their last eight league games, losing six of those ahead of their trip to Bilbao.
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