'I'll never be a clown' – Postecoglou lashes out at reporter and insists Spurs job not done

Ange Postecoglou insisted his work at Tottenham is far from done and lashed out at media coverage of his team in a fiery press conference ahead of the Europa League final.

Spurs will face Manchester United in Wednesday's showpiece match in Bilbao, as they look to finally halt an agonising trophy drought.

Tottenham last lifted a piece of major silverware 17 years and 86 days prior to Wednesday's final, having beaten Chelsea in the 2008 EFL Cup final under Juande Ramos.

The club's last European trophy was won 40 years and 363 days prior, with Keith Burkinshaw overseeing a penalty shoot-out victory over Anderlecht in the 1984 UEFA Cup final.

As well as having the opportunity to match Liverpool's English record of three UEFA Cup/Europa League successes, Spurs could salvage Champions League qualification from a miserable season by overcoming United.

Spurs sit 17th in the Premier League table with one game remaining and are likely to record their lowest finish since being relegated from Division One in 22nd place in 1976-77.

Postecoglou has taken issue with coverage of his team on several occasions throughout the season, and at Tuesday's pre-match press conference, he lashed out at a reporter from The London Standard.

The newspaper had published an article about Postecoglou's Spurs legacy ahead of the final, in which the Australian was described as "teetering between hero and clown".

Addressing the media after Spurs landed in Bilbao, Postecoglou said: "I'll tell you one thing, irrespective of tomorrow, I'm not a clown and never will be.

"You really disappointed me that you used such terminology to describe a person that for 26 years – without any favours from anyone – has worked his way to a position where he is leading out a club in a European final.

"For you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means that I'm a clown... I'm not sure how to answer that question."

Postecoglou's Tottenham future is far from certain irrespective of Wednesday's result, but he is relaxed about the situation.

"I wouldn't be the first person who changes jobs. We all change jobs. My future is assured," Postecoglou said. 

"I've got a beautiful family, I've got a great life. I will keep on winning trophies until I finish, wherever that is. Don't worry about my future, mate."

However, the former Celtic boss does not believe his position has become untenable, adding: "I don't think my job is done here. I really feel like we are building something and what a trophy does, hopefully, is accelerate that.

"I still think there is a lot of work to be done. It is quite obvious, the challenges we've had this year, but also there has been some growth that I would like to see through.

"I feel like there is some growth there, and that we can take this club where it needs to be."

Postecoglou is the first Australian manager to ever lead a side to a major European final. 

The last instance of a particular nation having a manager reach a major European final for the first time came in 2021, when Norway's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lost the Europa League final while in charge of United (against Villarreal).