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- Postecoglou said he had not addressed his future with his players because it would not be 鈥渉elpful鈥�
- 鈥淚鈥檝e said to the lads from day one, nothing is guaranteed in life, nothing is guaranteed in sport鈥�
BILBAO, Spain: Ange Postecoglou angrily defended his managerial record ahead of Tottenham鈥檚 Europa League final against Manchester United after a disastrous Premier League season, stating: 鈥淚鈥檓 not a clown.鈥�
Spurs face United in Bilbao on Wednesday with a chance to win their first trophy for 17 years, which would mean qualification for next season鈥檚 Champions League.
Postecoglou, whose side are 17th in the Premier League 鈥� a place below United 鈥� has been under mounting pressure over recent months as results have nosedived.
Many observers believe the Spurs manager could be out of a job regardless of the result at the San Mames stadium in northern Spain against Ruben Amorim鈥檚 fellow strugglers.
Postecoglou was asked at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday whether he was aware he was walking a fine line between infamy and history ahead of the match.
鈥淭hat depends on your outlook but I鈥檒l tell you one thing 鈥� irrespective of tomorrow, I鈥檓 not a clown, I never will be mate,鈥� he said, directly addressing a reporter who had used the word in an article.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really disappointing that you use such terminology about a person who for 26 years, without any favors from anyone, who鈥檚 worked his way to being in a position where he鈥檚 leading out a club in a European major competition, for you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means that I鈥檓 a clown.鈥�
The former Australia and Celtic boss said he had worked tirelessly to turn things around at Spurs, who have not won a trophy since 2008 and have not tasted European success since 1984.
鈥淚鈥檝e tried as hard as I can to stick to that process in getting the club to a position where they can challenge for trophies and at the same time, rejuvenate the squad and change the playing style,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t has been a fair assignment with plenty of challenges along the way.
鈥淲ith such a big game tomorrow, there is an opportunity to fulfil at least the main task I was given which was to bring trophies to the club.鈥�
Postecoglou said he had not addressed his future with his players because it would not be 鈥渉elpful.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e said to the lads from day one, nothing is guaranteed in life, nothing is guaranteed in sport. You鈥檝e just got to try and make sure you take every opportunity before you and that鈥檚 what I鈥檝e done my whole career,鈥� he added.
鈥淚鈥檝e been in this position before, where the big game was the last game I managed. It鈥檚 not unusual territory for me.鈥�
He said: 鈥淢y future is assured. I wouldn鈥檛 be the first person who changes jobs. We all change jobs. I鈥檓 sure you鈥檝e had more than one job. My future is assured. I鈥檝e got a beautiful family, I鈥檝e got a great life.
鈥淚鈥檒l keep on winning trophies until I finish, wherever that is. Don鈥檛 worry about my future mate.鈥�
But the 59-year-old feels he still has a job to do at Spurs, who finished fifth in the Premier League in his first season in charge, in 2023/24.
鈥淚 really feel like we鈥檙e building something and what a trophy does is hopefully accelerates that,鈥� he said.
鈥淪o I still think there鈥檚 a lot of work to be done. That鈥檚 quite obvious with the challenges we鈥檝e had this year, but also there鈥檚 been some growth that I鈥檇 like to see through.鈥�
Postecoglou confirmed that Lucas Bergvall would not be fit to face United. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are also out.
But Pape Matar Sarr is available after he was taken off in the 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa on Friday.