Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United in the final to win the Europa League.
The victory at San Mamés saw Spurs qualify for the Champions League and also end their 17-year trophy drought. Postecoglou, who arrived at Tottenham in 2023, has always won silverware in his second season at his previous clubs – as he very famously reminded everyone this season – and that has continued at the Premier League side.
Monday’s edition of Record has published an interview with Postecoglou’s assistant at Tottenham, Sérgio Raimundo.
The 40-year-old is thrilled to be part of the north London club’s coaching staff that helped them win the first European trophy since 1984. When sharing insight into the Europa League success celebrations, he talked about the impact of their success on fans.
“They did a Zoom with me live and there were about 250,000 people in the streets. It was crazy,” he said.
“And after the game against Brighton, the fans were super happy, everyone stayed on the pitch, we walked around with the trophy and you can see the impact of them being teased and having that ‘Spursy’ theme. It means they almost arrive but never do. Now everyone is motivated, happy, you see a lot of shirts on the street.”
The ‘Spursy’ theme comes from failing to win silverware for so long and sometimes managing to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.
Record asked the Portuguese coach to explain what the feeling was like within a club that had not won silverware for 17 years, and how Postecoglou banished the ‘Spursy’ mentality.
“We started the season wanting to change this story. What we did was, and also largely due to the coach, who was spectacular at this, always have belief and we passed this belief on to the players,” Raimundo explained.
“I remember saying to the players in pre-season: ‘This is the year we lift a cup, this is the year we win a title’. So, we started to generate this belief within the group, and we had that mental strength to not deviate, to remain united as a group and always together, even in the worst moments.”
On Tottenham’s Europa League journey this season, he added: “I think we started very strong at AZ Alkmaar [round of 16], but even more so in Frankfurt [quarter-final]. We have always been professionals, but from Frankfurt onwards we had a mentality. They are not philosophies, they are not principles, it is to maintain all of that, but now it is to win. In the end it is important that we play well, but it was more important for everyone and for the club to win the trophy.”
Raimundo said Tottenham’s goal for next season is to win another trophy.
“It’s about continuing to win. I always had the idea of winning ten titles in ten different countries, with first division teams. Wherever you are, keep winning, because the impact it has on your family, on the fans, on the clubs, the joy you generate… it’s addictive!”
Sérgio Raimundo will be hoping Ange Postecoglou keeps his position at Tottenham.
