Ange Postecoglou's Arctic Blast was completely about unity and resilience. That was the message of the sharp end of the Europa League campaign from Tottenham, and it was due to the celebrations in Bodo.
Players hurled themselves to the moist, cold and jubilant spurs fans after the last whistle and in the dressing room, Postecoglou's post-match was words about his pride to see how they were held together by difficult times.
The season has been irregular. Sometimes downright terrible, it must be said. And yet they silenced the Graas in Frankfurt and disrupted the rhythm of Bodo/shines at their notorious plastic pitch. And there is a chance of glory.
“You can change things,” Postecoglou told his players after the victory in Norway before he passed through his press conference and took excessive attack in everything he had designed in one way or another to dispel a European League final.
If he has to leave at the end of the season, which seems likely, regardless of the result against Manchester United in Bilbao, he wants to leave a stamp. Not only a trophy that, as he said, would be 'solid' but a little more durable, a sign of resilience.
Not anymore, “guys, it's Tottenham” as Sir Alex Ferguson always said in days when the United Minds was stronger.
Perhaps that is laughable when you see Tottenham in the 16th with 38 points, beaten 19 times in 35 league games and concentrated elsewhere while entertaining Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The also rans in the Premier League are so much stronger than the also rans of Europe. Spurs are rarely blinded and still won nine out of 14 to reach the Europa League final, but only lost twice.
But they have galvanized in the last five games, with some of their best players who fit again and a feeling of targeted rise. Since the second stage of the Last-16 draw against AZ Alkmaar, when Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven came together again in the heart of the defense, Spurs have won four and signed the other in the Europa League.
They won in Frankfurt, the result of the campaign and in Bodo without giving a goal. “A lot of discipline,” Van de Ven said after the victory in Norway. 'Everyone had doubts when we came here because Bodo/Glimt did incredibly in their home games in Europe.
“So we knew from the start that it would be a very tough game, but we showed discipline, mentality, we did what we had to do, we got a clean leaf and now we are going to Bilbao.”
Of course they are back with the first choice defenders. Van de Ven's tempo is indispensable and the competitive courage of Romero leads the team.
Since Tottenham's gloomy midwinter too, Postecoglou has also easily adapted. His team is a bit deeper and defends when needed, and flows forward in search of goals.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma showed the defense in Bodo. Full backs chose their moments to attack. Dominic Solanke sometimes sweated in the front. Just like in Frankfurt, it was a bit more orderly and much less chaotic.
Providing doubters wrong? “Yes, that's a good feeling,” said Van de Ven. “It has been a difficult season and it will only be successful if we win the Europa League and get the trophy.”
Sons, It's United, a team spurs were defeated three times this season, 3-0 in Old Trafford in September when Bruno Fernandes was sent away in December and with 4-3 in London, in the Carabao Cup, a night post coglou reinforced criticism of the defense of his team by the movie Gladiator, 'were not'.
Recently, in February, when James Maddison scored the only goal. And yet the confrontation in Bilbao becomes the ultimate test of this newly forged spirit because, well, that one loss and it is 'typical traces' again.
Beat United three times and losing if a trophy is at stake and the conversation about resilience and togetherness has disappeared again.
They all know that. And although defenders fit again, creative forces are missing, including Maddison and Lucas Bergvall. Heung-Min Son did not travel to Norway while he continued to work on his recovery from a foot injury. He could appear against Palace on Wednesday week and will have his sights on Bilbao.
“It is a completely different game, different circumstances,” said Solanke, who scored the first in the 2-0 win in Bodo, his 15th of the season and his fourth in five games.
Just like others, the signature of £ 65 million is back in a good rhythm at the right time after an injury while trying to prove a worthy successor to Harry Kane.
“Big club, big boots to fill,” said Solanke. 'We could have done better in the competition. Maybe I could have done better.
'But in a European tournament we are so close to winning the trophy that the club has wanted for years. Everyone, the fans, the staff and the American players too. '
Comments