Postecoglou dials up defiance but his fate is only predictable thing about final

If Bilbao proves to be Ange Postecoglou’s last stand, he is going out with all guns blazing. The Europa League final against Manchester United will be Postecoglou’s 100th game in charge of

Tottenham Hotspur and, regardless of the result, the chances of him still being in charge of the club after his 101st match - the final fixture of the Premier League season against Brighton

on Sunday - appear to be extremely slim. In fact, during a predictably spiky media conference, he made a reference to having “been in this position before where the big game is the last game

I managed.” He added: “It’s not unusual territory for me and I’ve always navigated that pretty well.” And while he was quick to clarify that he still sees himself as having a long-term

challenge at Spurs, Postecoglou came across as a man who knows there is a more than good chance he has only two more games at the helm. If he does know that, it has given him an even

stronger dose of familiar defiance. He declared: “Whatever happens beyond tomorrow is irrelevant when you think about the opportunity that exists right now - and that is to provide something

special for this football club, its supporters and everyone that has worked so hard for a trophy. "If I was worried about my tenure at this football club, it's fair to say we

wouldn't be in this position because I would have been distracted long ago. "I'm good at ensuring my focus is on giving this football club its best opportunity that it has had

for a while to do something special. "Whatever happens after that, I'm very comfortable that I will continue trying to win trophies … wherever I am. My future is assured. I’ll

keep on winning trophies.” To win the trophy in Bilbao will mean overcoming a United side that Spurs have beaten three times this season. But Postecoglou says that will count for nothing

inside the San Mames Stadium, explaining: “It's a final and those kinds of things aren't important. What I do know is, even your form going into it - even if you're in

terrible form - doesn't matter. “What matters is how the players cope with the occasion, how they cope with understanding the importance of the game.” Postecoglou will be without James

Maddison and Lucas Bergvall but, after a couple of comeback run-outs, he will have a fully-fit Son Heung-min. And he believes his skipper will be a key player, saying: “It's massive to

get Sonny back. We were a little bit worried when he picked up the injury because we weren't sure how long he was going to be out for. We were really pleased the other night to see him

play for 60-70 minutes. You could see his sharpness coming back. "He is so important to the group. He is so important as a leader and he is such an important figure at this football

club. It's a big motivation and a driver for all of us to give him a trophy that his career deserves.” In emotional exchanges, Postecoglou also spoke about pride in his Greek heritage

and in the journey he was taken on by his parents. But he ended with another look towards what seems like an inevitable departure from Spurs. He said: “I wouldn't be the first person

who changes jobs. We all change jobs. My future is assured. I've got a beautiful family, I've got a great life. "Don't worry about my future, mate. My future is not

entwined with anything, my future is assured. Provided my health remains and my beautiful family and friends are beside me, there is nothing wrong with my future mate. Don't

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