Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has hit back at a reporter who hinted he could be branded a “clown” if his side are to fail in their Europa League final against Manchester United.
Postecoglou, 59, finds his team languishing at the bottom of the league, taking away the already-relegated sides, and is holding onto his job by a thread.
Besides the results, the season has been marred by a number of run-ins between the Spurs boss and reporters.
The increasingly frustrated - or grumpy - Postecoglou has had to answer a number of probing questions around his tactical decisions, style of play and, ultimately, whether he will be at the club next year.
Ange Postecoglou has had a few encounters with reporters this season
PA
His pre-match press conference ahead of the mammoth all-English Europa League final clash was no different.
Responding to a reporter from The Standard, Postecoglou furiously retorted that he is “not a clown” and he “never will be”.
When asked if he is “walking a fine line” between “infamy and history”, the Australian replied: “That depends on your outlook, but I'll tell you one thing, irrespective of tomorrow, I'm not a clown and never will be.
"I will tell you one thing, irrespective of tomorrow, I'm not a clown and never will be."
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Ange Postecoglou responds to a report that he would be a 'hero or clown' depending on the Europa League final result.
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"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.”
Postecoglou continued: "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."
The reporter had earlier published an article with the headline 'Teetering between hero and clown with Tottenham legacy on the line'.
When asked about his future at the club, in typical Postecoglou fashion, he replied: “My future is assured. I wouldn’t be the first person to change jobs, mate.
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“We all change jobs, I’m sure you have had more than one job. My future is assured, I have a beautiful family, a great life.
“I will keep on winning trophies until I finish, wherever I finish. Don’t worry about my future, mate.”
The final presents the chance for Postecoglou and Spurs to gain Champions League qualification, along with an additional £100million in revenue next year.
More importantly, it gives the opportunity for the north London club to win their first piece of silverware since 2008, and break the ‘Spursy’ narrative.
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Totenham Hotspurs' last trophy was the League Cup in 2008
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This is a narrative that captain Son Heung-Min is keen to dispel on the pitch.
The 32-year-old spoke ahead of his side’s crunch match: “A final is a final, and we just need to stay focused, remain focused on ourselves and do the best we can.
"It would be very special and would be a historic moment, but I [have been] here 10 years and I just want to win the trophy, which nobody has done in the 10 years I have been here.
"Tomorrow is going to be a massive day for the club and the boys and for me as well.”
Spurs’ most recent final appearance was a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, 2021, where they famously fired serial winner Jose Mourinho just days before the match, leaving caretaker manager Ryan Mason in charge.
They will be hoping that they can create more problems against a United team that has looked vulnerable at the back all season.
