Ange Postecoglou has played down the prospect of his Tottenham squad recording a cup final song before theirEuropa Leaguefinal with Manchester United.
The record ‘Ossie’s Dream’ by Chas and Dave – in reference to the former midfielder Ossie Ardiles – is synonymous with Spurs’ history after being recorded with the squad to commemorate reaching the 1981 FA Cup final. However, Postecoglou insisted no repeat would occur with the class of ‘25, who secured a place in Bilbao with a5-1 aggregate victoryover Bodø/Glimt.
“Na, na, na,” Postecoglou laughed. “If you walk in our dressing room, there’s too many extremes in the playlist to get some consensus from the South Americans, to I don’t know what Biss [Yves Bissouma] and the others are listening to … and then you have got some of the other lads. Anyway, none of that would be on my playlist, so I definitely wouldn’t contribute.”
Bissouma revealed after Thursday’s 2-0 win in Norway that even the club’s chairman, Daniel Levy, would be encouraged to sing on the plane home, but Postecoglou said: “There was no belting of tunes. It’s fair to say me and the chairman probably have different playlists mate, so don’t see him banging away to AC/DC.”
Tottenham have two Premier League fixtures before the trip to Bilbao and host another club with a final on the horizon on Sunday in Crystal Palace.
Even though Postecoglou will heavily rotate his squad after a big physical excursion in the Arctic Circle, the 59-year-old is determined to build more positivity after he paid tribute to the fanbase for their efforts in Europe.
“We only had sort of 400 to 500 the other night and the rest are all here and they’ll be euphoric. This will be their first chance to maybe share that experience of the other night with the people they go to games regularly,” Postecoglou added.
“We want to make sure we continue giving them that positivity, so it’s important we go out there and put in a performance. I’ve certainly felt and I think the supporters have played a huge role in our European run. The AZ game at home, then Frankfurt home and away and then Bodo home and away – they’ve been brilliant. I’m sure, come the final, they will have an important part to play there as well.”
Spurs’ cup exploits have kept alive their campaign after a winter injury crisis saw them drop into the bottom half of the Premier League in December.
Postecoglou admitted: “There is no doubt that if we weren’t in Europe, if we got knocked out pre-January and we didn’t have the Carabao Cup (semi-final) run we did, even with our injuries, it’s fair to say our league position would be better than what it is today. I’m not saying we would be in the top four, but we would certainly be in a better position.
“The tough stuff we’ve had to go through in the league and the scrutiny and the criticism the guys have received has brought them really close together and they have said ‘we’re not going to let this beat us. We have an opportunity to do something special’. They have used that as motivation to stay strong through the Carabao Cup and now in Europe to try and achieve something.”