It wasn’t always champagne football. They couldn’t put the ball in the net from open play. But in what was seething cauldron full of at times overly-excited German football fans, Tottenham Hotspur did the job. Spurs’ 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, a result that punched their ticket to the Europa League semifinals and a home-and-home matchup against Norwegian side Bodø/Gliimt, had the feel of one of those “Glory, Glory Nights” in European competition from days of yore.
It was a gutsy, at times gritty win. No style points here, but Spurs put in a robust defensive performance, shutting down Frankfurt striker Hugo Etikike to just two shots, neither on target, and withstanding a barrage of late chances with the match on the line. Even better, Tottenham kept their composure in what was a pressure cooker of a match, with their opponents seeming to crumble emotionally as the match went on.
Ange Postecoglou, in his post-match press conference, could hardly contain his enthusiasm, and was effusive in his praise for his team.
“I’m delighted with many things, super proud of the lads. Going away from home, a quarter-final against a very good side, you know you’re going to have to work really hard, be really disciplined and we needed to score. We had to show the quality we had as well.
“To a man I just thought they were outstanding, so proud of them. In such a big game, they delivered a performance and it means we’re through to a semi-final. I think over the two legs we deserved to go through. It could have been all over in the first leg but we earned the right to be in the semi.”
The turning point in the match was when James Maddison was cleaned out by Frankfurt keeper Kauã Santos just before halftime. After an extended VAR review that involved the match official heading to the monitor, Spurs were awarded a penalty which Dominic Solanke converted in what turned out to be the match’s only goal. Maddison himself was substituted shortly afterwards, with the midfielder in noticeable discomfort.
When asked, Postecoglou said he didn’t have any significant injury concerns about Madders, and that the play is what won Spurs the match.
“[Madison] is fine. Unbelievable courage in that moment to put his body on the line knowing full well that he was going to get a pretty severe knock and I was surprised it wasn’t a red card. Super courageous from him. He is sore but I’m sure that has all been numbed knowing that he has helped us progress to the semi.
“We can be facetious about [the VAR review] but I thought it was a clear penalty. I’m not sure why it needed VAR. When a player wins the ball and gets cleaned out, if that was a defender it definitely would probably have been a red card. It’s definitely a penalty. I don’t think it needed a review. Again, I think we got what we deserved.”
This was, correctly, described as Tottenham’s most important match of the season — not only because it provided an opportunity for Spurs to return to a European semifinal for the first time in six years, but because failure to do so was viewed as the final straw in Postecoglou’s tenure at the club. The win gave Ange a lifeline for his job, and led to him gently needling the reporters (and supporters) that have been giving him a hard time.
“We’re in the semi-final and will play a difficult opponent in the semi, but it’s not about my belief in the team. What’s more important is the belief the team has had because after a season like ours, it would be very easy for the players and staff, they could have left me in a pretty vulnerable place in terms of them splintering, but I’ve never felt that (even) with all the noise around our season.
“They’ve been so united in believing in what we’re trying to achieve here and that is what gave me heart all along that if we got our own slice of luck in terms of getting some players back that I really believed this team could achieve. That is what keeps driving me. It isn’t so much my belief in them, it’s their belief in what we’re doing and both players and staff have been outstanding.
“I am the same manager today that I was yesterday so if people think us winning tonight makes me a better manager or whoever thinks I wasn’t doing a good job yesterday, should be feeling the same way. I don’t care, it doesn’t bother me, it doesn’t affect what I do. For me, it’s always about the dressing room. Do the players believe? Do the staff believe? That’s much more important than what others may make of me. So, unfortunately for a lot of you, you’re going to have to put up with me for a little bit longer, mate, so let’s see how that goes.”
Tottenham’s league run-in is a tough one, starting with a home match against high-flying Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The Bodø/Glimt matches will be sandwiched inbetween matches away to Liverpool, away to West Ham, and home to Crystal Palace. But despite what Ange might say about the Premier League and the opportunities that sill remain, there’s no question which competition is now first and foremost in the front of the players’ minds.
Tottenham Hotspur are European semifinalists again, and, at least for now, the vibes are back in the black.