The Sun

SHOULD Son Heung-min end up lifting the Europa League trophy for Tottenham, it will only start the argument — not finish it.

Win their first silverware since 2008 and some will claim Spurs are back among the Big Six, others may say English football’s ultimate fancy Dans never went away.

All while it’s a reasonable shout to suggest they should never have been in it in the first place.

Spurs did well to overcome Eintracht Frankfurt in the last eight. A cracking achievement, given how hopeless they are on the home front this season.

Monday night’s soulless surrender to Nottingham Forest came just four days after a stirring victory in Germany.

The European quest is impressive of late and hopefully they’ll go all the way and bring the trophy back next month.

If they do, it will finally end an agonising wait for glory stretching back 17 years — about the same time as it takes to walk from the ground to Seven Sisters Tube.

The 2008 League Cup final success over Chelsea is a fast-fading and flimsy claim to historical fame.

Because that came almost a decade after they had bagged the same trophy. North London’s original football club have never been serial winners.

Tottenham try to play aesthetically. They have employed a few skilful players — David Ginola, Glenn Hoddle, Paul Gascoigne. But, ultimately, they are famous for being famous — like Gemma Collins.

So what exactly is it that makes so many people within the game class them as members of the so-called Big Six?

And in an age of fluid wealth, when clubs can be transformed overnight with foreign investment, maybe it’s time to dismiss the idea of an elite enclave.

Defining the size of a football club has no universal measure.

It’s genuinely surprising that as football lurches towards total automation, some smart-arse has not conjured up a Stephen Hawking-style algorithm to calculate it to ten decimal places.

Capacity of ground multiplied by number of honours, then dividing that by length of time between trophies is one possibility.

Money in the bank, times international players, minus number of losses squared, all over position in the league table?

Football today bears no resemblance to the 1980s. Back then it was easier to work it out as money didn’t muddy the equation so much. Life was simpler.

Along with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton, Tottenham were in a league of their own. It’s not so clear-cut now.

Behind the competition

They have a lovely, big ground. Stamford Bridge is tiny by comparison — but Chelsea are now by far the most successful club in London.

Newcastle are awash with Saudi cash and winning this season’s Carabao Cup means they have won as much as Tottenham since 2008. Aston Villa are waking up from a decades-long coma.

They entertained us in the Champions League this season and are fighting hard to get back in it.

Manchester City were poor neighbours of United for donkey’s years. Eddie Large was their most famous fan.

Yet this season is a write-off, even though they may yet win the FA Cup and qualify for a 14th successive campaign in the Champions League.

They have billions locked away in their Arab owners’ vaults and have amassed four Premier League titles on the trot. The Etihad isn’t the biggest mind.

Resentment

There’s been just two seasons since 2010 when Spurs finished outside the top six. Yet they are 16th and every match at their enviable new ground is tainted by resentment towards the ownership.

They will lose more league games this season than they will win.

Even if Son does get his hands on that Europa League trophy, three cups in 26 years is hardly massive. Relegated Leicester have won bigger things — the title and FA Cup — in the past decade.

It’s mind-bogglingly complex working out who is the biggest and the best.

Maybe it’s easier switching the sums around and instead of going mad deciding who is in the Big Six, work out who isn’t. The Tottenham conundrum is much simpler then.

MARESCA CAN'T WIN

ENZO MARESCA copped it from some fans for not joining in the post-match celebrations of Chelsea’s win at Fulham.

Even though he had just been booked for overdoing it on the touchline when Pedro Neto smashed home the winner moments earlier.

There is a palpable distance between the Chelsea supporters and the reserved Italian.

I’ve yet to hear them sing his name and there is a feeling that whatever he does, they will never completely warm to him.

With Chelsea trailing at half-time on Sunday, Maresca was forced to take the long walk past the away end at Craven Cottage and was roundly labelled a "w*****" by a noisy minority.

I don’t blame him for not wanting to attend the post-match party and salute those who, 45 minutes earlier, were giving him such stick. It seems he cannot win, despite having just won.

Meanwhile, over at all-but-relegated Ipswich, boss Kieran McKenna’s name was lustily cheered when read out before they were thumped 4-0 by Arsenal. It seems he cannot lose, despite losing a lot.

ROCKET'S LAUNCHED

LEAST surprising result of the week is Ronnie O’Sullivan’s demolition of arch-adversary Ali Carter at snooker’s World Championship.

The Rocket rocked up to the Crucible, typically out of form and playing the wounded animal, claiming he would be lucky to pot even one red ball.

A crushing 10-4 triumph later — having won five frames in succession — and O’Sullivan is in the balls, as they say. And into the last 16.

He is someone who changes his mind on a daily basis whether or not he wants to pick up a cue. But he has seven world titles dating back to 2001.

O’Sullivan turns 50 in December — and there is a serious belief that he will be enjoying his eighth world crown, having surpassed the haul of his other great baize nemesis, Stephen Hendry.

ENI'S WRIGHT JIBE IS JUST WRONG

THE BEST broadcasters choose their words carefully.

Eni Aluko has not with her surprising attack on Ian Wright for "dominating" punditry in women’s football.

Ex-Chelsea star Aluko says: “If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women’s game but that’s not the case. I can’t dominate the men’s game.”

No, she can’t but maybe that’s for individual reasons rather than sexism. Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan will be sharing the biggest presenting gig in football with Mark Chapman on Match of the Day from next season.

That’s two women and one man hosting the country’s flagship highlights show covering the biggest men’s league in the world, with a vast audience.

Genuine question . . . am I missing something here?

ARSENAL fan Anthony Yarde has a cheeky trick up his sleeve as he prepares to fight behind enemy lines at Tottenham's stadium.

The light-heavyweight Gooner faces Lyndon Arthur in a trilogy bout on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn.

Yarde has worn Arsenal attire all week - potentially riling up any Spurs fans attending the event.

And now the two-time world title challenger teased going one further by walking out to the Gunners' tune North London Forever.

He told Sky Sports: "I might even come in to the theme song."

Yarde was stunned to a points defeat by Arthur in 2020.

But he viciously got redemption in the rematch with a brutal fourth-round stoppage.

Now they prepare to settle the score nearly half a decade after their rivalry first started.

Yarde, 33, said: "Sometimes that's just how it all works out and it's boxing.

"I just take every fight very, very seriously. He's going to be a person that wants to get, you can call it revenge.

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"I want to do a better job than I done last time. It's due to be a good clash."

Arthur, 33, said: "I have to be better than the first (fight) better than the second fight.

"I have to take from both, good things that I did in both. Obviously, the second fight was only four rounds but there were still some good bits.

"Personally, I think he's taking this fight lightly. By accident, just naturally thinking it will be easy because of how the second fight went."

LIVERPOOL fans have worked out that Chelsea will likely give them a guard of honour, should their side clinch the title this Sunday.

Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace last night moved Arne Slot's Reds to within one point of the Premier League title.

The Anfield side will host Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday and would win the title with just a draw against Ange Postecoglou's men.

In the Premier League, it is customary for the new champions' next opponents to give them a guard of honour as they walk onto the pitch, should they have sealed the title prior to the final day.

Following this Sunday's clash with Spurs, Liverpool travel to Chelsea on May 4.

Should the Blues stick to tradition, they would give the Reds a guard of honour onto the pitch, if they have clinched the title by then.

The prospect has evoked memories of Liverpool's unsuccessful title bid in 2014.

Liverpool were dramatically beaten 2-0 by Chelsea at Anfield in a costly match in April of that year.

During the match, in which Mo Salah featured for the Blues, Steven Gerrard infamously slipped, allowing Demba Ba to run through and score.

Liverpool subsequently went to Crystal Palace hoping to drum up their goal difference, only to surrender a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3.

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Manchester City went on to be champions that season.

And the following year Chelsea won the league, with Gerrard and Co having to give them a guard of honour on that occasion.

Even in recent years, the Blues have beaten Liverpool to signing the likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Romeo Lavia.

So the prospect of arriving at Stamford Bridge is a juicy one for those of a Red persuasion.

Posting about the possibility, a Liverpool fan wrote on X: "Guard of honour at Stamford Bridge from Caicedo, Enzo and Lavia. HAHAHA we owe Chelsea Football Club."

While a second pointed out: "How ironic is it that Crystal Palace have helped us won the league and Chelsea will possibly be the first team to give us the guard of honour."

A Chelsea fan chimed in: "I do not want Chelsea to give Liverpool a guard of honour. Tottenham please be useful for once."

And another added: "Chelsea having to give Liverpool guard of honour is making me sick to the depths of my stomach. What did I actually do to deserve this."

SCOTT PARKER has emerged as a shock candidate for the Spurs job - if the club decide to axe Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian could leave the North London outfit at the end of the season, regardless of whether he wins the Europa League or not.

SunSport can reveal a number of senior figures at Tottenham “hugely admire” the job Parker has done at Burnley this season.

And despite difficult spells in charge of Fulham and Bournemouth in the Premier League, he remains one of the most highly-regarded young English coaches in the country.

Spurs owner Daniel Levy is among those said to be a massive fan of former Tottenham star Parker.

Levy is keen to cement his club's reputation for playing an attacking brand of football alongside a history of bringing through young players.

These traits are central to Parker’s philosophy - but appointing him would be hugely controversial.

That’s because if Postecoglou is axed, Spurs fans are already demanding a replacement with proven Premier League experience.

Supporters' message boards highlight Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola as a preferred choice, and he remains a firm favourite with the bookies too.

Marco Silva and Thomas Frank are also being tipped by many bookmakers, with Mauricio Pochettino repeatedly linked with a return to Spurs.

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An insider told SunSport: “It’s going to be a big summer at Spurs. If they can win the Europa League, then it’s very unlikely that Ange will go anywhere.

“He’ll have earned the opportunity to start the new season and to try and turn around Spurs’ fortunes in the Premier League.

“But if he gets off to a bad start then the noise will become unbearable and he could be out by Christmas.

“There’s obviously a lot of talk and work going on behind the scenes at the club with contingency plans being put in place as to what life would be like without Ange.

“And Scott Parker is a name who is being talked about more and more. The job he’s done at Burnley has underlined, again, what an excellent young coach he is.

“There’s a view among many at the club that he could be a potential boss for Spurs, but the board know if they do replace the current manager they need to get the next appointment spot on.

“It might be the case that it’s a bit early for Parker. But he’s definitely someone who might potentially end up in the Spurs dugout one day.

“Spurs came very close to appointing Parker in 2021 when he was Fulham manager. But, in the end, he just missed out.

"Many years have now passed, and he’s become more experienced, which has made him an even more attractive proposition.”

THERE are only a handful of players that are so talented that it is worth keeping them against their will.

Cristiano Ronaldo was one of them, when Manchester United made him give one more season after Real Madrid first pushed hard for the Portuguese mega star in 2008.

Cristian Romero, however, is not in that category.

If he really wants to leave Tottenham this summer - and it is hard to interpret his latest interview in any other way - then they are best parting ways when the season ends.

In fact, it could be a rare transfer where it suits all parties.

Atletico Madrid, who seem the most likely destination and are very keen on the World Cup winner, would be signing tenacious centre-back tailor-made for Diego Simeone.

Romero, 26, would get the move to La Liga that he has publicly declared to be his preference.

While Spurs, provided they can get around £50-60million for him, would be selling a player with an iffy recent injury record and whose commitment to the cause has come into question - and be able to reinvest heavily on a quality centre-back with neither of those issues.

Romero on his day is a fabulous defender who is as combative as they come and possesses a laser-like passing range.

But the problem for Spurs is those days have been far too infrequent this term - and that has been when he is not on the treatment table and actually able to play.

He has not seemed a happy camper this season, publicly criticising Tottenham's board for not spending like their rivals do and even indirectly had a pop at the club not laying on a private jet for him when coming back from international duty.

Romero also seemed to aim a dig at Tottenham's medical staff by his glaring omission of them when thanking his nation's physios for getting him back from injury earlier this year.

His full-blooded tackles can be crowd-pleasing and tone-setting when they go right but when they do not, he can become a liability.

A best-case scenario could well be Romero going out in a blaze of glory by helping win the Europa League before being granted his dream move to Spain.

Then Spurs could turn their attention to someone like England defender Marc Guehi, who they bid for in January, and may be a much better fit going forward.

ANGE POSTECOGLOU is set to be sacked by Tottenham even if they win the Europa League, according to reports.

Spurs are in the midst of a disastrous Premier League season and they are currently sat a dismal 16th in the table.

Monday night's 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest was their 18th loss - and they are now just one away from matching their record of 19 defeats suffered in the 2003-04 campaign.

But the season can still be saved by ending the club's 17-year wait for silverware via the Europa League.

Postecoglou's men saw off Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals to set up a last-four tie with Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.

But lifting the Europa League on May 21 will reportedly not be enough to keep the Aussie in the job.

The Telegraph claim that Spurs have decided they are going to axe Postecoglou whether they win the cup or not.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is highly-rated by Tottenham chiefs, but the Cherries are determined and "optimistic" of keeping him.

Fulham manager Marco Silva is also among the leading candidates to replace Postecoglou.

Mauricio Pochettino has expressed his interest in returning to Tottenham - although he is set to manage the US team at their home World Cup next summer.

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Spurs technical director Johan Lange is understood to be a fan of Brentford’s Thomas Frank.

It comes amid reports that their chief football officer Scott Munn is set to be sacked.

Munn is said to be Postecoglou's "key ally and biggest supporter".

Before beating Eintracht Frankfurt, the under-fire boss opened up about his future and admitted he has "got no idea" whether he will be at Spurs next season.

He said: “You either think I’m capable of doing the job now or you don’t. That’s where I sit with these things.

“If people think that us winning tomorrow all of a sudden makes me a better manager than what I am today or us losing tomorrow somehow makes me a worse manager, I guess that’s their burden, not mine.

“I don’t think that way and I don’t think most people think that way. Or I’d like to think they don’t, in terms of their own sort of self esteem and who they are as people.

“I couldn’t care less. Really. I couldn’t care less.

“There’s no burden on me, there’s no anxiety on me. What I’m sitting here doing is thinking we’ve got a great opportunity to get to the final four of a major tournament.

“Mate, I’m not going to let that slip by without fighting tooth and nail for it irrespective of what may come the day after.”

NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO will have dreamt of delivering Champions League football at Tottenham once upon a time.

The Portuguese never came close to it unfortunately because Daniel Levy sacked him after only 17 games in charge back in 2021.

But Nuno took a huge step to qualifying for Europe’s elite club competition at Spurs as his Forest side recorded an easy win back on his old stomping ground.

Early goals from Elliot Anderson and Chris Wood, who also had another ruled out for offside, did the damage to send the Tricky Trees up to third, even though Richarlison got one back late on.

And despite a recent wobble of back-to-back defeats, plus the quality competition they face to finish in the top five, Nuno’s men will fancy themselves now given their favourable run-in.

After Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City - in itself a massive fixture in Forest’s recent history - their last five to complete the term are all very winnable.

Brentford on the beach at home, then away to a Crystal Palace side who could be preparing for a cup final.

A home-banker to relegated Leicester is followed by a trip to a West Ham side desperate to see the end of the campaign.

Then a final-day hosting of Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, who are in the mix for the Champions League but hardly look invincible.

Indeed, they may look the most likely to miss out.

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In an already a dream season, they could not have hoped for a better crack at it than this.

As for Spurs, where’s that meme of a gutted Ange Postecoglou slumped over on the touchline when you need it.

From the high of Thursday’s win at Eintracht Frankfurt to an 18th league defeat of the season.

Spurs had had one of their best nights in ages with that gritty 1-0 in Germany.

Not only did it put them into the Europa League semi-finals and keep their trophy dream alive.

But it most probably saved Postecoglou from the sack and was convincing evidence that his players are still playing for him.

This, however, was a reminder of why the Aussie was under such pressure in the first place as an abysmal league campaign got worse.

And to old boss Nuno, to rub further salt into the wounds of the Spurs fans who bothered to turn up in a stadium dotted with unoccupied seats all around.

It was not just the result that left home supporters feeling empty but the manner of the performance.

Once again, Spurs were so easy to play through and create chances against.

For a team in such good nick as Forest, breaking down Postecoglou’s brittle backline was easy.

Morgan Gibbs-White fired a warning shot on four minutes which Guglielmo Vicario dived low to his left to push away.

A minute later and Nuno’s side were ahead through a preventable goal, from Spurs’ perspective.

Pedro Porro tried to clear Anthony Elanga’s corner but his header was weak.

It fell perfectly outside the box for Anderson, whose powerful drive deflected off Rodrigo Bentancur and fizzed up past Vicario.

One looked to have become two only five minutes on when Wood converted Anderson’s pinpoint cross but VAR spotted the New Zealander to have been narrowly offside.

Ultra-focused Forest shook off the frustration and on 17 minutes it was definitely 2-0, with Wood bagging his 19th Prem strike of the season.

The powerhouse forward, whose former clubs Burnley and Leeds both won promotion back to the big time on Easter Monday, rose to meet Elanga’s cross and flicked it into an empty net.

Vicario had attempted one of his Superman-esque punch-outs to clear the delivery but got nowhere near it.

The Italian’s effort to keep out the goal summed up Spurs’ display in the opening 20 minutes: misjudged, sluggish, not good enough.

Forest fans were in dreamland though, singing ‘Up the Champions League we go’ as their team threatened to run riot.

Spurs did have chances to get back in it from there. Of course they did, this is Postecoglou’s side after all.

Mathys Tel lashed well wide after Neco Williams had got a clearance all wrong.

Richarlison then somehow headed the wrong side of the post from a few yards, possibly being put off by Pape Matar Sarr being in his eyeline.

After the break, Harry Toffolo’s outstanding volley on the goal-line to hack the ball away was the only thing stopping Dejan Kulusevski’s header from pulling one back.

Then Matz Sels stepped up as he has done so often this season to deny Richarlison’s shot.

Postecoglou finished the game with four forwards as he sent on Dominic Solanke and Forest old-boy Brennan Johnson to join Tel and Richarlison, who was again denied by a stunning Sels save.

But Nuno’s brave Forest withstood the pressure.

The question is, can they do the same and hold on in the race for the Champions League?

This display, back at the place he very briefly called home, will have given their manager renewed belief that they can.

Richarlison did grab a goal back in the 87th minute, powerfully heading home Pedro Porro's cross.

But it proved only to be a consolation - albeit one that injected some late tension into the clash - as Nuno's side held on for a precious win in the Champions League race.

KOBBIE MAINOO left Manchester United fans baffled when he shared a photo of himself wearing a TOTTENHAM shirt.

The Man Utd midfielder is Manchester through and through, but shared a throwback picture on his birthday wearing a retro Spurs shirt.

Mainoo, who turned 20 today, took to Instagram to show his 3.3MILLION followers a glimpse at his childhood.

The England international posted a picture of himself playing football as a kid alongside the caption, "20! Blessed".

Bizarrely, Mainoo was donning a retro Tottenham third shirt from the 1996-97 campaign - an unusual choice for someone born in 2005 in Manchester.

The shirt, worn by the likes of Sol Campbell and Teddy Sheringham, sparked confusion and outrage from United supporters online.

One wrote: "Why was he wearing a Spurs kit?"

While another added: "Is Mainoo a Spurs fan or something?"

A third commented: "Kobbie Mainoo posting pictures in a Spurs kit is not a good look for the club. They’ve upset him somehow, he’s sending a clear message."

And a fourth posted: "Why is Kobbie Mainoo wearing a 96/97 Spurs shirt, thought he was one of us."

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Mainoo has always been a part of the Manchester United academy, graduating to the first team in 2023.

While pictures of him wearing old Man Utd shirts in his youth had many thinking he was always a Red Devil.

It's worth pointing out that another youngster can be seen wearing the same kit in the background of Mainoo's photo, possibly suggesting it was the kit of choice for Mainoo's youth team at the time.

Mainoo helped move Man Utd one step closer to setting up a Europa League final against Tottenham with his late heroics against Lyon on Thursday night.

The Carrington graduate popped up with a 120th minute equaliser as United turned around two-goal deficit to beat the French side 5-4 in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Mainoo's calm curling effort was one of THREE extra-time goals scored by United as they clawed their way into the semi-finals after trailing 4-2 to Lyon with just 11 minutes to play.

A Bruno Fernandes penalty kickstarted the comeback, before Mainoo levelled the scoring and Harry Maguire nodded home an injury-time header to seal the deal and resuscitate Ruben Amorim's season.

United will now face Spanish side Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals, while Tottenham take on Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt - setting up a potential all-English final in May.

ANYONE who thinks Tottenham’s players have given up on Ange Postecoglou should take a look at James Maddison putting himself in the line of fire in Frankfurt.

The England man surely knew he was in for an almighty clattering by goalkeeper Kaua Santos when he rose to head a long ball midway late on in the first half.

But he put himself in harm’s way anyway - and won a vital penalty in the process, stuck away by Dominic Solanke.

Maddison’s act of bravery, which saw him subbed soon after because of the pain, paved the way to a massive win for Spurs last night (THU) that kept their Europa League dream alive - and, quite possibly, Postecoglou in a job.

There was a very real danger that had Spurs come unstuck in Germany, the Aussie would have received his P45 in the following days.

A Europa League exit would have capped a miserable campaign with no trophy and a dire Prem campaign where Spurs are languishing in 15th after 17 defeats.

It was a genuine case of win or bust - but thankfully, Postecoglou’s players came up trumps with a committed and mature performance just when he needed it most.

All the talk leading up to this game - aside from Postecoglou’s future - had been about how his side were going to handle the cauldron of the Deutsche Bank Park.

Eintracht’s hostile arena certainly lived up to its billing as their fans raucously cheered and bounced their way relentlessly throughout the game.

A banner was unfurled before kick-off with a message that translated to “the Eagles are on the hunt”.

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Eintracht’s most dangerous predator on the pitch, Arsenal target Hugo Ekitike, looked to pounce on his prey right from the off.

The in-form striker, who netted a stunner in the 1-1 draw in the first leg, raced onto an early long ball right down the middle.

But in Micky van de Ven, Spurs have the fastest man ever recorded in the Premier League, and he sprinted back to put in a brilliant, last-ditch tackle before crashing into his own goalie.

It was a let-off for Postecoglou’s side, who were then handed another boost when World Cup final-scoring Mario Gotze had to be subbed off on 17 minutes with a hamstring injury.

Though the deafening noise from the fans did not cease for a second in the driving Frankfurt rain, Spurs were weathering the storm on the pitch.

Uncharacteristically for this Postecoglou side, they were putting in a mature, controlled performance, slowing the game down when they could and taking few risks.

Mathys Tel then offered the visitors’ first flash of attacking threat with an excellent strike towards the far corner which Santos turned wide.

It was a fine save from the Brazilian, but what he did next seemed downright dangerous.

Maddison had flicked on Cristian Romero’s long ball but then was flattened by a towering Santos.

Amazingly, ref Davide Massa did not give the penalty straight away, leaving Spurs’ bench, including sub Richarlison, incensed.

But the Italian changed his mind on viewing the pitchside monitor and promptly booked Santos.

Tel picked up the ball having netted a spot-kick against Southampton earlier this month but eventually handed it to Solanke.

The England man had not netted for 11 games, so Spurs fans would have been understandably worried as he prepared his short run-up.

They needn’t have, though, as Solanke coolly sent Santos the wrong way to put Spurs one up.

Maddison was looking a little dazed from the collision and holding his hip.

He tried to carry on but minutes later had to give up the ghost, hugging Postecoglou as he came off, with Dejan Kulusevski sent on in his place.

Tempers were starting to flare both in the stands and on the pitch.

And when Brennan Johnson caught Nathaniel Brown with a naughty late foul, a shoving match ensued, with the Welshman being booked and Jan Fiesser, one of the assistants to Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller, being sent off.

Spurs had passed their first-half test with flying colours, but knew they were in for another difficult exam after the break.

One false move could undo all the hard work and they were left thanking their lucky stars when a super free-kick from Gotze’s replacement Fares Chaibi whistled narrowly wide.

It was not as near as Cristian Romero’s header from Pedro Porro’s corner on the hour, however, as the Argentine came agonisingly close to a crucial second.

Rodrigo Bentancur followed suit with a header over from another Porro corner to ratchet the tension up another notch.

The game was on a knife-edge and Spurs would have been sliced open were it not for a terrific Guglielmo Vicario save to deny Chaibi, before a Rasmus Kristensen header bounced the wrong side of the post.

Ex-Leeds man Kristensen had his head in his hands as he somehow drilled wide from close range.

It was a lucky escape but one that Postecoglou’s men deserved for their bodies-on-the-line performance that showed what they think of their under-fire manager.

TOTTENHAM are THROUGH to the semi-final of the Europa League after BEATING Frankfurt.

James Maddison was involved in a horror collision in the first half, which saw Spurs awarded a penalty, with Dominic Solanke stepping up to score it.

Mathys Tel originally stepped up to take the penalty, but Ange Postecoglou appeared to tell the French forward to let Solanke take the kick, in the absence of captain Son Heung-Min.

The second half saw chances few and far between, but Spurs were able to hold on, giving them something to celebrate in a torrid season.

Match result: Frankfurt 0-1 Tottenham (agg 1-2)

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Postecoglou super proud of Spurs

It is almost certainly the highlight of Ange Postecoglou's time at Tottenham.

With the Aussie's job on the line, Spurs travelled to the cauldron of Deutsche Bank Park and produced a dogged display full of heart and character.

And after wild celebrations at full time, Postecoglou couldn't hide his pride he had for his team.

It was good. You know what you're up against in the away leg of a European quarter-final. We had to work hard, we had to defend, we had to be well organised. I couldn't be prouder of the lads, the togetherness of the lads, we earned the right to go through. There's been a fair bit of noise around the team, but you wouldn't know it - they don't care. They've just been so focused on achieving what we wanted to. I'm super proud of the lads.

Ange Postecoglou

Match stats from Deutsche Bank Park

Solanke: We want trophies

Tottenham matchwinner Dominic Solanke admitted that it's been a tough season, but insists it can end in glory with Ange Postecoglou in charge.

Speaking after the heroic 1-0 win in Frankfurt, the Spurs striker responded to a question about his manager's future by pointing out they have a great opportunity to claim silverware despite all the criticism the club have faced.

We haven't had the best season in the Premier League, but ultimately we want to win trophies but we have a good chance of doing that this year in this cup.

Dominic Solanke

From Tom Barclay at Deutsche Bank Park

Ange Postecoglou is bear-hugging all his players after an absolutely massive win for his side out here in Frankfurt.

There was a very real danger that he could have lost his job had Spurs lost here.

But now he has Tottenham dreaming they can go all the way in this competition and win their first trophy in 17 years.

His team provided their most committed and mature performance of his tenure just when he needed it most.

Full time - E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

A huge result for Tottenham Hotspur. A huge result for Ange Postecoglou.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

...and now Destiny Udogie is taking the ball downfield.

Sarr is telling him to go for the empty goal, but he's happy to wind the clock down...

...and there goes the final whistle!!

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

It earns him his customary yellow, but more worryingly gifts a free-kick to Frankfurt 30 yards from goal.

Hold tight, Tottenham fans.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

The home side pack the box and despite a sea of bodies rising to the ball, it travels right through where Udogie wins a throw.

Meanwhile, two Spurs players - Sarr and Romero - are down, and undoubtedly eating up time.

The refere, responding to the whistles from the crowd, dramatically points to his watch as if to tell them that this will be added back on.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

The board goes up, and there will be five minutes of stoppage time for Spurs to see out.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

There will be no playing out from the back here.

The Italian drops to the floor, and when he gets back up, he will be launching it downfield.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

It's pure panic stations back there at times with Frankfurt coming time and time and time again.

Whenever Spurs to get a foot in, they are thumping it whatever part of the pitch they can.

Can the Premier League side hold on?

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

The Leeds loanee is often Frankfurt's furthest forward player, but he's not missed good chances with his head, right foot and now left.

The right-back scuffs this effort straight at Vicario while unmarked ten yards out.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

With play built-up on the left, Tottenham are caught out on over the right by a 2 on 1 overload.

A cross trickles into the path of Kristensen, who has the whole goal to aim at, before he slams his left-footer wide of the far post.

A big, big chance goes begging!

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

Forward Mathys Tel is withdrawn and on comes the battling midfield Pape Sarr.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Bentancur has been cautioned for a foul on Can Uzun.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

Off go Hugo Larsson and Nathaniel Brown.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

Mathys Tel twice plays his team into trouble, and it ends with Kristensen drilling a cross in from the right for Chaibi to toepoke goalwards.

Vicario barely has time to see it yet still produces an instinctive block with his feet to keep Spurs' lead in tact.

The ball is still alive though, and soon lands on Kristensen's head and nearly spins in at the far post despite the fact that the right-back was trying to put to back into the danger area.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

One final push needed now, Spurs fans.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

I'm not sure whether they're claiming for a foul or handball, but both seem optimistic given that the Argentine barely made contact with the striker and then was struck by the ball on the top of the shoulder.

The video officials do give it a cursory review, but it's quickly over - much to the fury of Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoller.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

This time it's Bentancur, whose effort soars over the crossbar at the near post.

It was a tougher chance than Romero's, and nowhere near as close, but the Uruguayan is still furious with himself for not converting.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

Udogie and Tel work it down the left, and then the former nearly picks out the arriving Johnson at the far post.

Only a desperate last-ditch interception takes it off the Welsh forward's foot and away for another Spurs corner.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

On the counter, Johnson and Kulusevski almost work an opening that the Swede eventually crashes into a nearby defender for a corner.

From Tom Barclay at Deutsche Bank Park

Spurs have played this perfectly so far.

But they know one false move could set them right back so they must keep up their concentration.

They almost nicked a second just now Cristian Romero rose to meet Pedro Porro’s corner, but he flicked it just wide.

Ange Postecoglou took his coat off at half-time and is now patrolling his dugout in just his jumper now the rain has relented.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

The Argentine gets his head on an outswinging Kulusevski corner from the right with a crowd of Frankfurt players descending on him, and nods it agonisingly wide of the far post.

That surely would have seen Tottenham into the semis.

E. Frankfurt 0-1 Spurs (Agg: 1-2)

But it has to be said, the young midfielder has done really well to read the game, and has shown a real maturity in dropping in to help his defence.