Wenger's 'Mad' Assertion About Spurs Refuted by Postecoglou
Rewritten Article:
Ange Postecoglou is firing back at Arsene Wenger's controversial claim that TottenhamHotspur shouldn't make it to the Champions League if they win the Europa League. Postecoglou's Celtic FC somehow manages to stay alive in the Europa League, facing Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals second leg this Thursday. The Tottenham vs. A.C. Milan match ended with a 3-1 victory for Tottenham, setting up a potential final showdown against Athletic Bilbao or Manchester United, who currently hold a commanding 3-0 lead in their second leg.
Despite staying mired in 16th place in the English Premier League, qualifying for the Champions League through the Europa League is still a possibility due to a UEFA rule in place since the 2014-15 season. United, who are one place above Tottenham in the Premier League, find themselves in a similar domestic predicament.
Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, now FIFA's head of global football development, voiced his disagreement with the situation in a recent interview with beIN Sport. Wenger suggested that Tottenham and United should not be able to get into Europe's elite competition via the Europa League, advising UEFA to reconsider their rule.
In response to Wenger's criticism, Postecoglou delivered a sardonic response. "Look, I've never heard that before, and it goes to show that Tottenham does some weird things to folks," says Postecoglou. "You mention that club in any discussion or controversy, and they'll do their best to minimize their impact."
Though Tottenham's dismal season doesn't necessarily warrant Champions League qualification, Postecoglou believes that victory in the Europa League would make it an accomplishment worth bragging about. "Why is there a sudden problem with this now, when there wasn't before?" Postecoglou ponders. "Why is this becoming an issue now? What changed? Last year, a fifth-place finish didn't qualify for the Champions League, but this year it does. What does that tell us?"
Postecoglou is puzzled by Wenger's sudden interest in the matter, stressing the importance of respecting the rules. "There are competition rules in place, and the rule is that the winner of the Europa League gets a spot in the Champions League, and that's not a new rule. UEFA even acknowledged it back in 2014, so what's the issue?"
While Wenger's argument is largely based on fairness and competitive merit, Postecoglou believes that winning the Europa League should be enough to gain entry into the elite competition, regardless of a team's league standing. "I have immense respect for Arsene," Postecoglou says. "He's a footballing legend, but sometimes Tottenham can get under people's skin, I suppose. I love that about it—stirring the pot and creating a bit of drama."
When asked if Tottenham had driven him crazy as well during an already tumultuous season, Postecoglou remained composed. "Tottenham hasn't made me crazy, no. But I was talking about others, not about myself. I was asked about the loud debate that's supposedly raging over Tottenham and Manchester United potentially qualifying for the Champions League next year."
- Ange Postecoglou, in a playful response to Arsene Wenger's critique, suggested that Tottenham's unconventional ways seem to have an impact on people, as they consistently find themselves at the center of discussions or controversies.
- Postecoglou questioned why Tottenham's potential qualification for the Champions League through the Europa League is suddenly a contentious issue, considering that a similar scenario had occurred in the past without much debate.
- Despite Arsene Wenger's argument emphasizing fairness and competitive merit, Postecoglou argued that winning the Europa League should be sufficient for a team to gain entry into the Champions League, regardless of their league standing.
