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The inside story of Tottenham Hotspur's season that saw them win the Europa League despite being set to finish 17th in the Premier League.
As rain battered the remote northern town of Bodø, Norway, 404 soaked but spirited Tottenham Hotspur fans stood defiant in an uncovered corner of Aspamora Stadion.
Their loyalty was finally rewarded. Amid one of the worst domestic seasons in the club’s modern history, Spurs had just secured a resounding 5-1 aggregate win over Bodø/Glimt to reach the Europa League final—where they would face Manchester United in Bilbao.
In that euphoric moment, as Mathys Tel sprinted toward the drenched supporters and Richarlison howled into the storm, coach Ange Postecoglou’s words finally rang true: “You can change things… you can make it really special.”
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Despite sitting 17th in the Premier League with just one game left and on course for a club-record 25 defeats across all competitions, Tottenham now stood just 90 minutes away from their first trophy since 2008.
They went on to win the final, beating Man United 1-0 courtesy of a scrappy goal by Brennan Johnson to end their wait for silverware, which has now rewritten a painful season but also vindicated Postecoglou’s bold claims he always wins things in his second season.Pulse Sports However, profiles 3 key challenges the team faced all season.
3. Failed Transfer Targets
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Postecoglou’s Spurs reign began with sweeping changes. Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich in August 2023 dominated headlines, but it was the £150m outlay on fresh talent—including Micky van de Ven, James Maddison, and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario—that set the stage for a new era.
The second summer window brought more promise and youth. Dominic Solanke arrived as the long-term striker solution for £65m, while midfield prospects Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall joined to great anticipation.
Yet behind the excitement lurked instability. According to The Athletic, Spurs failed to land experienced midfield targets like Conor Gallagher and Jacob Ramsey, and the exits of seasoned players Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Emerson Royal, and Giovani Lo Celso left a leadership vacuum.
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Early signs were encouraging. Spurs humbled Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad, dominated United at Old Trafford, and toyed with Aston Villa. But inconsistency soon took hold. A week after thumping United, they blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Brighton—a microcosm of their turbulent campaign.
Postecoglou refused to chase results at the expense of process. “If you do get something out of the game, you’re falsely rewarded,” he insisted after that Brighton collapse.
2. Injury Crisis and Tactical Flexibility
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The season took a decisive downturn in December. An injury crisis decimated the core of the team. Van de Ven and Cristian Romero both aggravated lingering issues in a chaotic defeat to Chelsea. They would not return until March, and Van de Ven's early return had reportedly concerned club medics.
With his defensive pairing sidelined, Postecoglou turned to makeshift solutions—Archie Gray, a teenager who preferred midfield, was forced to play centre-back alongside Radu Dragusin. The inexperienced pair started six league games before Dragusin suffered an ACL injury in January.
Between December and January, Spurs lost eight of 10 league matches, plunging further into disarray. Yet even as the Premier League campaign spiraled, the Europa League offered a lifeline.
Postecoglou used the European group stage as a development platform. Gray featured in every match in multiple roles, and Bergvall was handed critical minutes.
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The 18-year-old Swede initially looked out of his depth—especially in a 3-2 defeat away to Galatasaray—but Postecoglou stood by him. The reward? A breakout run, cruelly ended by an ankle injury ruled him out of the final.
Injuries to Solanke, Werner, and Brennan Johnson exposed a lack of depth in attack. Spurs scrambled to sign reinforcements in January, targeting the likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Yoane Wissa.
But with deals falling through, they pivoted to Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, securing the 19-year-old on loan with a €55m purchase option.
Tel, who turned 20 in April, has since become a symbol of Spurs’ revival in Europe—fearless, dynamic, and decisive.
1.Tactical Evolution and Staff Overhaul
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Postecoglou’s commitment to aggressive, possession-based football was never in doubt, but it required a strong backroom team to implement.
He promoted Matt Wells to senior assistant, brought in Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo, and leaned on Mile Jedinak. The trio orchestrated high-intensity, rotation-heavy drills designed to mimic in-game chaos and prepare players for real-world scenarios, and many in the dressing room claim it may have led to the many injuries.
The manager himself often watched from the sidelines during training, intervening only for the final session before a match. His faith in the process, even during the lowest moments, was unwavering.
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