Michael Owen has downplayed Tottenham’s Europa League success, insisting that the Lilywhites only got their hands on the trophy due to a UEFA rule change.
Everyone associated with Tottenham Hotspur has been in a celebratory mood over the last week after Ange Postecoglou’s men made history by ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought in Bilbao.
Some Tottenham players were quick to poke fun at the ‘Spursy’ tag after getting their hands on the trophy, and they will hope their success has put that term to bed, at least temporarily.
The Lilywhites did not just get their hands on the club’s first European trophy in 41 years, but they have also booked a place in the UEFA Super Cup clash in August, and have sealed passage into next season’s Champions League.
Michael Owen claims Tottenham only won due to UEFA rule change
Michael Owen has poo-pooed Tottenham’s achievement in Europe, opining that they would have never got their hands on the trophy if the Champions League clubs had dropped down to the Europa League as they did in previous seasons.
The former Liverpool and Man United striker questioned if Ange Postecoglou’s men played any decent team on their way to the title.
Own said on The Kelly and Wrighty Show on Optus Sport: “As a total neutral, I’m doom and gloom for Tottenham. The only reason they won that competition is because no Champions League sides now drop into the Europa League. Did they play anybody any good?
“Even the final, it was probably the worst game of football I’ve ever watched; it was so bad. I rarely ever want to switch over the game, but that final, I mean…”
Why Micheal Owen is wrong to downplay Tottenham’s achievement
If all the pundits were so convinced that the new format of the Europa League makes it easy to win, then one wonders why none of them were tipping Tottenham to win it at the start of the competition.
Spurs beat Eintracht Frankfurt, who finished third in the Bundesliga this season, and Tottenham’s semifinal opponents, Bodo/Glimt, had been invincible at home, thrashing the likes of Lazio and Olympiacos.
A team can only beat what is in front of them, and Tottenham did just that. They will certainly not care about how poor the final was as a spectacle.