If you know Tottenham under Ange Postecoglou, you expect an attacking, possession-heavy game.
That’s been the blueprint ever since he boldly pushed nearly his entire team up to the halfway line in a high-stakes match against Chelsea two years ago.
“It’s just who we are,” he’d say. But in the Europa League final against Manchester United in Bilbao, Tottenham showed a completely different side.
A Tactical U-Turn in the Biggest Moment
In what felt like a surprise to many fans, Spurs abandoned their usual “Ange-ball” possession play when the stakes were highest.
Instead of dominating the ball, they dropped deep, went direct, and played the way that gave them the best chance to win.
The stats back it up — Tottenham had only 28% possession and managed just three shots on goal.
That’s a stark contrast to their usual style and one of the lowest possession and passing figures recorded in a major European final since the 2009-10 season.
The Numbers Tell a Story of Resilience
To put it in perspective, Tottenham usually maintain 55% possession and complete over 400 passes a game in the Premier League.
Against Manchester United, they completed only 115 passes—less than half of what even a lower possession side like Nottingham Forest averages.
This wasn’t about control or flair, it was about efficiency and grit.
With key players James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski missing, Postecoglou switched gears and focused on direct football.
Bypassing Midfield and Keeping It Tight
Tottenham’s midfield was barely involved in the buildup.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Sarr touched the ball just as often as United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Meanwhile, full-backs Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie accounted for over a quarter of Tottenham’s touches, showing how Spurs relied heavily on wing play.
Unlike other matches where Spurs pressed high and attacked relentlessly, their front line against United rarely crossed into the opponent’s half after they scored.
Holding On to History
Once Tottenham got that crucial goal, it was all about holding on.
They had only one touch inside the United box in the entire second half.
The game was far from the free-flowing, attacking spectacle fans are used to with Postecoglou’s Spurs.
But it was effective. Sometimes winning means adapting, and this version of Tottenham did just enough to finally end their 17-year trophy drought.
Tottenham, But Not As We Know It
So yes, it was Tottenham, but not quite the Tottenham we’re used to seeing.
The attacking flair was swapped for cautious pragmatism, possession was sacrificed for defensive discipline, and passing accuracy took a backseat to direct play.
But ultimately, it worked—and that’s what matters most when lifting silverware.