Ange Postecoglou insists his job at Tottenham is not done ahead of what could be his penultimate game in charge against Manchester United in the Europa League final.
Spurs have the chance to save their season in Bilbao on Wednesday and end their 16-year wait for silverware.
A wretched Premier League campaign has left Postecoglou’s future in north London in huge doubt, sat in 17th place ahead of the final day of the league season on Sunday.
Winning the trophy and securing qualification for next season’s Champions League would serve as an almighty rescue act for Spurs given the disappointment their league form has brought. But it might not be enough to save Postecoglou.
The Spurs boss spoke to the media on Wednesday and underlined his intent to stay on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and continue building ‘something special’ in his own vision.
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Postecoglou also took aim at a reporter when asked whether he is aware that he is walking a fine line between infamy and history.
Addressing an article that used the word ‘clown’ from the same reporter, he fired back: ‘That depends on your outlook but I’ll tell you one thing, irrespective of tomorrow, I’m not a clown and never will be.
‘You really disappointed me that you used such terminology to describe a person that for 26 years, without any favours from anyone, has worked his way to a position where he is leading out a club in a European final.
‘For you to suggest that somehow us not being successful means that I’m a clown, I’m not sure how to answer that question.’
‘On his future, Postecoglou said: My future is assured. I wouldn’t be the first person to change jobs. I’ve got a beautiful family, I’ve got a great life, I’ll keep on winning trophies until I finish wherever that is.
‘So don’t worry about my future. My future is not entwined with anything,’ Postecoglou said.
‘I don’t think my job is done here. I think a trophy would accelerate that and I think there’s a lot still to be done. Thats obvious.
‘The challenges we’ve had this year are well chronicled but I think there’s been some growth in there that I would like to see through. Whether that happens or not isn’t really important right now.’
Asked if tomorrow could be his last game in charge, Postecoglou insisted his future is ‘irrelevant’ – but says he will be comfortable with whatever Spurs chairman Daniel Levy takes.
‘It doesn’t matter really. Because the reality is, the opportunity is the same for me and for the club,’ he said.
‘I’ve said before, whatever happens beyond tomorrow is kind of irrelevant when you think about the opportunity that exists right now, to provide something special for this club and the supporters and everyone who has worked so hard the last 16 years waiting for a trophy and the last 41 years waiting for a European trophy.
‘If I was worried about my tenure at this club, fair to say we wouldn’t be in this position because I would have got distracted long ago and I’m pretty good at making sure my focus is on giving this club the best opportunity to do something special.
‘Whatever happens after that I’m very comfortable that I’ll continue on trying to win trophies wherever I am. ‘