Van de Ven is happy to prove boss Ange right

MICKY VAN DE VEN was delighted to help Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou keep up his record of winning a trophy in his second season and silence the doubters after the club clinched Europa League success.

- By GEORGE SESSIONS

Spurs ended a 17-year trophy drought with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in a tense all-English final in Bilbao, which was settled by Wales international Brennan Johnson's 42nd-minute finish.

Postecoglou made headlines at the start of the season when he declared that he “always wins things" in year two of a job - a feat achieved at South Melbourne, Brisbane Roar, Yokohama, Celtic and Australia's under-17, under-20 and senior sides.

The bold remark came after a slow start to the Premier League campaign and has been regularly referenced as Tottenham have slid down the table to 17th, but a disciplined display at San Mames ensured Postecoglou succeeded.