Ange Postecoglou sends message to Tottenham critics after Europa League win

Ange Postecoglou hit back at his critics after his Tottenham side beat Eintracht Frankfurt to reach the Europa League semi-final, saying: "You’re going to have to put up with me for a little bit longer."

Dominic Solanke's penalty in Germany set up a last-four meeting with Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt next month and kept alive Spurs' hopes of finishing the season with a first trophy since 2008.

Postecoglou's position has been the subject of speculation as Spurs have plummeted down the Premier League table and last week the manager claimed there was a "general consensus" that he could be sacked even if they win the Europa League.

"I am the same manager today that I was yesterday so if people think us winning tonight makes me a better manager or whoever thinks I wasn’t doing a good job yesterday, should be feeling the same way," Postecoglou said afterwards, when asked if he was relieved to dampen the speculation.

"I don’t care, it doesn’t bother me, it doesn’t affect what I do. For me, it’s always about the dressing room. Do the players believe? Do the staff believe? That’s much more important than what others may make of me.

"So, unfortunately for a lot of you, you’re going to have to put up with me for a little bit longer, mate, so let’s see how that goes."

Solanke coolly stepped up after Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos clattered James Maddison towards the end of the first half and Spurs missed chances to extend their lead after the break.

Postecoglou's young side had to weather a late storm against Frankfurt in a ferocious atmosphere at Deutsche Bank Park and the Australian, 59, said he was proud of the belief shown by his players amid a difficult season.

"We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves," Postecoglou said.

"We’re in the semi-final and will play a difficult opponent in the semi, but it’s not about my belief in the team.

"What’s more important is the belief the team has had because after a season like ours, it would be very easy for the players and staff, they could have left me in a pretty vulnerable place in terms of them splintering, but I’ve never felt that (even) with all the noise around our season.

"They’ve been so united in believing in what we’re trying to achieve here and that is what gave me heart all along that if we got our own slice of luck in terms of getting some players back that I really believed this team could achieve. That is what keeps driving me.

"It isn’t so much my belief in them, it’s their belief in what we’re doing and both players and staff have been outstanding. I am the front man for it but they take responsibility for it as well and all my decisions and everything I do, but not at any stage have I felt they lost any belief in me or what we’re doing.

"That is crucial when you’re having a difficult season, but there is also a season of opportunity there."

Postecoglou says it is too early to think about going all the way in Bilbao on May 21 but suggested Spurs will be a match for anyone with their strongest side.

"I don’t think that way," he said.

"From our perspective we’ve had a difficult season and I think there’s some reasoning behind that was pretty evident that when we've got our strongest team out there, a lot of things we’ve suffered with this year I’m sure we wouldn’t have.

"The spine of our team, at times we've been missing Vicario, Romero, Van de Ven, Bentancur, Solanke, all of them we've been missing at different times this year.

"We've got the whole group. It's not just them, it's the whole group together. We know that we can be a team that's pretty compelling against anybody. We're in the final four now so we've given ourselves a chance."