Ange Postecoglou fires back at Arsene Wenger over Tottenham's Champions League hopes | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has laughed off comments from former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about his side's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Spurs are battling to win the Europa League and book a spot in Europe's richest competition in what has been an otherwise abysmal season for Postecoglou's side, who sit 16th in the Premier League table. Manchester United, who are also in the Europa League semi-final, find themselves 15th domestically.

With both English sides currently favourites to progress to the final, it has sparked a debate over whether either side truly deserves to qualify for the Champions League. Wenger was one of many to argue against awarding a guaranteed place in the top competition to the Europa League winners.

"They should qualify automatically for the Europa League again, not necessarily for the Champions League, especially where you are in a league where you already have so many teams - five teams who will qualify," Wenger insisted.

A thoroughly unimpressed Postecoglou took the opportunity to fire back at Wenger and those who share his opinion, claiming "Spurs does crazy things to people".

"Well, I mean that's a debate that's been raging for years, like at least the last eight days," Postecoglou responded sarcastically. "I've never heard that before, so...

Wenger was one of many to question the system / Xavier Laine/GettyImages

"I've said it before, mate, Spurs does crazy things to people. It does, it does., You put that club into any sentence or any issue, and invariably they all come out and try and diminish as much as they can. Why wasn't there an issue before and it's an issue now? What's the difference? I don't understand what the difference is.

"Last year, fifth [in the Premier League] didn't get you into the Champions League, this year it does. What does that mean? There are competition rules and the rules say that the winner goes into [the Champions League] and it's not the first year, and there isn't an asterisk against it that you have to do something else as well. But it's Spurs, mate, they love it. They love it. Oh, they love it, you love it, don't you?

"I don't want to go down that road because I've got a great respect for Arsene. He's one of the legends of the game, but it does crazy things to people, mate, I love it. I love it, bring it on. it's going to upset people, so that makes me happy."

Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also laughed off the comments, adding: "Everyone can have their thoughts on everything in life. I do not agree [with Wenger] but it does not matter. They are the rules."

Postecoglou's side breezed to a 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their semi-final - a match they could have easily won by more goals - and are comfortable favourites to put the tie to bed in Thursday's return fixture.

Should they advance to the final as expected, they will likely come face to face with United, who hold a 3-0 advantage over Athletic Club.