Tottenham want to win Europa League for Postecoglou, says Van de Ven

Micky van de Ven says the Tottenham players want to win the Europa League for Ange Postecoglou, who is coming under increasing pressure.

Spurs have struggled this season, currently sitting 15th in the Premier League with 37 points, while their 4-2 defeat to Wolves last weekend was their 17th loss in the competition.

Having been knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round and the EFL Cup at the semi-final stage, the Europa League is Spurs' last chance to win a trophy this term.

They go into their quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt with the tie finely poised at 1-1 after Pedro Porro cancelled out Hugo Ekitike's opener.

Spurs are looking to win their first trophy since 2008, and Van de Ven says the team want to finish their season on a high note.

"It hasn't been our best season," Van de Ven told a news conference.

"The fans want us to play better, and do better in the games we lost, but when the whole team is strong, we can achieve some beautiful things - hopefully we can show that to everyone who doubts us.

"We have trust in the gaffer and the way he wants us to play. We want to win for him, but also for us, the club and the fans.

"We want to achieve something this season, and this is the best way to do it."

Tottenham are aiming to qualify for a second major European semi-final within the last seven seasons, having done so in the Champions League in 2018-19. This would be as many as they qualified for in the previous 44 seasons beforehand, between 1974-85 and 2017-18 (two).

However, they have only progressed from one of their previous 10 knockout stage ties in European competitions after failing to win the first leg at home, progressing past Ajax in the Champions League semi-finals in 2018-19 (1-0 first-leg loss, won on away goals – 3-3 aggregate).

Postecoglou has faced questions over his position this season, with their recent run leading to frustration among the Spurs fans.

Asked about his future at the club, the Australian admitted he did not know if his position would be affected by Thursday's result.

"No - no idea. We have a game [against Frankfurt], but it's not something I need to think about," he said.

"I've never thought about those things in terms of what is important. What is important is a game that's a massive opportunity for this group of players and this football club to get closer to achieving what everyone wants to achieve.

"Anything other than that, particularly in terms of me, I don't really have much thought process that thinks about my career or what I'm doing in that way."