Bissouma's Daniel Levy joke and the key Postecoglou call that took Spurs to a Europa League final

Ange Postecoglou had seen enough. He turned to his assistant Matt Wells and called for him to get Mathys Tel back from his warm-up.

had worked hard, tracking back constantly, but attacks were stopping with him on too many occasions. This time Destiny Udogie had raced past him on a pitch-long run, desperate for the pass on the overlap, but the Brazilian instead cut inside and tried to fire the ball into the box only for it to hit a defender and bounce back dangerously towards the area his Italian team-mate had just vacated.

The ball thankfully was put out of play. trotted quickly back from his warm-up and Richarlison's number was held aloft. That came on 61 minutes. Around 90 seconds later and it would be Tel's deep corner that was headed back across the six-yard box by the dominant Cristian Romero and slid home the goal that broke Bodo hearts.

Romero, who led the team superbly on the day, appeared to make his feelings clear to the Bodo players - some of whom had criticised Spurs after the first leg - as his team-mates celebrated the goal.

All you could hear at that point were the 404 noisy, travelling Tottenham fans as the home crowd knew the game was up. They had also supported the brave home team magnificently, but for all the talk of the artificial pitch- with its worrying wrinkles near the touchlines - and Spurs' apparently "bad" pressing in the first leg, side were rarely troubled and always in control during another perfect European away day.

When Pedro Porro's overhit cross sailed over everyone and bounced in off the left-hand post, those connected with Spurs could truly begin to think of Bilbao and those who had not wanted to jinx it could finally book their flights to anywhere they could in Spain in order to get to the showpiece final against Manchester United.

Spurs thoroughly deserved their win. They were tactically perfect on the day, playing to the letter of what Postecoglou had asked of them, and Bodo had no answer.

The Norwegian side's boss Kjetil Knutsen could only say afterwards: "We should congratulate Tottenham for a good plan. they strangled our free game, took away the tempo. It became a match where we never truly got into it. They had the energy and the power. They wanted to go to the final. We have to recognise we were one size too small."

He added: "We don’t have any excuses other than meeting a better team. There was something about Tottenham, they made a plan according to their opponents. They surprised us to some extent. The best team made it."

Both Postecoglou and Guglielmo Vicario had responded to criticism from Bodo players about their pressing and how strong their side would be at home by each simply stating that the match next to the Norwegian Sea would provide the answer better than any words would.

They were right. Spurs were powerful and aggressive from the first whistle, never giving their hosts a moment to breathe in this town just above the Arctic Circle.

This wasn't the free-flowing, all or nothing football that people expect from Postecoglou, with Richarlison and Brennan Johnson almost playing as wing-backs at times as they defended everything down the flanks and Dejan Kulusevksi in a role behind Solanke.

It will continue to frustrate many Tottenham fans that more games in the past couple of seasons under Postecoglou didn't bring such variety in the tactical approach and what the season might have looked like in that case. Of course, there's every chance that a higher league position might not have been met by such a run in Europe. Football fate is a funny thing.

At least Tottenham appear to be finding their way just when it's needed the most and the Australian and his players enjoyed the fruits of their battling European campaign.

At first they didn't seem to know how to react at the final whistle, like their disappointments in the Premier League had conditioned them not to react wildly at the final whistle.

Instead it was those players who have played their part along the way but not on the night who ran on and ensured they celebrated with the required joy. Wilson Odobert jumped on shoulders and then Djed Spence rugby tackled the Frenchman.

Archie Gray ran around like a mischievous teenager and could be seen in the dressing room pouring bottles of water straight on to players' heads as they posed for photos.

On the pitch they had all made their way across to the Tottenham supporters, delighted to be able to share such a happy moment with them after so many games when they have had to take their understandable frustration.

Tel jumped into the group of fans, much to the Spurs' security guards' dismay, and the 20-year-old was quickly mobbed before he managed to work his way back out.

Bissouma leapt up on to the advertising hoarding and stood in front of the supporters with his arms outstretched, soaking it all in. That was until one of his team-mates pulled his shorts down and he fell back to the turf while trying to protect his modesty.

Bissouma loves a good celebration and in his post-match interview he declared that "we'll sing and even the president will sing I think". It's doubtful led a chorus of 'Can't Smile Without You' on the flight home, but the Spurs chairman is certainly one step closer to the silverware he craves.

For Postecoglou there was clear emotion and delight in his face as he spotted his wife Georgia in the crowd. She had been in among the Spurs fans and players' families while keeping in contact with their two young sons throughout the match.

Postecoglou waved at her and blew kisses. The 59-year-old used to watch big matches like this as a child in the middle of the night with his dad Jim back in Melbourne and now he is going to lead out a team in a European final.

It was the closest we've seen the Australian to getting choked up when he took a moment occasionally as he thought about that after the game.

"There'll be a time when I reflect on all this stuff but I've got friends who I grew up with who are probably booking tickets to Bilbao. For all intents and purposes I’ll be on the touchline but almost with the imposter syndrome that I should be in the stands with them because that's where it comes from. It's my fourth year in European football and I've got the chance to lead a team into a European final," he said.

"That's something I will look back on but I’d rather look back fondly with a positive memory on the day. But yeah, not just my Dad but my family, my wife who was here today cheering on with the away end.

"Credit to her and two boys on a school night who I've promised a trip to Bilbao. There's so many people you know who take the knocks and feel it more than I do. I'm sure they're proud of me tonight but more importantly I'm just pleased I can give it back to them for all their sacrifices."

After the match Postecoglou made a similarly emotional speech in the dressing room to his players, with heartfelt pride in them for everything they have struggled through together this season, through the difficulties of the injury crisis, and that this was their reward for everything this year had taken out of them.

He made sure to mention those who had not made the trip but had played their part along the way like James Maddison, Son Heung-min and Lucas Bergvall and also those no longer in the squad like Fraser Forster.

Postecoglou spoke about every day now until the final being a chance to prepare and not a single day should be taken for granted. He spoke about the fans and how these players had given them a night they would never forget.

He reminded them that he has always told them that they are the group of players who are going to create something special for Tottenham.

The connection between Postecoglou and his players is clearly still there and as strong as ever. You could see it in their eyes, in the way they listened intently and the way they still speak about him and most of all it's there in the performances.

Many Spurs managers lost the dressing room when things went wrong, but Postecoglou still has his and that's why they stand on the verge of history.

There were so many positives on the night for him and his staff. His back four were superb with Romero leading the line with all of the big-game experience that brought him a World Cup and two Copa America titles.

Micky van de Ven mopped up everything else with his pace and Udogie and Porro in the full-back slots looked like someone had hit fast-forward on their performances, such was the speed and energy with which they did everything up and down the flanks.

The refocused and revitalised Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur helped form a constantly pressing and tackling shield in front that meant Vicario only had one real save to make, pushing away an overhit, looping free-kick while Udogie made a couple of vital, last-ditch clearances in the six-yard box.

Kulusevski, Johnson and Richarlison worked hard if not with the attacking end product they would normally prefer and Solanke once again got his reward for another remarkable running display, also winning the corner that he eventually prodded home.

"The players were outstanding," Postecoglou told football.london "They were well-prepared tonight, the staff did a great job of making sure the boys were really clear about what we needed to do. They executed it perfectly.

"It's been well-chronicled in the last few days it's a difficult place to come to, they've got a really imposing home record, not just with wins but with goals, I thought the lads just handled it really well, as they have throughout this European campaign, particularly the knockout stages, and credit to them, I thought they did an outstanding job."

For all of the talk of Postecoglou's inexperience in the European game, he has reached a final relatively quickly and he wasn't shy in pointing that out when asked if he was proud of what he's done in the Europa League.

"I guess yeah, it's a great opportunity. It's my fourth year in European football, plenty of people have been in European football for longer than I have, they haven't got to a final. So you understand it's something that you need to appreciate, and I'll certainly do that," he said.

"I haven't really thought a lot about it, because obviously the focus is on tonight. More importantly, I'm just really pleased for the players and the staff, and particularly our supporters. There were a few hundred here tonight who I'm sure will remember this night. And thousands back home. We've given them some real hope and something to dream about, that we can do something special this year."

Now everyone can look forward to a huge final in Bilbao against United and Postecoglou wasn't having any negative talk after a semi-final victory. It frustrates him to his core that even in Spurs' biggest triumphs there's a caveat or a reminder of what else hasn't gone right.

"It's going to upset a lot of people isn't it! The debate's now raging, the latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win, they're just going to take a team photo because we're not worthy," he said.

"I mean, who cares if we're struggling in the league? Why is that important [in the context of this]? If it's so easy to get to a final, then why doesn't everyone who finishes in the top three do it? It's a separate thing. It's got nothing to do with league form. We understand our league form hasn't been great.

"We understand the struggles we've had. A lot of them are because of the situation we've been in. But how that diminishes the achievement of getting to a final? Like I said, this club and others have finished in first, second or third in the Premier League, and haven't made finals.

"Why should that be diminished? I couldn't care less who's struggling and who's not. I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there. I think we've probably beaten teams who will be in the Champions League next year on our road to getting there. So I'm looking forward to it, it should be a great game."

It was put to him that while this wasn't the attacking, relentless football he loves it did carry plenty of the grit and resilience he wants from his players in every match.

"I love winning. That's what I've done my whole career," he said in response. "People will dismiss it, that's fine. But I love winning, and I love the way the boys clearly understood what we needed to do tonight.

"The key thing for us was not to allow them to get any sort of rhythm in their game. They like to play at a quick tempo, because they use the surface, they take advantage of the opposition being uncertain on it.

"But I thought our press was just outstanding. We never allowed them really to get into our half with any sort of clean possession. It's a credit to the boys that they understood what the task was tonight, and still had the quality to score the goals we did."

Postecoglou's frustration rose to the surface again with a question about Manchester United believing a Europa League trophy would not save their season, but would it do so for Spurs?

"Why do I care what Man United think? Why is that relevant to me? Ask the Manchester United manager why he said that. Me I've said all along that this is important," he hit back.

The question was rephrased as simply what would it mean for Tottenham's season?

"Well, to be fair, you know better than me. You've followed this club for longer than I have. What do you think a trophy would do for this club?" said the Spurs head coach.

"It would be massive" was the answer that came back from the reporter.

Postecoglou nodded and added: "Exactly. That's exactly right. So the question answers itself, it doesn't need me to... but what’s happening now is people are fearing that. That it actually might happen and let's see how we can tear it down somehow and diminish it somehow by saying it's been a poor season and we don't deserve this or we don't deserve that.

"Or somehow comparing us to Man United. Maybe if we had Man United’s success then maybe I’d have a different view. But I came into this role, you know better than me, I could have been sitting here at exactly the same time in fifth position and I can guarantee that the commentary around me 'well that's great Ange but this club needs to win something'.

"That's exactly what everyone would be saying. So of course it’s massive. Of course it is, because you have to frame it against what this club has been through over the last 15 or 20 years and what the supporters have been through.

"Man United have got their own journey to go on. Maybe if they go 17 years without winning something they'll change their perspective on things as well."

It's difficult to disagree with Postecoglou, particularly on the fifth-place talk. It would be huge for Tottenham if they could win a trophy, their first European one in 41 years and the Australian would instantly go from statistically their worst manager in the Premier League era to one of their most successful, simply at the blowing of a whistle. That's the fine line of football.

Everyone will want to play a part in Bilbao. Captain Son Heung-min could be back this weekend against Crystal Palace and he will want the minutes to get sharp after his foot injury.

Maddison and Dragusin have months to go in their recovery, the former at least coming back sooner than many feared and he should be ready for the new season. Both will want to be there in Bilbao supporting the team along with the unregistered players.

Despite Postecoglou ruling him out for the season, young Lucas Bergvall will no doubt be trying desperately to see if he can be fit for the final. Nineteen-year-olds heal faster in many cases and the Swede will be doing everything possible to get back from his ankle injury. The next two weeks will tell us whether he makes it and he certainly deserves to be there.

Everyone will want to be on that flight to Spain. These are the games that they have all worked towards through years of sacrifice and the nights they dreamed of as children.

Tottenham have beaten Manchester United three times already this season but will know that Ruben Amorim has his side getting closer to the one he wants now with each passing month, especially in Europe.

Spurs can take heart though from their own performances across the continent. Through the gloom has been this one shining light and with every passing round it only gets brighter.

United have been in these moments before and they have the history, but so have Tottenham and the disappointment of that all-English European final in Madrid six years ago devastated the club to such a point that it's yet to truly get up from the canvas.

That might just be about to finally happen. It was entirely fitting that Spurs won in their green kit on Thursday night, exactly six years to the day from that magical night in Amsterdam.

This is a different Tottenham team but one with a similar togetherness amid adversity in Europe. The key now is to create a different final chapter to this tale. If they do then they will all become legends in the most unlikely of seasons and, Mr Postecoglou, that certainly cannot be diminished.