Tottenham Hotspur’s season has existed in what Ange Postecoglou has described as two “parallel worlds”.

Domestically, they’ve been atrocious, racking up the most defeats they’ve ever suffered in a Premier League campaign, their lofty ambitions curtailed by one of the worst injury crises seen at the top level, and a seemingly irreparable level of disharmony has been sewn between Postecoglou and the club’s fan base.

Yet, despite all of that, this could still somehow be their best season in decades.

By definition, there is always a lot riding on a cup final. But Thursday morning’s (5am AEST) Europa League final against Manchester United feels more consequential than any game Postecoglou has ever managed. Those parallel worlds will collide.

Win, and Spurs will have their first trophy in 17 years, their first piece of European silverware in 41 years, and seal qualification for the UEFA Champions League. Grizzly memories of their bottom-six finish will fade with time, and this season will instead be remembered as a historic drought-breaker, with Postecoglou the genius orchestrator. It might even get him an unlikely third season in the job, despite the widespread expectation that he will be sacked regardless.

Lose, and not only will his second-season trophy streak come to a crashing halt, but he will be lampooned for it. Tottenham’s reputation for mental fragility – of being “Spursy” – will be further ingrained. Players will ask to leave. And Postecoglou will probably be shown the door.

Ange Postecoglou stands on the brink of his greatest achievement.Credit: Getty Images

This exact dichotomy was described by the Evening Standard in London as Postecoglou being perceived as either a “hero or a clown”, depending on the result – and the writer of the piece, in the pre-match press conference, asked him if he was aware of that, albeit without using those exact words. Postecoglou responded angrily.

“That depends on your outlook, but I’ll tell you one thing: irrespective of what happens tomorrow, I’m not a clown and I never will be, mate,” he said.

“I’m really disappointed that you would use such terminology about a person who for 26 years without any favours from anyone has worked his way to a position where he’s........

© The Sydney Morning Herald