Brennan Johnson believes his trophy-winning goal for Tottenham Hotspur might just be enough to silence their critics.
The Wales striker scored the only goal of the game against Manchester United to enable Spurs to lift the Europa League trophy in Bilbao.
It was Johnson’s 20th goal of the season, during which the £48m man has managed to maintain consistent standards as a goalscorer, despite the struggles of his club.
Now, Wales supporters and manager Craig Bellamy will be hopeful Johnson can take his goalscoring form into next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium next month.
The former Nottingham Forest star was credited with the goal which ended a 17-year trophy drought and sent misfiring United into a tailspin as under-fire manager Ange Postecoglou oversaw a 1-0 victory.
“I’m so happy right now. This season hasn’t been good at all but not one of us players care about that now,” Johnson told TNT Sports.
“This club hasn’t won a trophy for 17 years, it means so much. All the fans get battered, we get battered for not winning anything so we had to get the first one in a while today.
“Ever since I came here it’s been ‘Tottenham are a good team but they can’t get it done’. But we got it done.
“Tottenham Hotspur finishing 17th in the Premier League is not good enough but we’ve had an unbelievable Europa run. I thought our fans had the edge on the United fans.”
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Despite the victory Postecoglou’s future at the club remains in the balance after a poor domestic season.
And Johnson stopped short of calling for him to be retained when asked if he deserved to stay to lead them into the Champions League.
“He’s done his job. He said he wins in his second year and he has,” he added.
“If ever there is time for a mic drop it is now – I’m looking forward to his interview.
“He has a really good way of getting everyone up for it in the Europa League and today it shows.”
It is the first major title for Tottenham since they won the League Cup in 2008, and the club’s first European triumph since they won their second UEFA Cup — the equivalent of the Europa League now — in 1984.
Johnson squeezed in the winner at the end of the first half on Wednesday to help Spurs salvage a dismal season, in which they will finish near the bottom of the Premier League standings.
But the Europa League title guarantees Spurs a spot in next season’s Champions League, and brings some much-needed relief for manager Postecoglou after he struggled to keep his team on track all year.
The victory comes six years after Tottenham fell short against Liverpool in the Champions League final.
The defeat adds pressure on United coach Ruben Amorim, whose team sit in 16th place — just ahead of Tottenham — in the Premier League. The club will not play in any European competition next season.
United came close to equalising when a header by Rasmus Hojlund was cleared at the goal line by Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven in the 68th minute.
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Deep into stoppage time, a header by Luke Shaw prompted a difficult save by Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
It had been an even match, with neither team creating many significant scoring opportunities, until Tottenham got on the board in the 42nd minute after a cross by Pape Sarr into the area.
The ball ricocheted off Shaw and fell in front of Johnson, who seemed to get just enough of it to poke it across the goal line.
United pressed forward after conceding, but were not able to get the equaliser in front of a split crowd of nearly 50,000 at Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium.
Postecoglou, speaking in his post-match press conference: "It is hard to put into words all of the emotions.
“I'm super proud of the players. To quote my favourite Australian prime minister Paul Keating, he said: 'After an unlikely victory, this is one for the true believers,' and this is certainly one for the believers.
“The group of players that never waivered, never lost faith in me and what we were doing. An unbelievable football staff led by brilliant coaches, people who work at the club from board down, everyone at the training ground.
"I know everyone thinks I've got a fractious relationship but every fan I ever bumped into was just so kind, reassuring me, they believed in what I was doing.
“I understand the disappointment we have put them through this year, particularly in the league, but just seeing them tonight, the impact it has on some of them... some of them have never had a night like this. It is a reward for them.
"Finally to my beautiful wife, my boys, family and friends, they are all my inspiration.
“I am the front man, it is easy for me to take on the responsibility, they've got no choice but to come along for the ride. But seeing them all out there on the pitch, smiling faces, I couldn't be happier."
