I’d love to be playing in Europe. It would thrill me to the deepest part of my soul... my heart would be bursting

ANGE POSTECOGLOU has warned a place in next season’s Champions League should not be seen as a “Willy Wonka golden ticket”.

Postecoglou insists it is more important for Tottenham to build foundations for long term success than just have one year in Europe next season.

Manchester United and Newcastle both bombed out of the Champions League in the group stage and Postecoglou says, despite huge progress this season, Tottenham are still a long way from where he wants to be.

Spurs go into a huge clash with Aston Villa as both are pushing for a guaranteed place in the Champions League and Postecoglou says he would have happily had a European trip rather than a free week.

He said: “Look, maybe I’ve got to do it in Greek or another language. I’d love to be in Europe.

“I would love it. It would thrill me to the deepest part of my soul. My heart would be bursting. I would be that ecstatic. If that doesn’t make it clear that I would prefer to have games rather than not, I’m not sure what will.

“What’s more important is that come the end of this year, we’ve got a team that’s going to challenge the following year and keep growing.

“Right now, the most important thing is us, our identity and our football, because just getting into… mate, it’s not a Willy Wonka golden ticket, you know? It just gets you a year in the Champions League.

“There are a couple of teams who got into the Champions League this year from last year, had a good season. Does that guarantee anything the following season? No.

“If you don’t build on that or grow from that, it is meaningless, I think anyway. Because we’re not in it for participation. We’re in it to win things. Yes, if we make Champions League this year it means we’ve progressed from last year.

“But we’ve still got a lot of work to do. I think we’re a long way away from having one or two players away from getting where we want to.”

Postecoglou has enjoyed an impressive first season so far because, from low expectations last summer after they sold Harry Kane (left) to Bayern Munich, they are in the mix for a Champions League place and have played great football.

The fans have fallen back in love with the team and enjoyed some dramatic late wins.

But whatever happens at Villa Park tomorrow, Postecoglou has given reason for optimism.

He added: “I think with everything that’s happened, if I give myself that luxury of trying to reflect when there’s still 12 games to go, I am super proud of the club, the players in particular, have responded to the adversity we’ve had this year.

“New manager coming in, new way of playing, new staff, squad changing over and we’ve had some real challenges, including losing Harry Kane two days before the first game, and I could envisage many scenarios where that could go very, very differently.

“If you are looking for a bit of leeway or some excuses, we’ve had plenty this year for us not to be in the position we are.

“I think we’ve set a really strong benchmark for competitiveness and not having any excuses for what we do now, moving forward.”

‘I am super proud of the way the players have responded to the adversity we’ve had this year... including losing Harry Kane two days before the first game’