Spurs secured European football yesterday evening after beating Leicester in a game which also denied the Foxes Champions League football for next season and also ensured Ryan Mason’s side end the season above North London rivals Arsenal.
However, the competition Spurs will be playing in will be the first ever season of the Europa Conference League, which former manager Jose Mourinho will also be competing in, managing Italian club Roma.
And while Arsenal did not manage to qualify for any form of European football, Spurs still fell way below expectations, and Mason acknowledged that at the end of the game, which was his final in charge of Spurs at least for now.
"I'm very proud to have had the opportunity to represent the Club in the position I've been in."
🗣️ @RyanMason #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/HHbX5sP5oX
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 23, 2021
“We wanted to be in the Champions League,” Mason said. “I’ve said all along, it’s disappointing where we are in this moment.
“It’s important we’re in Europe, [but it’s] not the European competition we’d want to be in.
“It was important we finished today with a win, for many different reasons. Yes, it’s not the competition we want to be in next year, but it’s a European competition, and we will respect it, that’s for sure.”
Harry Kane won the golden boot and playmaker awards for the season and was presented with the trophies at the end of the game, and Mason believes his old friend deserves the player of the season awards too.
Very well deserved! Congratulations!
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 23, 2021
“I think he’s been the best player in the Premier League,” Mason continued. “Most goals and most assists, it says it all.
“I feel very honoured to have played with him and we had some amazing experiences together, coming through the ranks, and I’ve been very fortunate in these past five weeks to have coached him, to have managed him and he turned up again today.
“He scored important goals in important moments and showed moments of brilliance. So from an individual point of view I’m very pleased Harry has got another Golden Boot to add to the collection.”
Meanwhile, loanee Gareth Bale could have played his last game for the club too, and while he has said he has made a decision on his future, Mason believes Spurs should try and bring him back for another season.
Great to finish off the season with a couple of goals and a win! Thank you for your support throughout the season, it’s always a special feeling to wear this shirt 🤍 #COYS pic.twitter.com/w4P0ouqZlB
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) May 23, 2021
“I’m not going to speak about individuals when it comes to this summer and next season,” Mason said in response to a question on Bale’s future. “We need to appoint a manager first but in terms of Gareth, yes he produced moments of brilliance.
“I’ve said all along that Gareth won’t lose this. You don’t overnight lose that ability to produce moments when you’re that good.
“He’s proven that over a decade and he’s been excellent for me and he’s been excellent today as well.
“I thought he came on and changed the game. Some of the touches and the balls he played, he showed immense quality and I expect nothing less from Gareth.”
The next few weeks could be significant in the history of Spurs depending on who will be appointed as Spurs’ new manager and whether or not Kane and Bale will be at Spurs next season.