Strains of the old ‘Glory, Glory’ anthem echoed inside the giant stadium as Tottenham stepped back from the precipice of the most humiliating relegation in Premier League history.
The players and supporters were in unison at last, as they could finally look forward to next season as a top-flight club.
Slowly, a note of dissent was introduced as a giant banner was unfurled by supporters, reading: ‘Promised Success. Delivering Failure. ENIC out.’
The fans who have suffered so much mediocrity were entitled to their outpouring. After all, this was only the third home league win they have witnessed this season, albeit in arguably the club’s biggest game in recent history.
The instant exuberance from the players was understandable, but embarrassment should have quickly descended on them as they listened to their supporters chanting: ‘We are staying up’.
The very sound of those words – the preserve of strugglers – should reverberate through the whole club.
Once Tottenham High Road empties of its revellers, the inquest from top to bottom must begin.
The club’s top brass were in attendance for the conclusion, with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham front of house and sporting director Johan Lange sitting just behind.
Their part in all of this will come under scrutiny, not least for their remarkable decision to trust ill-suited Igor Tudor as successor to Thomas Frank.
The season finale was also watched by Vivienne Lewis, representing the family who own Spurs, along with her son-in-law Nick Beucher, a key contact with the London-based management.
Non-executive chairman Peter Charrington and chief operating and finance officer Matthew Collecott were also in attendance, presumably poised to work out how and why the club found themselves in such reduced circumstances and how it can be avoided next season.
For now, thanks to Roberto de Zerbi’s inspiration and the failings of other clubs, Spurs are spared a day of reckoning.
Not for long, however, because the temporary elation of fans will soon turn to anger.
How can a club that plays in such a magnificent stadium, has such passionate support, and has received around £74m by qualifying for the Champions League via that Europa League triumph, end up on the brink of the Championship?
Answer: bad decisions on and off the pitch, poor appointments and players playing poorly.
Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur? Not this season, no glory here.