Speaking to supporters and soaking up the scene around the Tottenham High Road told you everything about what it means to end a trophy drought.
What it means to a club, a community and a fan base starved of silverware.
More than 100,00 fans turned out on a Friday afternoon to welcome back a team with the Europa League trophy.
For some clubs, 17 years might not seem a long time without a title.
But Tottenham have endured so much frustration and ridicule – competing for much of the last decade in the upper reaches of the Premier League without any prize to show for it.
And their last four cup finals have been lost.
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A punch line to savour
No wonder pundits doubted whether head coach Ange Postecoglou could continue his record of always winning a trophy by the second season at his clubs.
Now was the moment, at the end of the parade in front of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, to savour the success he promised to deliver.
“I told them, and they laughed,” he told the crowd. “I told them, and they didn’t believe.”
Then came the punch line.
“I’ll leave you with this,” the Australian-Greek former Celtic manager said. “All the best television series, season three is better than season two.”
Domestic woes forgotten – for now
Whether he will be back for season three has been the subplot throughout the second half of the season.
What was more surprising about beating Manchester United in the all-English final – a fourth win over the once-mighty fallen giants of the season – was reaching the final at all.
Because the Europa League has been won during Tottenham’s worst domestic campaign in almost five decades. It’s a Premier League season that will end on Sunday, just above the relegation zone.
But when there’s a trophy to parade, on buses through the streets around the stadium, all the turbulence vanishes.
At least for now.
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‘Champions again’
For so many fans, there was disbelief mixed with delirium that the trophy cabinet would have a new addition, rather than questioning who would be in the team coaching them next season.
There had been no European success since 1984, no domestic cup since 2008, until Brennan Johnson’s scrappy goal sealed silverware in the final in Bilbao.
“Champions again,” they chanted on a day when blue confetti filled the air and a trophy had its homecoming to north London.
