Ange Postecoglou backs ‘outstanding’ Tottenham to reach Europa League final

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has put his weight behind his team to reach the Europa League final. The Lilywhites defeated Bodo/Glimt by 3-1 in Thursday’s first leg semifinal. Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and a Dominic Solanke penalty gave a 3-0 lead to Tottenham but Ulrik Saltnes scored in the 83rd minute to pull one back for Bodo/Glimt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Meanwhile, it has been a horrid season for Postecoglou’s team in the Premier League as they are languishing in 16th place in the standings.

“It puts us in a good position,” Postecoglou said of the win in his post-match news conference. “I thought the players were outstanding. Our performance was everything it needed to be: well-organised defensively, calm going forward, creating good opportunities for ourselves and maintaining pressure.

Ange reckons that if they can replicate the same performance, they would make it to the last two of the tournament.

“They scored the late goal which doesn’t reflect our dominance, but if we repeat that performance next week, it’ll be enough for us to get through.”

Meanwhile, Maddison and Solanke left the field due to injury and thus Spurs gaffer had to make forced changes.

“[Maddison] felt a tweak in his knee, but doesn’t sound like it’s anything serious and Dom felt something in his quad, but I don’t think it’s anything too significant,” the Spurs boss added. “It was just wise to take him off at that point.”

Spurs will now travel to Bodo/Glimt’s ground in the Arctic Circle next week, and will need to adjust to the Norwegians’ artificial pitch.

“Look, it’s artificial grass, but it’s still a game of football,” Postecoglou said. “I know the experience. We need to replicate what we did today. Irrespective of the surface, if we’re organised with and without the ball, it won’t matter what the surface is, it’ll make it difficult to stop us.”

The second leg of the semifinal between these two teams will be played on Thursday.