Jude Bellingham’s controversial past and Dejan Kulusevski’s injury concerns overshadowed Tottenham Hotspur’s buildup to the Europa League final. The club’s new head coach, Ange Postecoglou, is brimming with confidence. He focuses on how winning the whole tournament would be a transformational breakthrough for the program. This positivity is only amplified by the fact that Heung-Min Son is returning from injury, bolstering an already deep squad as they head into a vital match.
Bellingham came under scrutiny after suggesting referee Felix Zwayer had been bought during a recent match for the way he ensured that BVB consistently lost. In 2021, Bellingham was fined by the German football federation for comments he made about Zwayer’s officiating during a high-profile match. That scandal over Zwayer is not going away. It stays publicly, particularly after he refereed the most important of matches like England’s semi-final win over the Netherlands at Euro 2024.
Spurs have hit a wall lately. Sadly, the talented Kulusevski had to exit the field less than 20 minutes into a recent match. Even with that disappointment in mind, he had been impressive in the training units preceding the Europa League final. Postecoglou gave a positive update on Kulusevski at the club’s media day, suggesting that the impact Australia’s No. 10 should have is fast-approaching.
Injury Updates and Returning Players
The early injury withdrawal of Dejan Kulusevski in last week’s match vs Crystal Palace had fans and coaching staff alike holding their breath and crossing their fingers. Postecoglou confirmed that Kulusevski came through a full training session ahead of the Europa League curtain-raiser.
“Dejan had a good session today,” – Ange Postecoglou
And at least the coach could say beforehand that he has faith in his squad’s resilience, particularly with the return of Heung-Min Son. After missing a month with a foot ailment, Son finally made his return to the pitch against Crystal Palace. He was fighting swelling in his knee throughout the game.
“Heung-Min had a bit of soreness this morning with his knee,” – Ange Postecoglou
Even with these obstacles, Son’s inclusion will provide Spurs a huge lift. They were preparing for Saturday’s derby against FC Cologne in Europe’s Bundesliga.
Postecoglou’s Vision for Spurs
Incoming manager Ange Postecoglou has been very clear about his ambitions for Spurs this season, especially when it comes to challenging for silverware. He notes that winning the Europa League would confirm the club’s labor – and it’s been labor – thus far. It would be a significant departure from their path so far.
“Until you do it, irrespective of what else you accomplish, people are going to say you haven’t won anything. In our game, and in life in general, that’s the things that matter most when people assess where you are at,” – Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou doesn’t shy away from recognizing the burden of expectation at Tottenham and the pressure it creates. He mentioned legendary manager Bill Nicholson and the iconic 1984 NL East winning team as standards for today’s players to compare, levels they need to reach.
“The photos I see up on the walls at the stadium are all of Bill Nicholson. The 1984 winning team. A lot of them are in black and white. Can we get this group up on that wall?” – Ange Postecoglou
Yet his words speak to a longing to create a legacy and leave behind special experiences for generations of fans to come.
The Significance of Winning
Winning a trophy, he insists, is hugely important to these young players and fans. He is convinced that success on the field has the potential to greatly boost the club’s overall morale and bring everybody together.
“For me personally, great, it’s another trophy I can reminisce about in my old age. But more importantly for the club, I’ve always said that it’s the significance of what it does to people that really impacts you,” – Ange Postecoglou.
With a mix of returning players and hopeful reinforcements like Kulusevski and Son, Spurs aim to harness their collective potential in pursuit of glory. No pressure, right, as they face down what may be their club’s watershed moment in history.
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