Ange Postecoglou lives to fight another day, with Tottenham Hotspur overturning their first-leg deficit to edge past AZ Alkmaar and move into the Europa League last eight.
A double from teen sensation, Wilson Odobert – either side of a James Maddison strike – helped to steer the Lilywhites to a 3-1 win on Thursday, subsequently moving the north London side one step closer to realising their dream of winning the competition outright.
Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt lie in wait in the quarter-final stage – which begins next month – although in the meantime, Postecoglou’s side will be tasked with trying to close the gap between themselves and tenth-place Fulham, with the London rivals currently separated by eight points in the Premier League table.
The two sides are set to go head to head on Sunday afternoon, with Spurs having been held to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, with Tom Cairney seeing red after drawing the away side level.
League action, it must be said, is no longer the priority for Postecoglou and co, although the Aussie could certainly ease the pressure on his shoulders by signing off on a positive note heading into the upcoming international break.
Spurs team news
Following the midweek triumph at N17, the former Celtic boss hinted that his side “need” to make changes amid the quick turnaround, with the experienced coach no doubt fearful of sustaining any unnecessary injury blows, amid what has already been an injury-hit season.
Indeed, it remains to be seen if the returning Micky van de Ven will line up from the start once again, with the Dutchman having been gradually eased back into action of late after being withdrawn on the hour mark on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, Postecoglou did provide a positive update in general ahead of Sunday’s clash after stating that there are no new injury concerns, albeit with the likes of Kevin Danso, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison still sidelined.
Rodrigo Bentancur is set to be available once again after serving his Europa League suspension, while the likes of Timo Werner and Sergio Reguilon could also have an outside chance of game time, with the pair having been ineligible to feature in Europe.
With changes potentially in store, one key alteration could lie in the full-back ranks against the Cottagers, with it perhaps wise for Postecoglou to drop Pedro Porro to the bench for this one.
Why Postecoglou could drop Pedro Porro
Defeating Marco Silva’s men is not the priority at present, amid Spurs’ continental hopes, yet that’s not say the visitors will simply throw in the towel, with a performance needed after having been held to a 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth last weekend.
Chalkboard
A key issue for Postecoglou will be how to deal with the threat posed by Fulham’s left-flank, with Antonee Robinson’s rampaging runs from left-back aided by the creative flair of former Arsenal man Emile Smith Rowe ahead of him.
Smith Rowe boasts five goals in the top flight this season, while Robinson has remarkably chalked up ten assists to date, thus indicating the danger that Spurs will have to contend with.
It could then be wise to bring Djed Spence back over to right-back to deal with that duo, with Porro hardly the most able defender, having been dribbled past once per game in the league in 2024/25. Spence, for instance, has been dribbled past just 0.3 times per game.
That alteration could then see left-back “monster” Destiny Udogie – as hailed by journalist Travis Levison – re-introduced on the opposite flank, with the former Udinese starlet likely to be tasked with keeping another former Gunners man, Alex Iwobi, quiet down that side.
Stat (*per game)
Record
Games
21
Goals
0
Assists
1
Big chances created
2
Key passes*
0.6
Pass accuracy*
90%
Tackles*
2.9
Interceptions*
0.9
Dribbled past*
0.5x
Total duels won*
59%
Iwobi, it must be said, is enjoying a particularly fruitful campaign at Craven Cottage after registering 11 goal involvements thus far, including a stunning, surging run and assist for Raul Jimenez against Brighton last weekend.
Udogie could then be the ideal option to counter that threat as he ranks in the top 6% among full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles made per 90, as per FBref.
With the Italian also possessing the attacking quality to keep Iwobi and co on their toes going the other way too, as shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 18% for progressive carries per 90, it could represent a perfect solution as far as Postecoglou is concerned.
Porro – who boasts five league assists this term – may be an undoubted attacking threat, although it might be time to settle on a more all-round full-back pairing, in the form of Udogie and Spence, ahead of preparing for next season.
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1 ByJack Salveson Holmes
