Football.London

Tottenham are through to the Europa League round of 16 after a 3-0 win over Elfsborg on Thursday evening. Heading into the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ange Postecoglou was able to call upon Micky van de Ven for the first time since his outing against Chelsea in early December.

Pape Matar Sarr and Richarlison were also in a position to start after coming off early in Sunday's defeat at Leicester City, with Mikey Moore handed a start on the right flank for the Lilywhites. Tottenham saw plenty of the ball early on and spent the vast majority of their time in the Elfsborg half but clear-cut chances were at a premium.

Going close on a couple of occasions through Ben Davies and Sarr, Moore then went so close to netting but Isak Pettersson was on hand to tip his effort over the crossbar. The Elfsborg goalkeeper frustrated Tottenham once again 12 minutes after the restart as he kept out Lucas Bergvall's diving header from Pedro Porro's cross.

However, he couldn't keep out substitute Dane Scarlett's header on 70 minutes, with fellow sub Oyindamola Ajayi also helping himself to his first senior goal late on with a superb strike from distance. Moore was to make it a night of firsts for academy stars in stoppage time as he also grabbed his maiden senior goal for Tottenham. Here are five things we spotted in the game in north London:

A well-earned rest...sort of

Spurs were given some positive news on the injury front going into the game with Van de Ven, Sarr and Richarlison all in a position to play. Sarr and Richarlison's place in the starting XI meant that Dejan Kulusevski could finally get a well-earned breather after playing so much football of late.

The Swede has played 35 times for Spurs this season, starting all but nine of them. Kulusevski has been in desperate need of a rest for quite some time now but Postecoglou has been unable to take him out of the team due to a lack of players and also Spurs' poor results.

However, the chance arrived against Elfsborg and the same went for Radu Dragusin, who dropped to the bench with Van de Ven coming in. Tottenham's available players have been pushed to the limit in recent months but it was nice for them to finally get a rest ahead of a big week of football coming up for the club.

Dragusin and Kulusevski would only be on the sidelines for 45 minutes, though, as they replaced Van de Ven and Son Heung-min at half-time. Son was Tottenham's standout player in the first half but the boss quite clearly wanted to give his captain a break after playing so much football recently.

Scarlett's immediate impact

There was as a surprise in the Tottenham squad for the Elfsborg match with Scarlett taking his place in the 23-man party. Heading out on loan at the beginning of the season as he linked up with Championship side Oxford United, the striker was recalled by the club last week with the expectation of heading out on loan.

Given the rules where players can only play for two clubs in one season, Scarlett's inclusion in the squad certainly raised eyebrows as an appearance against Elfsborg would rule out a temporary move elsewhere before Monday's transfer deadline. The academy graduate remained with Tottenham in the second half of last season following his Ipswich Town loan struggles as an outing in Spurs' Carabao Cup defeat at Fulham meant he could not leave on loan again in his search for first-team minutes.

Well, given Scarlett's introduction in place of Dragusin in the second half against Elfsborg, the striker will now be staying with Tottenham as he has now played for two different clubs this season. He may well prove to be a decent option to have in the squad between now and May after expertly scoring his first goal for the club with a fine header and also grabbing an assist after teeing up Ajayi.

What Postecoglou told Bergvall

Bergvall was eager to impress coming up against Swedish opposition for the first time since leaving his homeland in the summer to join Tottenham. Clearly wanting to make an impression on the pitch, the youngster was maybe trying too hard to catch the eye instead of relaxing and just playing his normal game.

There was one moment early on in the first half where the midfielder's attempted cross into the area sailed straight out of play and it was something the Elfsborg fans in attendance took great joy in his miskick. Gifting the visitors possession in a good area in the Spurs half not long after, Bergvall then went head-to-head with Jalal Abdullai for the ball down Tottenham's left flank and used his shoulder to barge his opponent out of play.

Perhaps a tad lucky to get away without giving away a free-kick, Postecoglou immediately signalled with both hands for his player to calm down as Bergvall made his way back onto the pitch. The Spurs boss, who was frustrated with his player at a couple of points in the game, clearly sensed that the occasion was getting to him and he made it known that he needed to settle down and let his football do the talking.

Sharp Son

Son has struggled to hit the heights recently but he was a standout player in Tottenham's European tie against Elfsborg. Operating from the left flank with Richarlison's fit enough to start through the middle, the Spurs captain was on it right from the off and that was clear to see when he sent Elfsborg man Simon Hedlund in a totally different direction with a brilliant swivel of the hips.

Son continued to be a constant thorn in Elfsborg's side with some outstanding runs into the area as he displayed his excellent footwork on more than one occasion to get the better of his marker. He almost registered an assist to his name after teeing up Moore, only for Pettersson to tip his effort over the crossbar.

Moore also made an impact from the right, notably going on a couple of runs after easing his way past his opponents with his pace and trickery. Amid Son's woes this season, a repeat performance in the upcoming games against Brentford, Liverpool and Aston Villa would do just nicely. Hopefully that proves to be the case.

Dragusin injury blow and Postecoglou reaction

Dragusin would only be on the pitch for a total of 21 minutes after sustaining an injury when competing for the ball down the touchline. After getting a touch on the ball, the Romanian planted his right foot on the ground and appeared to hurt his knee.

Dragusin was in some pain but managed to get back to his feet to return to the field moments later, only to then immediately go to ground and signal to come off. It is just Tottenham's luck to lose another centre-back on the day Van de Ven returned to action.

A few minutes after Dragusin exited the field, Postecoglou made light of Tottenham's injury crisis when feigning a hamstring injury when looking to retrieve the ball when it went on the pitch. The Australian will be praying Dragusin's injury is the last one for quite some time given how this season has panned out to date.

Listen to the latest episode of Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham by clicking here for in-depth Spurs chat on your preferred podcast platform.

Ange Postecoglou is holding his press conference following Tottenham's 3-0 win against Elfsborg in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The victory saw Spurs finish in fourth place in the big league stage of the competition and Postecoglou's men now go straight through to the round of 16, missing the play-off round next month.

The breakthrough eventually came in the 70th minutes but only after Postecoglou lost another player to injury with Radu Dragusin landing awkwardly and jarring his knee.

The Romanian was replaced by Dane Scarlett, meaning the 20-year-old striker could not head back out on loan after playing for two clubs when you can't play for three in a season. He made up for any disappointment from that by scoring his first goal for the club with an emphatic header from Dejan Kulusevski's inswinging cross.

Then came another big moment for the club's academy. Damola Ajayi came on for his debut and within a couple of minutes the 19-year-old winger dribbled inside, played a one-two with Scarlett and buried a shot inside the right-hand post.

To complete a magical night for the academy, Moore then scored his first goal for Tottenham deep into added time to make it three first goals for youth products. The 17-year-old ran up the pitch, cut inside his man and buried a great shot inside the left-hand post.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to Postecoglou. Scroll down for his latest updates from the press conference.

Tottenham secured their place in the Europa League round of 16 following a 3-0 win over Elfsborg on Thursday evening. Going into their final league phase fixture knowing that a win would see them secure a top-eight berth, Spurs substitutes Dane Scarlett and Oyindamola Ajayi struck in the second half before Mikey Moore added one of his own in stoppage time to help the north London club pick up a much-needed win.

Tottenham's victory over the Swedish side sealed a fourth-place finish in the 36-team league table, thus avoiding a two-legged knockout phase play-off tie in the process. Ange Postecoglou's side will return to European action at the beginning of March and they will play one of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or FC Midtjylland in the round of 16.

That is because the teams who finish third [Manchester United] and fourth [Tottenham] in the standings will face a team that ranked 13th, 14th, 19th or 20th.

Due to the new format of the Europa League from the 2024/25 season onwards, the knockout stages of the competition will operate via a bracket system like in major international tournaments. This means every team's route to the final in Bilbao later this year is mapped out, which can be seen on the image below.

Spurs now know that they will face one of four opponents but the exact knockout phase play-off fixtures will become clear when the draw is made at midday on Friday at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. The round of 16 draw will then take place on Friday, February 21.

A full explanation of how the draws for the Europa League knockout phase play-off and the round of 16 can be found here.

Listen to the latest episode of Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham by clicking here for in-depth Spurs chat on your preferred podcast platform.

Tottenham won 3-0 against Elfsborg in the Europa League on Thursday night and here are our player ratings from the match.

Spurs need a victory, or potentially a draw, to finish in the top eight and bypass the play-off round, which brings two fixtures next month, and instead they would head straight into the round of 16 in March. For this game, Ange Postecoglou had Micky van de Ven back and handed a start to 17-year-old Mikey Moore up front with Richarlison and Son Heung-min.

The first half brought plenty of control from the home side and a handful of chances but no way through. That eventually came in the 70th minutes but only after Postecoglou lost another player to injury with Radu Dragusin landing awkwardly and jarring his knee.

The Romanian was replaced by Dane Scarlett, meaning the 20-year-old striker could not head back out on loan after playing for two clubs when you can't play for three in a season. He made up for any disappointment from that by scoring his first goal for the club with an emphatic header from Dejan Kulusevski's inswinging cross.

Then came another big moment for the club's academy. Damola Ajayi came on for his debut and within a couple of minutes the 19-year-old winger dribbled inside, played a one-two with Scarlett and buried a shot inside the right-hand post.

To complete a magical night for the academy, Moore then scored his first goal for Tottenham deep into added time to make it three first goals for youth products. The 17-year-old ran up the pitch, cut inside his man and buried a great shot inside the left-hand post.

Here are our Tottenham player ratings:

Brandon Austin

Didn't have anything to do really other than take a few goal kicks. 6

Pedro Porro

Gave the ball away a few times but mostly defended well down his flank when called upon. 6

Archie Gray

Another performance at centre-back and he didn't put a foot wrong. 7

Micky van de Ven

Just the 45 minutes on his return and he wasn't particularly tested. Tidy enough in his play. 6

Ben Davies

Switched to centre-back after Dragusin went off and it was another solid shift from the Welshman. 7

Rodrigo Bentancur

Another who only played the first half and he tried to keep play moving in addition to some good defensive work. 6

Pape Matar Sarr

Carrying what looked like an ankle knock the way he limped off at half-time. He'd had a shot saved in the first half and played as a left-back after Dragusin went off. 6

Lucas Bergvall

Had the travelling fans on his back and Postecoglou telling him to calm down a few times in the first half as he gave the ball away. Grew into the game. 6

Mikey Moore

Went on a couple of early dribbles and had a shot saved well by the keeper. Kept plugging away and duly got his first goal for the club in added time at just 17-years-old. 8

Richarlison

Worked hard, including tracking back all the way to win a tackle in the Spurs right-back position in the first half. Got 81 minutes into his legs. 6

Son Heung-min

Spurs' best player in the first half and constantly had the beating of his man, setting up chances for his team-mates before coming off at the break. 7

Subs

Radu Dragusin

Lasted only 20 minutes before having to come off with what looked like a jarred knee. 5

Yves Bissouma

Helped Spurs take control in the second half with the visitors having very little of the ball. 7

Dejan Kulusevski

Curled in a lovely cross for Scarlett to head home and his quality caused Elfsborg plenty of problems. 7

Dane Scarlett

Can't now go out on loan but he made up for that with his first goal for the club with a terrific flying header. Then grabbed an assist for his link-up with Ajayi. Big night for the 20-year-old. 9

Damola Ajayi

What a night for the teenager as he stepped on to the pitch for his debut and within minutes had buried a shot inside the right-hand post. A terrific moment for him and the academy. 8

Listen to the latest episode of Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham by clicking here for in-depth Spurs chat on your preferred podcast platform.

Dane Scarlett is set to stay at Tottenham Hotspur beyond the January transfer window after he came off the bench in Thursday night's Europa League clash against Elfsborg.

The striker spent the first-half of the season on loan at Championship side Oxford United, making 22 appearances and scoring four. He was recalled earlier this month and was named in the matchday squad for the first time on Thursday.

Scarlett replaced Radu Dragusin, who was forced off with injury, in the 66th minute. It took him just four minutes to make an impact with a tidy header inside the box to put Spurs ahead.

The goal bolsters the north Londoners' hopes of finishing inside the Europa League top eight places. Ange Postecoglou's decision to bring him off the bench means he won't be leaving the club this window.

Players are only allowed to play for two teams across a single season. Prior to his appearance off the bench, Scarlett hadn't played for Tottenham this campaign with his last outing coming on the final day of last season at Sheffield United in May.

With Dominic Solanke out injured and Tottenham struggling with injuries, the decision looks to be made to keep him in and around the first-team for the remainder of the season. It comes after reports of an agreement between Bayern Munich for Mathys Tel.

A bid worth €60million has reportedly been accepted by Munich for the 19-year-old. If a deal for the Frenchman can't be finalised, Scarlett could be set for a vital role for the remainder of the season.

Ange Postecoglou has named his Tottenham team to take on Elfsborg in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Spurs are already through to the knockout stages of the competition but if they remain in the top eight with a victory, or potentially a draw, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium then they will bypass the play-off round, which brings two fixtures next month, and head straight into the round of 16 in March.

For this game, Postecoglou has got Micky van de Ven back after training for 10 days and the Dutchman starts in the backline alongside either Archie Gray or Ben Davies, with one of them starting at left-back There is also a start for 17-year-old Mikey Moore up front with Richarlison and Son Heung-min.

Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall all start again in the midfield, while Dejan Kulusevski has finally been rested along with Radu Dragusin. Dane Scarlett is on the bench despite the fact that if he plays then he wouldn't be able to move on loan as you cannot play for three clubs in a season.

Here's the Tottenham team Postecoglou has selected to face Elfsborg:

Austin; Porro, Gray, Van de Ven, Davies; Bentancur, Sarr, Bergvall, Moore, Son (c), Richarlison. Subs: Forster, Whiteman, Hardy, Dragusin, Cassanova, Bissouma, Ajayi, Olusesi, Kulusevski, Scarlett, Lankshear.

Listen to the latest episode of Gold & Guest Talk Tottenham byclicking here for in-depth Spurs chat on your preferred podcast platform.

Injury and sub

Awkward moment for Radu Dragusin as he plants his leg down while falling and hurts his knee. He looked to be in a bit of pain. He looked like he was about to come back on but he did a jump on the sideline and felt something again. Dane Scarlett coming on for Spurs. That'll mean he's not going back on loan then and he's now played for two clubs this season.

Big chance for Elfsborg

Abdullai goes so close to opening the scoring for the visitors as he hooks the ball over the crossbar from close range.

Spurs incredibly lucky to get away with one there.

Final Europa League matchday predicted

It's a big night of football on the cards in the Europa League.

The newly-formed league phase comes to a conclusion this evening and there is still plenty to play for ahead of the knockout phase of the competition.

For Tottenham, three points are required to secure a top-eight finish and a place in the round of 16.

A draw could also be enough for the Lilywhites to progress but they would need results to go their way.

With 18 fixtures on the agenda this evening, we've simulated every single game to find out where Tottenham finish in the league table.

Click here.

Every word from Deki

Dejan Kulusevski was also in front of the media on Wednesday afternoon to preview the Elfsborg game.

Explaining why Ange Postecoglou is the right man for the Tottenham job, the Swede also discussed Tottenham's form, that Daniel Levy chant and so much more.

Click here.

What we spotted in Tottenham training

As well as attending Ange Postecoglou's press conference on Wednesday, football.london were also present for the first 15 minutes of the team's training session at Hotspur Way.

Amid all the recent bad news on the injury front, Spurs have been handed a big boost ahead of a big ten days with a number of key players taking part in training.

You can find out who trained, who didn't and what they did by clicking here.

Tel given three reasons to join Tottenham

Mathys Tel is in the headlines at moment as he looks to secure a move away from Bayern Munich before deadline day.

The Frenchman could potentially be heading to Tottenham, with L'Equipe reporting that Spurs have stolen a march on their rivals by agreeing a €60million (£50.2million) fee for the young forward.

Here we take a look at three reasons why the youngster should join Spurs over Manchester United and Chelsea.

Read here.

Every word from Ange

Ange Postecoglou was in front of the media on Wednesday afternoon to preview the Europa League clash between Tottenham and Elfsborg.

A big game for the Australian and his side after the disappointment of Sunday's defeat against Leicester City, the 59-year-old opened up on the game, the latest on the injury front, transfers and so much more during his time with the media.

You can read a full transcript of what Postecoglou had to say by clicking here.

Europa League draw

A win tonight and Tottenham will advance straight through to the Europa League round of 16 following a top-eight finish in the 36-team league table.

If they are not to be victorious in the capital and results go against them, Ange Postecoglou's side will instead have to go through a two-legged knockout phase play-off tie in order to qualify for the last 16 of the competition.

Regardless of what happens tonight, Spurs will be keeping a close eye on Friday's draw as their next opponents will become clear.

Click here for all the details.

Look who's back!

Micky van de Ven has arrived at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of tonight's European game against Elfsborg.

What a welcome sight for Tottenham fans after the Dutchman's long spell on the sidelines!

Now will he be named in the starting XI or on the bench? All will become clear prior to 7pm.

Predicted team

Ange Postecoglou could make a couple of changes to his Tottenham team for this evening's game against Elfsborg following some positive news on the injury front.

Micky van de Ven and Yves Bissouma could be set to get some minutes in the tank following their respective injuries, while Pape Matar Sarr and Richarlison are also in a position to play amid their early exits in last weekend's defeat against Leicester City.

Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold has named his predicted team right here.

Agree?

TV channel

Tottenham fans not attending this evening's game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will still be able to watch all the action live on TV in the UK.

TNT Sports is the place to be, with live coverage commencing at 7.30pm.

Alternatively, you can keep with us right here for live updates from the European encounter in the capital.

Daniel Levy will be forced to make a difficult decision by the end of the season, with Tottenham Hotspur in danger of failing to qualify for European football. Despite Ange Postecoglou's best efforts to juggle an injury crisis, the Lilywhites have disappointed lately.

After losing to Leicester City at the weekend, Tottenham are now 15th in the Premier League, with only nine points stopping them from falling into the relegation zone. While the North Londoners are 17 points adrift of the top four, they can still qualify for the Champions League via the Europa League.

Fortunately for Spurs, they've made it out of the 'league phase', taking them one step closer to the final at the San Mamés Stadium in Spain. If Tottenham either fail to win the tournament or secure European qualification via domestic competition, Levy will miss out on millions – whether it be prize money, sponsorships or ticket sales, among other sources of income too.

While it would be a huge blow for Spurs – on and off the pitch – the club's chairman will be just fine. In April 2024, Tottenham's financial results showed Levy was paid £3.581m in 2023, which was up from £3.265m the previous year, and received an accrued bonus of £3m paid across the year.

The 62-year-old also received a £3m bonus back in 2019 upon the completion of the club's new stadium. By 2024, Levy ranked 301st on The Times' 'Rich List', which estimates the minimum wealth of Britain's 350 richest people or families.

The valuations were carried out between November 2023 and May 1, 2024. Levy can attribute his wealth to a record-breaking 2022/23 financial year, with Spurs' revenue rising from the previous year's £444m to £549.6m – an increase of 24%.

"Our turnover has exceeded half a billion pounds for the first time," said Levy in April 2024. "Whilst UEFA monies contributed, this has also been driven by increased stadium revenues from both football and non-football events and additional revenue streams.

"This is the impact of our multi-use stadium and what our board has been focussed on delivering in order to invest in our football in a financially sustainable manner. The absolute priority for our club is to deliver on-pitch success."

Off the pitch, Levy has transformed Tottenham into well-oiled, money-making machine. On the pitch, there's a lot of room for improvement.

Between now and the end of the season, the club's chairman will be forced to make a decision on Postecoglou's future. Stick or twist. Despite a terrible run of form, football.london understands that Spurs have decided to stick with the 59-year-old for now, and they'll try to sign at least one player for him before the January transfer window slams shut on Monday night.

Bringing a new face to Hotspur Way will cost a lot of money – especially one that can drag Tottenham up the Premier League table. But, parting ways with Postecoglou and appointing a replacement could cost just as much – if not more...

Ange Postecoglou might finally get his wish. The Tottenham head coach has been crying out for new signings in the January transfer window for weeks, admitting his current squad "needs help".

But other than goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, no signings have been forthcoming. Spurs have regularly had more than eight first team players on the sidelines due to injuries, leading to many players having to play every minute of every game.

Signings should probably have been completed long before now, with Spurs stuttering in the Premier League - currently 15th in the table - but they may well make at least one signing before the window shuts on Monday, February 3.

According to reports in France, Spurs have agreed a deal with Bayern Munich to sign Mathys Tel. The 19-year-old is the subject of plenty of interest from the Premier League, with Chelsea and Manchester United also interested.

However, l'Equipe report that Spurs have stolen a march on their rivals by agreeing a €60million (£50.2million) fee for the young forward. The report suggests Tel has been offered a four-and-a-half year contract at Tottenham and must now make a decision on a move to north London. More offers are expected to come in for the teenager.

Tel was initially deemed not for sale during the winter window, with Chelsea making initial inquiries over the frontman. The Blues had made an inquiry last summer too.

However, the plaer's stance has changed in recent weeks, proabbly due to a lack of game time under Vincent Kompany at the Allianz Arena. Bayern Munich technical director Max Eberl said: "We spoke in December, and Mathys said he wanted to assert himself. Now he has said he would like to leave. Now we have to consider whether we will do it and what we will do.

"Loan or permanent? We will assess all the options. I've rarely had so many clubs call me about a player before."

Gary Neville believes Daniel Levy will sack Ange Postecoglou if Tottenham Hotspur are knocked out of each of the domestic cup competitions. The 59-year-old faces an uncertain future in North London after some disappointing results, yet the Lilywhites still have a shot at winning some silverware.

Next week, Tottenham will lock horns with Liverpool at Anfield in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. Spurs clambered past the Premier League leaders in the first leg earlier this month, with Lucas Bergvall netting a late winner to give his side a one-goal lead on aggregate.

Then, a few days later, the Lilywhites will face Aston Villa at Villa Park in the FA Cup fourth round. While Tottenham have dropped to 15th in the Premier League, with only nine points stopping them from falling into the relegation zone, Postecoglou looks well positioned to win the club its first trophy since 2008.

A piece of silverware – or at the very least, a cup run – could very well save his job. But, if Spurs were to be knocked out of either of the domestic cup competitions, then Neville believes it could cost Postecoglou his position.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast by Sky Sports, the former Manchester United defender said: "If he loses the second leg of the Carabao Cup to Liverpool and he goes out of the FA Cup, I think that it will become so toxic that Daniel Ley will act. If they’re out of the cup competitions, I think he will act."

Wayne Rooney added: "I think Daniel Levy’s in a tough place in terms of, if he does it now, the fans will absolutely kill him. Even if he wants to, I don’t think he can."

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Postecoglou was asked about his future at Tottenham. He said: "My message would be to all Spurs fans because I represent them all not just the angry ones that you are referring to or maybe talking to. All Spurs fans.

"We are working hard to turn this around. Obviously we know the situation, notwithstanding the fact the possibilities and opportunities in the second half of this season are still very much in our hands to capitalise on and still make it a successful season."

Meanwhile, Dejan Kulusevski backed Postecoglou to transform Tottenham's fortunes, branding him the 'right man' for the job. The Spurs midfielder said: "Three cups, we’re doing really well in the cups so it’s easy to focus on league but we’re doing really well in the cups.

"This is an important game and if we win we go to the next round so I think we can do good things in these last four months," added Kulusevski. "We had games when we showed perfect football. Football that not many teams can play in the world.

"We played beautiful games against United, against City 4-0 so I think he is the right man. We play for him. We want to win for him and to be honest we have similar ideas.

"I am very positive as a guy and I always want to play that football he wants. I have to fight for him because I believe in that football too. Yes, I think he’s the right man."