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Former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker has thrown a theory out there that Ange Postecoglou may have fallen out with one of his key players, following Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Bournemouth.

Spurs came from 2-0 down to earn a point against the high-flying Cherries in north London, with Pape Sarr and a Son Heung-min penalty cancelling out impressive strikes from Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson for the impressive visitors.

Indeed, Tottenham were outplayed for large parts of the match, especially in the first half, with Postecoglou opting to change up his side ahead of Thursday’s Europa League last-16 second-leg clash with AZ.

There was a welcome return for centre-back Cristian Romero but the Argentine looked incredibly rusty and almost gave a goal within 20 seconds of his comeback before being replaced by Micky van de Ven on the hour mark.

However, it was the surprise exclusion of James Maddison that left Lineker baffled, with Tottenham having no creativity in the middle of the part in the absence of the injured Dejan Kulusevski.

Maddison ended up replacing Rodrigo Bentancur just minutes before Bournemouth grabbed their second, but he at least gave the Spurs midfield some spark as Postecoglou’s men fought back to earn a point.

But speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Lineker wondered if there may have been some kind of fall out between Maddison and Postecoglou to explain his absence – especially given that the former Leicester man has been in and out of the side for much of the season.

Lineker began: “Maddison, late coming off the bench again. And when he comes on he always looks the part and played some really good football.

“I’m at a bit of a loss at what’s happened there this season. I wonder whether there’s been a bit of a fall out or…”

Shearer them responded: “What have you heard, Micah?”, with Richards adding: “Nope, I’ve not heard anything from Maddison. I think they’ve got the game in Europe, haven’t they?”

Lineker then ended the conversation: “Maybe, maybe he’s thinking of that.”

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Maddison questions need to be asked

And while there could well be something in not risking Maddison ahead of the AZ clash, the fact that he has been on and off the bench all season does suggest there could be an underlying issue there.

The 28-year-old has struggled with injury issues since his move to north London, but has been fully fit of late and has scored 10 goals in 35 games in all competitions this season, adding seven assists. He has, however, made 12 of his 35 appearances off the bench – failing to get a regular run of starts under his belt.

Postecoglou opted to start the trio of Sarr, Bentancur and Yves Bissouma on Sunday, a combination that rarely works and also leaves Tottenham severely short of creativity.

That changed when Lucas Bergvall and then Maddison entered the fray, with both players almost certain to start in Europe and what is now Spurs’ biggest game of the season. Indeed, the result against AZ could also play a significant part in what the future holds for Postecoglou too.

The familiar issues that have bugged Tottenham all season under Postecoglou were there for all to see again against the Cherries, with poor passing when playing out from the back and getting caught in possession deep in their own half so nearly costing goals.

It does raise the question about how those things are executed in training when they are generally done so poorly in games, which only leads back to one thing – poor coaching methods.

There were positives from Sunday’s draw though, with Van de Ven getting 30 minutes under his belt and Bergvall bouncing back from his disastrous own goal in Holland to turn the game back in Tottenham’s favour.

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Tottenham Hotspur are planning to ‘test the waters’ with a £33.5m bid for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, with a report revealing the winger’s stance on moving as well as the repercussions for Richarlison.

It’s been another rollercoaster of a season for Spurs, with the Europa League the club’s last chance of ending their 17-year wait for a major trophy. But in typical Tottenham fashion, they’ve made it difficult for themselves after losing the first leg of their Round of 16 clash to AZ Alkmaar.

Overcoming their Dutch opponents and going on to win the Europa League would not only add silverware to the cabinet, but would also secure entry into next season’s Champions League.

Whether Spurs are playing in Europe’s top competition next season could have a major bearing on their transfer plans for the summer – both in terms of who can they attract and how much they can pay.

But according to a fresh update from CaughtOffside, Spurs already have one piece of business in mind, irrespective of how their season concludes.

It’s claimed Spurs intend to table a £33.5m bid for Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo who has caught the eye this season with nine goals and five assists across all competitions.

The right-footer can play on either flank and per the report, his arrival would pave the way for Spurs to move on from Richarlison.

The Brazilian has failed to justify his £60m price tag since arriving from Everton and continues to be linked with a switch to the Saudi Pro League.

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Antoine Semenyo stance on leaving Bournemouth revealed

Semenyo primarily plays out wide, while Richarlison has generally been used in the striker position at Spurs.

However, competition for Dominic Solanke in the striker spot could come by way of Spurs triggering their £45m option to buy in Mathys Tel’s loan agreement.

Semenyo would therefore be signed to give Ange Postecoglou another explosive option out wide to battle for starts with Son Heung-min, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore. Dejan Kulusevski is another option for the right side, though has been deployed in central areas at times this season.

Regarding Semenyo’s stance on leaving Bournemouth – who are almost certain to finish ahead of Spurs this season – CaughtOffside claimed the 25-year-old is ‘keen for a big move and to test himself at the highest level.’

Bournemouth are flying high this year and still retain hope of qualifying for the Champions League. However, many of their top stars – such as Milos Kerkez (Liverpool) and Dean Huijsen (various clubs) are in demand and expected to be snapped up.

As such, the summer may represent the ideal time for Semenyo to also take that next step in his career and Spurs are already planning a £33.5m bid.

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly set their sights on bringing back a former academy talent who Jose Mourinho had high hopes for, as a number of clubs chase his signature.

Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin is the player in question as the Black Cats star continues to impress with his consistent displays at the Stadium of Light, four years on from walking away from Spurs.

The 22-year-old came through Spurs’ academy and clearly impressed boss at the time Mourinho, who saw plenty of potential in Cirkin when speaking back in November 2019.

The Portuguese coach, now plying his trade in Turkey said: “He’s a kid with a lot of quality, and I look forward to bringing him to train with us and to help his development.”

Things did not go to plan for the defender though, with Cirkin leaving for Wearside in August 2021 and he has been a mainstay for Sunderland as they push for a return to the Premier League.

Cirkin has scored three goals and added two assists in 32 Championship outings for Regis Le Bris’ side, who currently sit fourth in the table, although they remain eight points off the automatic promotion places.

In terms of Tottenham‘s interest, a report from Graeme Bailey via Sunderland AFC News claims that the north London club have continuously tracked Cirkin since his departure and are now seriously weighing up a move for their former youngster.

Ange Postecoglou is actively looking at all areas of his squad in terms of where he could strengthen this summer, and there are concerns over Destiny Udogie’s injury record and the fact that the Italy international has not pushed on since his initial fine form at the start of last season.

The report adds that Tottenham are one of several clubs keeping an eye on Cirkin and could swoop in the summer when he’ll have a year left on his contract. Chelsea, Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Everton and Leeds United have also been monitoring the England U-20 international.

Cirkin will almost certainly be on the move if the Black Cats fail to secure promotion, although there is no mention over what sort of fee he could fetch.

Tottenham not giving up on Udogie just yet

Links to Cirkin have come as somewhat of a surprise given that Udogie remains a major part of Tottenham’s future, while Djed Spence and Archie Gray have also filled in at left-back this season.

Indeed, it could be argued that playing on the left side of the Spurs defence is Spence’s best position, given how he has performed compared to when he’s been on his more natural right side.

There is also a feeling that the club will look to give veteran defender Ben Davies a new deal, with Postecoglou a big fan of the Wales international’s versatility and leadership qualities in the changing room.

Udogie, however, remains a class act when fully fit, with the club expecting him to get back to his best when he puts his nagging issues behind him.

That being said, strength in depth has proved to be a major issue for Tottenham this season, so signing another homegrown talent who has proven to be a quality performer at the top end of the Championship can certainly do no harm.

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Tottenham Hotspur have been sent a warning that a number of ‘top clubs’ will be coming after a summer signing who has made a huge impression in his debut season for the club.

It’s been a difficult season for Spurs as they sit down in 13th in the Premier League table, having crashed out of both domestic cup competitions – while they also trail AZ in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 clash after a woeful display in the Netherlands last week.

Injuries to key performers have played a major part in those struggles, especially in defence, where first-choice centre-back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have been largely absent since early December.

And, with Radu Dragusin out until the end of the year and Ben Davies having his fair share of injury issues too, teenage midfield talent Archie Gray was asked to step into the breach at the back for Tottenham.

The England Under-21 international was signed from Leeds United in a £30m deal over the summer off the back of his work in central midfield and as a makeshift right-back. However, Ange Postecoglou has used the 18-year-old in central defence, given the number of absentees, and Gray has been nothing short of a revelation playing out of position.

Gray has more than held his own playing alongside Dragusin, Davies and January signing Kevin Danso – and former Brentford boss Martin Allen believes Tottenham may have to look over their shoulder if the player continues to excel in a position that is not completely natural to him.

“He’s been absolutely outstanding.” Allen told Tottenham News.

“I thought he’d play as a midfielder but he’s played as a centre back, obviously due to the injuries. He doesn’t get phased by it, he’s such a good player.

“He’s reliable, honest and comes from a great family. I think he’s only going to get better when he moves forward and gets to play in midfield.

“I thought he was a really good signing at £30m, what’s he worth now? I’d set a top target of £50m on him right now but there will be top clubs coming after him no doubt.”

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Gray now an undroppable Tottenham asset

Tottenham have been boosted by several of their key stars returning over the past week, with Romero and Van de Ven on the brink of resuming their defensive partnership.

However, Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes Gray has earned the right to keep his place in the side – no matter where he plays going forward.

Speaking on Sky Sports recently, Merson said: “When all these players are fit, I hope Gray plays. I think he has been an absolute credit—the young lad.

“I mean, I don’t know him at all, but from a distance, he turns up every week, plays out of position, and plays in a struggling team at the moment with a worrying number of injuries—and yet he plays every week.

“He isn’t one of those who goes, ‘Hmm, you know what, I might sit this one out.’ But don’t get me wrong, there are players like that. Everybody will have played with players like that—when things aren’t going well, they step back.

“But he turns up every week. I hope he plays when everybody is fit because, honestly, the kid’s been an absolute credit—playing in a position that isn’t his, yet still showing up. Every single week.”

Gray could, however, find himself back on the bench against Bournemouth on Sunday – although there is a chance that Postecoglou utilises him in his natural midfield position instead.

Rodrigo Bentancur will be banned for the second leg of the Europa League last-16 clash with AZ, giving Gray the chance to shine in his best position – assuming that Romero and Van de Ven are good to go for that game.

Taking a look at Gray in midfield against the Cherries certainly makes an awful lot of sense, a position where has he equally impressed in rare cameos this term.

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Arsenal are “heavy favourites” to sign Benjamin Sesko, with a report revealing the two reasons why Tottenham Hotspur will fail in their pursuit of the striker as Liverpool’s chances of landing the star are also analysed.

Sesko is one of the best young strikers in Europe and has been in fine form for RB Leipzig over the past two seasons. The Slovenia international scored 18 goals and gave two assists in 42 matches in all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign and has scored 17 goals and provided five assists in 34 appearances so far this season.

TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent Ben Jacobs reported on February 7 that Arsenal are interested in signing Sesko from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window.

The north London club made an approach to Leipzig for the striker in the January transfer window.

When told that Sesko was not available, Arsenal decided not to make a bid out of respect, but sources have told TEAMtalk that Mikel Arteta’s side are “are likely to return” for the 21-year-old this summer.

Football Insider has now reported that Arsenal are “the heavy favourites” to sign Sesko this summer.

The Gunners have worked extremely hard behind the scenes to get a deal done for the youngster, who was described as “a complete striker” by former Leipzig Sporting Director Rouven Schroder on the club’s official website in June 2024.

The report has noted that Arsenal could move to trigger Sesko’s release clause of £58million.

Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham are also “prepared to meet the release clause”, but Sesko prefers a move to Arsenal or Chelsea.

That is because Arsenal and Chelsea are very likely to play in next season’s European competitions, while Tottenham are unlikely to do so.

According to Football Insider, another reason why Tottenham’s attempt to sign Sesko is “expected to fall flat” is that they have come too late to the party.

Tottenham, who want to sign a new striker in the January transfer window, have moved too late for a deal for Sesko, who has been a target for Arsenal for months.

Jurgen Klopp factor in Benjamin Sesko future

Arsenal and Tottenham will face competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool for Sesko.

A report this week claimed that Liverpool have opened talks over a possible deal for Sesko, with manager Arne Slot keen on signing a new number nine in the summer transfer window.

Respected journalist Dean Jones has noted the influence that former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could have on the striker’s future, with the German now working as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer.

Jones told GiveMeSport: “Liverpool’s position in the race could give them an edge over Arsenal, especially with the influence of Jurgen Klopp.

“His new role as global head of soccer at Red Bull could play a part in swaying Sesko towards Anfield, particularly given the German tactician’s past rivalry with Arsenal and Arteta.”

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Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Lautaro Martinez from Inter Milan in the summer transfer window.

Martinez is one of the best and most lethal strikers in the world and is a key player for Inter, who could win Serie A and the Champions League this season.

It has been reported that Arsenal plan to open talks over a move for the Argentina international soon.

Arsenal’s hopes of signing Raul Asencio from Real Madrid have been squashed.

Asencio has emerged as a revelation for Los Blancos this season and has established himself as an important option for head coach Carlo Ancelotti after making his debut only in November 2024.

A Spanish report has revealed that despite being aware of Arsenal’s interest, Asencio has decided to stay at Madrid for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are said to be leading the race for Flamengo star Wesley.

Chelsea are tracking the situation of Feyenoord star David Hancko after identifying him as a potential summer target, TEAMtalk can confirm, though Tottenham Hotspur and two European giants are also interested.

In December, we revealed that Chelsea and Tottenham are preparing to battle for Hancko’s capture. The two sides have stepped up their interest in the defender in recent weeks, especially Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s side were initially more on the sidelines but have now made contact to find out more information on the player, confirming their appreciation for him.

Sources have confirmed that, as things stand, Chelsea and Tottenham are the two Premier League clubs showing the most interest in Hancko. They will continue to monitor the left-footed centre-back in the coming weeks before deciding on any concrete swoop.

However, Atletico Madrid and Juventus will provide competition for Hancko’s signature. TEAMtalk can reveal that Atleti have made important moves for him in the last few days.

Atleti have made contact for Hancko and are now planning to enter official negotiations with Feyenoord.

The Dutch outfit have always been firm on their asking price. They want at least €50million (£42m / $54m) to consider the Slovakian’s departure this summer.

As for the player, Juventus remain the club that have had the most contact with him so far.

Hancko has not made any final decision on his next move, though he is enticed by the prospect of heading to Juve.

In December, Juve spoke with Hancko’s agents about a potential four or five-year contract worth €5m, bonuses included. The Bianconeri hope such a contract offer will convince Hancko to join their ranks in the summer.

Juventus scouting Chelsea, Tottenham target

Juve scouted the 27-year-old during Feyenoord’s 1-1 draw with AC Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League play-offs, which was enough for Hancko’s side to reach the round of 16.

Juve will watch him again when Feyenoord play Inter Milan on Tuesday. Feyenoord are at risk of being dumped out of the Champions League after a 2-0 home defeat in the first leg.

The race for Hancko is open, with many clubs eager to sign him. At this stage, Chelsea, Spurs, Atleti and Juve are his main suitors, setting up a big transfer battle.

Liverpool have also been linked with Hancko as Arne Slot worked with him during his time in charge of Feyenoord.

But the player is more likely to join Chelsea or Spurs if he arrives in the Premier League later this year.

Chelsea spying double signing; Spurs in for Everton flop

Meanwhile, Chelsea reporter Simon Phillips has revealed that the Blues hope to make ‘a couple of signings’ before the Club World Cup starts on June 14.

English duo Liam Delap and Aaron Ramsdale are two top candidates to move to Stamford Bridge.

Elsewhere, Spurs are thought to be considering a move for former Everton striker Moise Kean.

The Italian has turned his fortunes around at Fiorentina and his goalscoring form has impressed Spurs scouts.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keeping tabs on a former Everton flop currently starring in Italy, with a view to making a surprise bid for the attacker in the summer transfer window.

It’s expected to be a busy summer of ins and outs in north London, whether Ange Postecoglou keeps his job or not and, according to reports that surfaced on Friday, Spurs could add an attacker to their squad who struggled during four years at Goodison Park.

Italy international striker Moise Kean is the player in question, with the 25-year-old currently excelling at Fiorentina and finally showcasing the talents that Everton forked out an initial £25million for back in 2019.

After scoring just four goals in 39 games in competitions for the Toffees, sandwiched in between loan stints at PSG and his old club Juventus, the forward rejoined Juve on a permanent deal in 2023.

Having struggled to make a mark back in Turin, Kean moved to Florence last summer and has not looked back – notching an impressive 19 goals in 31 games in competitions this season.

That eye-catching form has led to significant interest in his services again, with GiveMeSport claiming that Tottenham have asked to be ‘kept in a loop’ regarding the player’s future.

Spurs are certainly in the market for more attacking depth, with the addition of a new No.9 one of their man focuses due to the injury struggles of both Richarlison and Dominic Solanke.

Loan signing Mathys Tel has also struggled to adapt to English football so far, which could lead to Spurs deciding against taking up their option to sign the young French forward.

To that end, a move for a player who has previous Premier League experience – albeit with not great success – could be a wise decision, especially given how Kean’s game has clearly moved to another level since quitting Merseyside.

The report adds that Kean currently has a £44m (€52m / $57m) release clause in his contract, which appears to be more than reasonable for a 25-year-old international player excelling in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

However, GiveMeSport goes on to add that Tottenham are not the only English club keeping tabs on Kean, with Newcastle United and West Ham United also keen – while Arsenal have also been credited with an interest.

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Moise Kean profile since leaving Everton

August 31, 2021: After a 17-goal loan spell at Paris Saint-Germain, Everton send Kean back to Juventus on a two-year loan with an obligation to buy.

September 11, 2021: Massimiliano Allegri gives Kean his second Juventus debut, but he commits an error leading to the decisive goal in a loss to Napoli.

September 22, 2021: To mark his first start since returning to Juventus, Kean scores against Spezia.

December 8, 2021: Kean scores his first goal in the Champions League in Juventus colours to seal a win over Malmo.

April 25, 2022: Kean scores his sixth and final goal of his first season back at Juventus.

May 11, 2022: Juventus lose the Coppa Italia final to Inter, with Kean playing as a substitute.

October 21, 2022: After 13 appearances without a goal at the start of the season, Kean opens his account for 2022/23 with a goal against Empoli.

November 13, 2022: Kean scores a brace against Lazio, the first of his second spell at Juventus.

March 5, 2023: Kean gets sent off just one minute after coming on against Roma.

April 1, 2023: A goal against Verona turns out to be the last of the season (8) for Kean.

January 30, 2024: A loan move to Atletico Madrid collapses for Kean due to an issue in his medical.

May 12, 2024: Kean makes his final appearance for Juventus, having failed to score at all in his final season.

July 9, 2024: Fiorentina buy Kean from Juventus for €13m rising to €18m.

August 17, 2024: Kean completes all 90 minutes of his Fiorentina debut against Parma.

August 22, 2024: Kean scores his first Fiorentina goal in a Conference League qualifier against Puskas AFC.

November 10, 2024: Kean scores his first senior hat-trick against Hellas Verona.

December 4, 2024: Kean scores in normal time, but misses a penalty in the shootout as Fiorentina are knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Empoli.

December 5, 2024: Kean is named the Serie A Player of the Month for November – two years after last winning the prize – after scoring five goals in three games.

February 6, 2025: A brace by Kean helps Fiorentina to a 2-0 win over reigning champions Inter.

February 23, 2025: Kean collapses on the pitch while playing against Hellas Verona, but is later discharged from hospital.

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Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario admits that supporters of the club have the right to vent their anger at some of the performances the side has churned out this season, following a run-in with away fans after the 1-0 defeat in the Netherlands on Thursday night.

AZ will take a deserved 1-0 lead to north London for next Thursday’s last-16 Europa League decider after Lucas Bergvall’s freak own goal earned them a first win over English opposition in 13 attempts.

Ange Postecoglou’s side failed to muster a single shot on target in what was one of their worst performances of the season in one of the biggest games, with Vicario needing to be at his best to keep the score down to just one.

The Italian went across to the away Tottenham support after the final whistle, waving his arms in trying to rally more support but ended up being met by an angry response.

That exchange left Vicario looking frustrated, but he admits that the fans have the right to be critical, saying: “They can do [that]. They have to be, they must be disappointed for the game we played but we still have another game to play against AZ at our place, so it’s the moment to stick together now because we can go through this round.

“I can [understand] the disappointment for the night because we didn’t play our football. So I can understand the frustration of the fans. But we still have a lot to play for, especially in the second leg.

“It’s just a way of trying to stay together because we have the opportunity to go through to the next round.

“Of course we need them every game, home and away. We know they are very important for us and now is a big moment of the season and with them we can play with one more man on the pitch so it’s so important.

“I can really understand the disappointment they had because we didn’t show our level of football. It’s disappointing for us but we have to analyse and forget, and be ready for the next round.

“The performance is nowhere near the level we should have played this game. We know, it’s frustrating.

“The result of course is not great. But we have to play the second leg, so it’s on us. Now we have to analyse but also forget straight away this game. We have a big game on Sunday and ready for the second leg next Thursday.”

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Ferdinand criticises Postecoglou pitch excuse

Meanwhile, former Spurs striker Les Ferdinand was critical of Postecoglou’s post-match comments, in which he stated that a ‘tricky pitch’ was part of the reason for his side’s woeful performance.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: “I wish he hadn’t said that. We’re not there, so I don’t know what the pitch is like. They [AZ] seemed to play alright on it, they seemed ok on it.

“He said before the game, we want to be aggressive, we want to be in their faces, and we saw none of that. He alluded to it, he said we weren’t good enough.

“I’m not sure I would blame the pitch for the problems that Spurs had.”

Tottenham are back in action this Sunday when they host high-flying Bournemouth in the Premier League.

There is a strong chance that Postecoglou will freshen up his side for that game, with first-choice centre-back pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both fit and available for selection.

The Spurs boss could also try a new combination in midfield, given that Rodrigo Bentancur is now banned for the second leg of the European tie.

While the Uruguayan is likely to retain his place in the side for Sunday, the return of Romero and Van de Ven means Archie Gray could push into his more natural midfield role – giving Tottenham some much-needed protection in front of their often exposed back line.

Postecoglou will also be hoping that Dominic Solanke recovers from the knock he suffered on his comeback in a bid to face his former side.

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Tottenham are in danger of stretching their trophyless run to more than 17 years after losing the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at AZ, with one key star slammed for his performance and another going off injured again.

Spurs went down 1-0 in the Netherlands as they produced one of their worst displays of the season when it mattered most, with a number of their top players failing to perform and Dominic Solanke returning from injury only to limp off again.

Skipper Son Heung-min came in for particular criticism as his season of struggle continued, with his display singled out by media outlets and an often critical former Tottenham star.

Indeed, the national media did not hold back in their criticism, with The Express among the most damning. In their post-match ratings, they handed Son a dismal 3/10 and said: “Not for the first time this season, Spurs’ talisman looked a shell of himself in attack. Started the game out wide before being drafted into the middle at half-time.

“The change made little difference, given the South Korean fluffed his best and only real chance of the match. Subbed off for Dominic Solanke when Tottenham were searching for an equaliser.”

Meanwhile, former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara, who was commenting during the match for Sky Sports, said: “At the moment, you need a goal. [Postecoglou] has taken Tel off. He has put Son up front. But Son’s been non-existent in this game. You want players running behind, and that’s just not happening for Spurs at all.

“Been really sloppy in possession. Expected a lot more from them in this game. It’s a cup final, really. The season is on the line over these two legs. Looks like at the moment we’re going out with a whimper.”

Son himself did admit that he was not at his best, along with the whole team, telling TNT Sports: “It’s nowhere near where we should perform. It was very disappointing that we performed like this, including me. It’s a big wake-up call because next week is the biggest game of the season.

“We didn’t create anything in the first half, sloppiness, not performing the way we should. Everyone is very disappointed about the individual performance and the team performance.

“There are no excuses, we were not good enough. It’s just 1-0, it’s still not finished, and next week we have to be much better.”

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Unlucky Solanke crocked again

Meanwhile, Tottenham are again sweating over the fitness of Solanke again after the striker appeared to pick up a fresh injury in the defeat to AZ.

The striker made his return after seven weeks out with a knee injury suffered in training, coming on with around 20 minutes to play as Spurs pushed for an equaliser.

With the game heading into injury time, Solanke jumped to reach a cross, collided with Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro mid-air and fell to the pitch on his left-hand side.

Solanke immediately looked in pain, clutching his side, and was unable to continue. He was quickly replaced by Dane Scarlett and helped from the pitch and down the touchline.

Speaking after the game, Postecoglou said: “We think it’s a knock, so hopefully nothing too bad. He’s a bit sore.”

Spurs’ season rests on their Europa League campaign having been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions while their Premier League form has seen them languish in the bottom half for months.

As for side’s performance in Holland, Postecoglou did not hold back, adding: “It was nowhere near the level it needed to be.

“It wasn’t great from us tonight, pretty much all facets of the game. We didn’t really get to grips with any part of the game. We struggled to gain any momentum with the ball, we weren’t as aggressive as we needed to be without the ball.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of effort or attitude. I don’t think it is going out there and not trying, but, like I said, we didn’t really come to grips and have the right mindset to tackle an away fixture in Europe.

“You are going to face some pressure when you play away from home in Europe and weather the storm and get to grips with it, but we never really did so that was a disappointment.”

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Glenn Hoddle has bizarrely claimed that Tottenham’s last-16 Europa League loss to AZ Alkmaar is a “better result” for them than the Dutch side.

AZ were deserved 1-0 winners on Thursday night as Tottenham were undone by a comical own goal by Lucas Bergvall, with the visitors having just one shot on target.

The teenager miscued his clearance on the edge of the six-yard box and his team-mates were helpless as the ball flew into the top corner in the 18th minute.

At the time, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara said on Sky Sports that it was a “terrible” mistake by Bergvall, with Hoddle adding on TNT Sports that it was “very unfortunate” own goal.

And while things didn’t get much better for the north London outfit against the Eredivisie team, Hoddle – who played 490 times for Spurs – was taking the positives out of the result ahead of next week’s second leg.

“They [Tottenham] were lacklustre in their performance. But that’s a better result for Tottenham than it is for AZ,” he said. “To play so mediocre and come home with just a one-goal deficit, they’ll be happy with that. Not the performance, but the result.”

AZ may still fancy their chances with this one-goal advantage ahead of their trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next week.

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Tottenham ‘nowhere near’ the required level

After crashing out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in 2025, along with struggling in the Premier League, the Europa League is Tottenham’s last chance at silverware this season.

Despite this being a crucial fixture, head coach Postecoglou admitted his team were not at the races across the board. However, he did not criticise Bergvall as freak incidents like that can happen.

The Australian told TNT Sports: “It was a tricky pitch and we didn’t really handle it really well. Aside from that, we just weren’t aggressive enough and we were way too passive in terms of the way we pressed.

“Too many times we were just circulating the ball without any real intent to hurt them. No fault for the goal, it happens. It’s more about the collective tonight rather than the individuals.

“Collectively, we were nowhere near the level we needed to be and that’s the thing we need to address.”

Tottenham return to Premier League action on Sunday at home to Bournemouth, before hosting AZ in the return leg next Thursday.