The Independent

The Europa League final in Bilbao will not be moved with Manchester United to face Tottenham Hotspur.

An all-English final gives two of the Premier League’s underperforming teams a chance to save their seasons and gain direct access to next year’s Champions League. United are in 15th place in the Premier League and Tottenham, who have not won a trophy since 2008, are 16th.

However, there is no chance that a Manchester United-Tottenham final could be moved to an English venue, with Bilbao’s San Mames stadium awarded the rights to host the Europa League final way back in 2021, the same year that Uefa decided the Basque city would host the 2024 Women’s Champions League final.

The San Mames has an official capacity of 53,289 but demand for tickets from Manchester United and Tottenham supporters will be far higher than what both teams would be allocated if they reach the final.

Uefa has confirmed that the two teams who reach the final will receive up to 15,000 tickets each, with a further 11,000 tickets up for general sale and the remainder offered to hospitality and sponsors.

And, as has been the case for recent all-English European finals between Manchester City and Chelsea in 2021 (Porto), Liverpool and Tottenham in 2019 (Madrid) and Arsenal and Chelsea in 2019 (Baku), the final will be played in Bilbao regardless of who advances.

Athletic Bilbao were dreaming of appearing in the Europa League final at their home stadium but United produced their finest performance under Ruben Amorim to win 3-0 against the 10-man hosts, before defeating the Spanish side 4-1 in the second leg.

Tottenham overcame the challenge of Norwegian underdogs Bodo/Glimt, winning 2-0 away from home in the second leg.

Liveupdated

Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham LIVE: Spurs brace for Arctic expedition in bid for Europa League final

Tottenham are on the brink of a Europa League final but will need to overcome an Arctic expedition to get there

Tottenham have their sights set on a Europa League final but will need to overcome an Arctic expedition as they visit Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Ange Postecoglou’s side made a good start to the tie as they secured an advantage at home last week, but the late concession of a goal, narrowing their lead to 3-1, could yet prove costly.

Bodo/Glimt have beaten FC Twente, Olympiacos and Lazio by at least a two-goal margin in Norway on their run through to the last four, and will be confident of another good result as they welcome Spurs to the harsh conditions of the Aspmyra Stadion.

With the final just a hair’s breadth away for Spurs, triumph in the Europa League could act as Postecoglou’s last chance of salvation in the Tottenham hot seat after an otherwise miserable season.

Follow all the build-up and action from Norway below:

Aston Villa ‘not happy’ as Tottenham fixture moved

Aston Villa bosses insist they are "not happy" about their Premier League match against Tottenham being brought forward two days to assist the Londoners' preparations for a potential Europa League final appearance.

Villa's director of football operations Damian Vidagany said his club had reluctantly accepted the change, and hoped the "clear prejudice" against Villa in this decision would be remembered should they need assistance with fixture scheduling due to European football next season.

"Fixture changed and honestly, not happy," he wrote on X.

"But it could be even worst (sic). We really pushed - everyone in the club at different levels - with solid and fair grounds to protect our fans ( our main task and duty) and keep the Spurs match on Sunday. Nothing against Spurs."

Aston Villa ‘not happy’ as Tottenham fixture moved

The match has been brought forward by two days due to Spurs potentially playing in the Europa League final

Will Castle8 May 2025 17:30

Tottenham’s match against Aston Villa moved ahead of Europa League final

Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League match against Aston Villa has been moved forward by two days ahead of Spurs’ potential participation in this season’s Europa League final.

The match has been moved to aid Spurs’ potential preparations and recovery ahead of the final, with the Lilywhites now travelling to Villa Park on the evening of Friday, 16 May, having originally been scheduled to face Villa on Sunday, 18 May at 2.15pm.

The Europa League final takes place on Wednesday, 21 May, and Spurs are currently well-placed to earn a spot in Bilbao, having beaten Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in the first leg of their semi-final.

Tottenham’s match against Aston Villa moved ahead of Europa League final

The match was originally scheduled to take place on Sunday 18 May at 2.15pm

Will Castle8 May 2025 17:15

Ange Postecoglou hits back at Arsene Wenger in debate over Champions League spot

Ange Postecoglou has laughed off criticism from Arsene Wenger about Tottenham potentially qualifying for next season's Champions League and joked the club does "crazy things" to people.

"Well, I mean that's a debate that's been raging for years, like at least the last eight days," Postecoglou smiled. "I've never heard that before. I've said it before, mate, Spurs does crazy things to people. It does, it does.

"You put that club into any sentence or any issue and invariably they all come out and try and diminish as much as they can.

"Why wasn't there an issue before and it's an issue now? What's the difference? I don't understand what the difference is.

"Last year, fifth didn't get you into the Champions League, this year it does. What does that mean?

"There are competition rules and the rules say that the winner goes into (Champions League) and it's not the first year.

"And there isn't an asterisk against it that you have to do something else as well, but it's Spurs, mate, they love it. They love it.”

Ange Postecoglou hits back at Arsene Wenger in debate over Champions League spot

The former Arsenal manager suggested that it was wrong for the Europa League winners to earn entry into the Champions League

Will Castle8 May 2025 17:00

James Maddison out for the season with potential Europa League final looming

Now this is a big blow.

James Maddison will be out for the rest of Tottenham’s season with a knee injury, Ange Postecoglou has confirmed.

Maddison was forced off in last week’s 3-1 Europa League semi-final first-leg win against Bodo/Glimt, a result that put Spurs on the brink of a European final later this month.

However, should Postecoglou’s side pass this week’s test in the Arctic and book their place in Bilbao, Maddison will play no part in the final showcase after scans revealed he is facing an extended period on the sidelines.

James Maddison out for the season with potential Europa League final looming

Maddison will be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury and could miss the start of pre-season

Will Castle8 May 2025 16:45

Odds for the clash

Bodo/Glimt to progress 8/1

Tottenham to progress 1/9

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Will Castle8 May 2025 16:30

Predicted line-ups

Bodo/Glimt XI: Haikin; Sjovold, Nielsen, Gundersen, Bjork; Evjen, Berg, Saltnes; Maatta, Hogh, Blomberg.

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Johnson, Kulusevski, Richarlison; Solanke.

Will Castle8 May 2025 16:25

What is the Tottenham team news?

James Maddison appears likely to miss the remainder of the season for Tottenham, a major blow with Lucas Bergvall also out.

Heung Min Son is a doubt as he nears a return from injury.

Will Castle8 May 2025 16:20

What is the Bodo/Glimt team news?

Patrick Berg, Hakon Evjen and Andreas Helmersen should all be back in action for Bodo/Glimt after serving suspensions in the first leg.

Meanwhile, Daniel Bassi remains absent.

Will Castle8 May 2025 16:15

Is Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch

The Europa League semi-final second leg is due to kick off at 8pm BST on Thursday 8 May at Aspmyra Stadion in Bodo.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 2, with coverage on the channel from 7pm BST. Subscribers can stream the action via discovery+.

Will Castle8 May 2025 16:05

Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham LIVE

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Tottenham’s Europa League semi-final second leg with Bodo/Glimt.

Spurs take a 3-1 advantage to the Arctic but will need to withstand the harsh, unorthodox conditions to book their place in the Europa League final.

The Norwegian club are bidding to be the first from the nation to reach a European final and set up a meeting with either Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao.

Stay tuned for all the build-up and team news ahead of tonight’s clash.

Will Castle8 May 2025 16:00

Ange Postecoglou has laughed off criticism from Arsene Wenger about Tottenham potentially qualifying for next season's Champions League and joked the club does "crazy things" to people.

Spurs are in Norway for their Europa League semi-final second leg with Bodo/Glimt and hold a two-goal lead after last Thursday's 3-1 victory put them within touching distance of the final in Bilbao.

If Tottenham win the competition, despite being on course for their worst Premier League finish of 16th, it would earn them qualification for the Champions League due to a Uefa rule in place since the 2014-15 campaign.

However, ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger - currently head of global football development at Fifa - this week told beIN Sport that Spurs or potential finalists Manchester United should not be able to get into Europe's elite competition via the Europa League and urged Uefa to "review" the ruling.

Ahead of Thursday's showdown in Bodo, where Tottenham will be without James Maddison and captain Son Heung-min, Postecoglou cut a relaxed figure as he reflected on the narrative around the north London club.

"Well, I mean that's a debate that's been raging for years, like at least the last eight days," Postecoglou smiled. "I've never heard that before. I've said it before, mate, Spurs does crazy things to people. It does, it does.

"You put that club into any sentence or any issue and invariably they all come out and try and diminish as much as they can.

"Why wasn't there an issue before and it's an issue now? What's the difference? I don't understand what the difference is.

"Last year, fifth didn't get you into the Champions League, this year it does. What does that mean?

"There are competition rules and the rules say that the winner goes into (Champions League) and it's not the first year.

"And there isn't an asterisk against it that you have to do something else as well, but it's Spurs, mate, they love it. They love it.

"I've got a great respect for Arsene. He's one of the legends of the game, but it does crazy things to people, mate. I love it, bring it on. It's going to upset people, so that makes me happy."

Asked if Tottenham had made him crazy during a season where he has battled with an enormous injury list and faced constant speculation over his future, Postecoglou said: "It hasn't made me crazy at all.

"I was talking about other people, I wasn't talking about me. I was asked the question about apparently there is a massive raging debate about the legitimacy of us or Man U potentially being in the Champions League next year.

"They need to change the rules because Spurs are involved."

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario echoed the sentiments of Postecoglou when quizzed on Wenger's recent comments.

Vicario added: "Everyone can have thoughts about everything in life.

"I don't agree (with Wenger) but it doesn't matter. These are the rules and we want to go to the final."

PA

Aston Villa bosses insist they are "not happy" about their Premier League match against Tottenham being brought forward two days to assist the Londoners' preparations for a potential Europa League final appearance.

Spurs' request to bring the match forward from its original date of May 18 to May 16 has been granted by the Premier League, with Ange Postecoglou's side in a strong position to reach the continental final on May 21.

Villa's director of football operations Damian Vidagany said his club had reluctantly accepted the change, and hoped the "clear prejudice" against Villa in this decision would be remembered should they need assistance with fixture scheduling due to European football next season.

"Fixture changed and honestly, not happy," he wrote on X.

"But it could be even worst (sic). We really pushed - everyone in the club at different levels - with solid and fair grounds to protect our fans ( our main task and duty) and keep the Spurs match on Sunday. Nothing against Spurs."

Vidagany said that considering the alternatives were to bring the game forward even earlier to Wednesday or Thursday, playing on Friday was the least "damaging" they could get.

Efforts to bring the match forward to Saturday, May 17 were thwarted because of the clash with the FA Cup final, Vidagany said.

"Hopefully in the future all of them (the Premier League and the Football Association) would remind the clear prejudice in this case to Villa fans and will be consistent and equally supportive if we need changes to help us in Europe (if hopefully we are there)," Vidagany added.

"We didn't feel this support last season or this one. European football is not only demanding for English clubs on the verge of the finals."

Earlier this season, Villa had a rearranged Premier League fixture against Liverpool moved into a midweek slot that they thought would be free after avoiding a play-off round in the Champions League.

Villa's director of football Monchi echoed Vidagany's sentiments, adding on his own X account: "The change of the fixture of Tottenham is not what we wanted. We were not entitled to keep it and we got the least damaging alternative.

"Our fans didn't deserve but we tried hard to keep the match to protect the most important for us: YOU and OUR TEAM. We need you on Friday. Always Up the Villa!!!"

Tottenham lead their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt 3-1 on aggregate heading into Thursday night's second leg.

If they progress they could well find themselves up against Manchester United in the final, with the Red Devils 3-0 up in their tie against Athletic Bilbao ahead of the home leg.

Leaving Spurs' match where it was would have given United a major advantage in terms of rest, with their league game against Chelsea already scheduled for May 16.

The kick-off time for that fixture has now been changed from 8pm to 8.15pm, with Villa v Tottenham starting at 7.30pm.

Both the Villa v Tottenham match and Chelsea v Manchester United will be live on Sky Sports.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League match against Aston Villa has been moved forward by two days ahead of Spurs’ potential participation in this season’s Europa League final.

The match has been moved to aid Spurs’ potential preparations and recovery ahead of the final, with the Lilywhites now travelling to Villa Park on the evening of Friday, 16 May, having originally been scheduled to face Villa on Sunday, 18 May at 2.15pm.

The Europa League final takes place on Wednesday, 21 May, and Spurs are currently well-placed to earn a spot in Bilbao, having beaten Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in the first leg of their semi-final.

Ange Postecoglou’s side could well face Manchester United in the final, with the Red Devils having beaten Athletic Bilbao 3-0 away in the first leg of their tie. Ruben Amorim’s side will also play in the Premier League on the Friday night as they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs requested last month that their match be moved, though Villa rejected to the potential alteration, citing that there was no precedent for the Premier League moving matches in this type of scenario. Villa themselves had played every three or four days in April due to Champions League and FA Cup commitments.

In addition, the club had planned several pre-organised activities for the match as it is their final home match of the 2024/25 season.

Spurs had originally requested that the game was moved to 15 May, though the game will now kick off at 7.30pm the day after. It is understood that the match will remain scheduled for the same day even if Spurs were to be knocked out of the Europa League this week.

The second leg of their semi-final takes place in Bodo on Thursday night, with kick-off at 8pm BST.

Jarrod Bowen rescued a point for West Ham United as they laboured to a 1-1 draw at home to a second-string Tottenham Hotspur.

Bowen scored his 10th Premier League goal for the season to cancel out Wilson Odobert's first for Spurs.

With Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou placing all his eggs in the Europa League basket he made eight changes to rest his first-choice players for Thursday night's semi-final second-leg trip to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt.

With Spurs minds clearly elsewhere and West Ham likely wishing away the remainder what has been a dire season, this was a match both teams could have probably done without, and it showed.

The scores of empty seats around the London Stadium for a derby summed up the apathy surrounding the club, who have now collected just 14 points from 15 matches under the increasingly beleaguered Graham Potter.

Not even the battle to avoid finishing as the lowest team in the Premier League outside of the relegation places could liven things up. As it is, West Ham remain in 17th and Spurs just one place above them, still on course for their lowest top-flight finish since they were relegated in 1977.

However, there was the bizarre sight of Lucas Paqueta seemingly in tears after receiving a second-half yellow card for a foul on Mikey Moore - the Brazilian is still awaiting the outcome of the FA hearing into allegations he deliberately got himself booked in four matches.

Tottenham were gifted the lead in the 15th minute when Hammers defender Max Kilman had two stabs at making a pretty routine clearance, but hit Mathys Tel with both of them.

The second time Tel was able to smuggle the ball away and square it across goal, where it was missed by Aaron Cresswell leaving Odobert the simple task of finishing past Alphonse Areola.

But West Ham responded just before the half-hour mark when Bowen beat the offside trap to run on to Aaron Wan-Bissaka's through-ball.

The Hammers skipper scampered into the penalty area, cut inside and slipped the ball through the legs of Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario at his near post.

Spurs could have gone back in front six minutes before half-time when Paqueta's lazy pass went straight to Richarlison.

The Brazilian found Tel on the edge of the box and continued his run, collecting the return pass and fizzing it across goal, but no one was on hand get the final touch.

In the second half Niclas Fullkrug headed over for West Ham while Pape Sarr was inches too high with a fierce drive from the edge of the box.

Bowen almost put the hosts ahead with 10 minutes left but his glancing header was brilliantly clawed away by Vicario, and James Ward-Prowse curled a free-kick just wide in stoppage time.

PA

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UEFA on potential Manchester United v Spurs Europa League final

Jamie Braidwood

Friday 02 May 2025 16:32 BST

UEFA has confirmed that the Europa League final will remain in Bilbao's San Mames stadium even if both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur reach the final.

Both teams secured advantageous wins in their semi-final first legs, putting them in strong contention for a spot in the final.

An all-English final would offer both underperforming Premier League teams a chance to salvage their seasons and secure Champions League qualification.

Despite the high demand for tickets from English fans, the final will not be moved to an English venue, as Bilbao was awarded hosting rights in 2021.

Each finalist will receive up to 15,000 tickets, with an additional 11,000 available for general sale.

Tottenham host Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals as Spurs look to take a step closer to ending their 17-year trophy drought.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have endured a miserable season in the Premier League but have kept their campaign alive by reaching the final four in Europe, with Spurs showing character to defeat Eintracht Frankfurt away from home in the quarter-finals.

They will face a unique opponent in the semi-finals. Bodo/Glimt are looking to become the first Norwegian side to reach a European final, eight years after they were playing in the second division in Norway.

Bodo/Glimt will be huge underdogs but they knocked out Italian side Lazio in the quarter-finals and will hope to stay in the tie ahead of next week’s return leg in the small town of Bodo, which is inside the Arctic Circle.

When Bodo/Glimt prepare for a game like Tottenham Hotspur, one policy is to try and not look at the names. The tiny Norwegian club has plenty of experience there, having faced Lazio, Arsenal, Manchester United and Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic during their recent rise.

The aim is to just see players as units, and their various strengths and weaknesses. It is a very rational way to look at something that could otherwise involve a lot of emotion, particularly for an Arctic Circle town that has a population of just 55,000 - almost 8,000 less than the 62,850 capacity of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“We only think it’s funny to show we can be as good as any name in the world,” says defender Odin Bjortuft.

The general perception of these four Europa League semi-finalists, and how they view football, is going to hugely frame the outlook of these ties.

On either side of both semi-finals - Bodo/Glimt v Tottenham Hotspur and Athletic Club v Manchester United - there are two fan-owned clubs who organically built on what they’ve got.

Bodo are authentically one of the great stories of modern football. Their run to become the first Norwegian club to reach a semi-final is not just something that shouldn't be possible. It is all the more impressive since it has been achieved after years of sustained progress. This is no one-off. They are a model of diligently building on what you have, and being "smarter" about it.

“If you go back 10 years, the club was nearly bankrupt,” says director of football Havard Sakariassen. “Nobody has given us money outside of prize money or us doing well. There is no owner here. Nothing like that.”

Athletic have meanwhile enjoyed a rebirth, as their famous recruitment policy feels like it now offers even greater value in the modern game. By only selecting players who are connected to the Basque Country, they have benefited from the area’s burgeoning talent production. Club legend Ernesto Valverde is meanwhile a coach who just fits, and last year’s Spanish Cup win is seen as having given the club a badly-needed new confidence, as they lifted their first trophy in 40 years. They’re now going for a second in two as well as a first European trophy, all in their own stadium. There’s considerable romance to all this.

On the other side, there are two billionaire-owned clubs that have burnt through billions of Premier League and Champions League money in the last few years alone. And yet here are United, boosted by the return of Amad Diallo and Matthijs de Ligt, and Spurs, likely without Son Heung Min are, desperate for a Europa League to save their seasons - and maybe more.

While there are obviously pure football and emotional reasons for both to want to win this trophy, there’s also an inescapable financial reality. They both need the victory, and Champions League qualification, to satisfy PSR rules and future growth. It isn’t quite what the great glory of European football is supposed to be about.

These two semi-finals have nevertheless become about admirable diligence against extreme waste; immense over-performance against jaw-dropping under-performance.

It’s hard to know what should be more unlikely: Bodo getting this far, or both United and Spurs being so low in the Premier League. The English two are somehow disproving Sakariassen’s true point that “it’s easier if you have money, that’s for sure”.

While none of this is to argue that it would be better for two Premier League clubs to go out, many in European football are only too keen to talk about potential moral lessons.

It was following last season’s Europa League final, after all, that Gian Piero Gasperini described his Atalanta’s win as a victory for “meritocracy”.

“There is still scope for ideas and football doesn’t have to come down to cool, hard money,” he said.

While so much of the modern game seems to be going in the opposite direction, especially with the expanded Champions League, there are figures in Uefa who were conscious of this. These semi-finals show why seemingly innocuous regulations are so important.

Had the original idea for the expanded Champions League been in place, where two positions would have absurdly been awarded based on past performance, clubs like United and Spurs could well have had a safety net. Senior voices like Theo Theodoridis worried this might be going too far. Fan pressure was crucial.

Now, both Spurs and United might be forced into more calculated thought about what next, just like their semi-final opposition.

It is why Bodo can be “an inspiration”, as Sakariassen puts it, for even clubs much bigger than those in Norway. They might also show the way football is going. Much like Liverpool on a different scale in this season’s Premier League, Bodo have made a virtue of “performance culture”. It really is that simple in terms of explanation, if obviously difficult to execute. They began to think about how they could maximise every area of the club.

“They have used their limitations as advantages,” says Jens Haugland, chief executive of the Norwegian league. “We need to be driven by very strong performance culture, because we can never compete in terms of money. Bodo is a clear example. They have done it for many years and are also able to repeat the performance. You can never buy a performance culture from money, you can never buy an attitude from money, you can never buy a collective from money. You need to work in a very detailed and systematic way for many years.”

Athletic, famously, have an identity you can’t buy with money, either. It is similarly instructive that, when Michel Platini first tried to get Financial Fair Play through 18 years ago, he turned to a prominent Athletic fan. The then Uefa president received crucial legal support from European Union Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia. This wasn’t out of any club bias, but really about what football culture should encourage.

It is impossible not to wonder what some of the Premier League executives might make of being forced into Athletic’s recruitment policy, given that there are now voices at United who want PSR loosened. Bodo pursue a strategy that is similar to Athletic almost by definition, in having mostly Norwegian players, because that’s just the market they’re in. "Their main pitch to me was they could help make me better.” Bjortuft says. “Bodo/Glimt have been really good at picking players who can give everything for the team.”

Praise isn’t universal, of course. There has been some criticism for how Bodo have benefited from that same Uefa prize money mechanism, with Sakariassen admitting “a lot of Norwegian clubs probably see it as a big obstacle”.

Some rivals around the Basque region meanwhile "despise" Athletic for "poaching" their players. Euro 2024 star Nico Williams was taken from nearby rivals Osasuna at 11. On the other side, both Arsenal and Chelsea are looking at him for the summer. Wealthy English clubs want Bodo manager Kjetil Knutsen.

Money does tend to win out. The likelihood is that one of United or Spurs will win to reach the final. If they do, however, there are still considerable lessons to take from their opposition. Neither Bilbao nor Bodo see it that way. They have full belief. It’s the conviction that comes from commitment to a unique identity. They are convinced they can give the best lesson possible.

Ange Postecoglou has hit back at people who he says are trying to “diminish” Tottenham’s bid to reach the Europa League final and rejected comparisons with Erik ten Hag winning the FA Cup with Manchester United last season.

Spurs face Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals and will host the first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night as they look to reach a European final and win their first trophy since 2008.

Postecoglou is under pressure as a result of Tottenham’s poor Premier League campaign, with Spurs 16th and Sunday’s 5-1 defeat at Liverpool their 19th of the league season, but said the club have an “unbelievable opportunity” in Europe.

Ten Hag saved his job for a few months by beating Manchester City at Wembley to win the FA Cup, with the Tottenham manager potentially entering a similar make-or-break window, but Postecoglou said the two situations could not be compared.

“I’ve seen people trying to diminish it in some respects,” Postecoglou said ahead of the semi-final first leg. “I’ve heard people say, ‘well it’s the equivalent of Man United winning the FA Cup’. No it ain’t. I’m sorry. Not on any world is it the equivalent.

“Others are suggesting we are not worthy of the Champions League. Again, things that are designed to diminish what’s ahead of us, which is an unbelievable opportunity. Irrespective of how this season has gone we have generations of fans who want this more than anything else, a special moment watching this football club.

“Look, this season could have gone very differently and we could be flying in the league but it wouldn’t make this opportunity any different. The opportunity is the same and I’ve made that clear to the players. What we have before us is a semi-final in a European competition and the opportunity to win a trophy and get Champions League football.”

James Maddison backed Postecoglou and said the Tottenham squad was “100 per cent” behind the Australian.

“He’s the first person to tell you and I’ll tell you myself we’ve had a poor season in the league,” Maddison said.

“We’ve been very good in Europe but the league season has probably been unacceptable and we can all take a collective responsibility for that, but he’s my manager, he’s my gaffer, and I respect him an awful amount.”