Daily Mail

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has fired back at Arsene Wenger after the former Arsenal manager claimed the Europa League winner should not be guaranteed a spot in the Champions League.

Spurs have one foot in the final of the Europa League ahead of their semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt, having secured a 3-1 win last week.

The north London club's European run comes amid a torrid domestic campaign which sees them currently sit 16th in the Premier League table.

In 2014, UEFA adjusted its competition rules to grant the Europa League winner automatic qualification for the following season's Champions League.

However, Wenger, who is now FIFA's head of global football development, believes it's something UEFA will have 'to think about and to review', with Manchester United also in with a chance of benefiting.

Postecoglou, though, believes people are trying to 'diminish' his club at every opportunity.

'Well, I mean that's a debate that's been raging for years, like at least the last eight days,' he said.

'I've never heard that before, so... 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 [the Champions League]. 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. Oh, they love it, you love it, don't you?'

When reminded that Wenger once managed Spurs' fierce north London rivals, Postecoglou responded: 'I don't want to go down that road because 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. I love it, bring it on. it's going to upset people, so that makes me happy.'

Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Wenger claimed the winners of the Europa League should be rewarded with a return to the competition.

The former Arsenal boss said: 'No - they should qualify automatically for the Europa League again but not necessarily for the Champions League.

'Especially when you're in the Premier League, where already five teams qualify.

'I think it's something [for UEFA] to think about and to review. On the other hand, people will tell you that to keep the Europa League focused, interesting and motivated you need to give them that prize [of qualifying for the Champions League].'

Meanwhile, Tottenham are set to be without midfielder James Maddison for the trip to Bodo/Glimt after he suffered a season ending knee injury.

Captain Son Heung-min has missed the last four games with a foot injury. Son has been training alone and is a doubt for the trip to Norway.

Dominic Solanke, also forced off against Bodo/Glimt, missed the draw at West Ham but is confident of being fit for Thursday.

Tottenham star James Maddison is reportedly a doubt for pre-season following the knee injury which has ended his campaign.

Mail Sport reported on Monday that Maddison was unlikely to play again this season after he damaged a knee in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt.

Ange Postecoglou said after Sunday's 1-1 draw at West Ham that it was 'not looking promising' for Maddison.

According to the BBC, Maddison's knee injury is expected to keep the England international out until July.

The midfielder will reportedly not have to undergo surgery having suffered suspected ligament damage.

While Maddison is expected to be a doubt for the start of pre-season due to the three month recovery time, the 28-year-old should be fit in time for the start of the new campaign.

The loss of Maddison is a major blow to Tottenham's hopes of success in the Europa League.

Maddison has been influential in the competition for Ange Postecoglou's side and scored their second goal in the 3-1 semi-final first leg win over Bodo/Glimt last week.

Midfielder Lucas Bergvall suffered an ankle injury on the eve of the first leg which has ruled him out of the rest of the season.

Captain Son Heung-min has missed the last four games with a foot injury. Son has been training alone and is a doubt for the trip to Norway.

Dominic Solanke, also forced off against Bodo/Glimt, missed the draw at West Ham but is confident of being fit for Thursday.

Aston Villa have been left angry at the Premier League’s controversial decision to bring forward their clash with Tottenham by 48 hours, accusing the governing body of ‘clear prejudice’.

The fixture, Villa’s final game at home this season, has been switched from 2.15pm on May 18 – a Sunday – to 7.30pm on May 16, ahead of Spurs’ possible participation in the Europa League Final on May 21.

The switch would give Tottenham more time to prepare for that fixture, which could bring them only their second trophy this century and their first in Europe since 1984

But Villa believe little consideration has been given to their own attempts to finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League – nor to their supporters who may now have to change plans at short notice, with the game rescheduled at only 10 days’ notice.

Villa chief Monchi said: ‘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.’

Director Damian Vidagany added: ‘Fixture changed and, honestly, not happy.

'Hopefully in the future all of them would [remember] 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).

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

Villa were frustrated earlier in February when their request to reschedule a league match against Liverpool was turned down, leading to a run of five games in 14 days.

The Premier League said in a statement confirming the fixture changes: ‘This is following a request from Spurs in view of their potential participation in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday, May 21.

‘Additionally, the match between Chelsea and Manchester United, also taking place on Friday, May 16 will now kick off at 20:15 BST.’

Manchester United have had their advantage over Tottenham for the Europa League final taken away from them.

The competition's showpiece event is due to take place on May 21, and United look set to make the final after winning the first leg of their semi-final 3-0 away at Athletic Bilbao last week.

They appear likely to face Spurs after Ange Postecoglou's men beat Bodo/Glimt 3-1 last Thursday, and United had been scheduled to have a significant advantage with their fixture list prior to the final.

The Red Devils are facing Chelsea on Friday, May 16, while Spurs were due to travel to Aston Villa two days later, giving them less time to recover for the final.

However, following a request by Spurs to the Premier League, their match has now been moved forward so that it will also be played on the Friday night.

Confirming the news on their official website on Tuesday morning, a Tottenham statement read: 'We can now confirm that our Premier League fixture away to Aston Villa will take place on Friday 16 May, kicking-off at 7.30pm (UK).

'This match was originally scheduled for Sunday 18 May.'

Tottenham's game will now start 45 minutes earlier than United's, with kick-off at Stamford Bridge scheduled for 8.15pm.

This will give the teams almost the exact same amount of time to prepare for the Europa League final, should they both make it.

Tottenham had first made the move to change the time of their clash with Villa last week, but it was initially met with some resistance.

They have now reached a compromise, but this has angered Villa fans who were left in limbo for several days over when their final home match of the season would actually take place.

Upon Villa announcing the news of the fixture change on X, a number of fans vented their frustration that the game had been moved on less than two weeks' notice.

'So we roll over and let them tickle our belly? I feel sorry for the traveling Villa fans and how this could affect the last home game activities,' one fan wrote on X.

'Last home game being moved again, what about fans wanting to show appreciation but can’t due to the game finishing at a stupid time?' another angry supporter asked.

'Them taking 5 days to decide this is crazy...' one X user added.

It is the latest example of fixture chaos at the top of English football, after the kick-off time for the FA Cup final was only confirmed over the weekend - just two weeks before the Wembley showdown between Manchester City and Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile, both of Tottenham and United's matches on the Friday night are likely to be pivotal in the race for the top five.

Chelsea are currently sitting in the final Champions League place after beating a heavily-rotated Liverpool side on Sunday, while Villa are just three points further back with three games left to play.

Ruben Amorim has rested his key players for league games in recent weeks after deciding to fully focus on Europa League glory.

This trend is likely to continue for the rest of the season, with United safe from relegation, and knowing that winning the Europa League will earn them a spot in next season's Champions League.

Tottenham have also found themselves in a similar situation after a disastrous campaign, with Postecoglou looking to salvage his team's campaign by winning a European trophy and ending Spurs' 17-year wait for silverware.

James Maddison is not expected to return from injury this season.

The Tottenham midfielder damaged a knee in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt.

Ange Postecoglou said after Sunday's 1-1 draw at West Ham that it was 'not looking promising' for Maddison.

Spurs are still running scans on the full extent of the damage, but the 28-year-old England international is unlikely to play again in the three weeks before the end of the season.

It is another injury blow for Postecoglou in a campaign full of them.

For Maddison, personal heartbreak with Tottenham on the brink of the Europa League final.

They are 3-1 up against Bodo/Glimt with the second leg in Norway on Thursday.

The final is in Bilbao in just over a fortnight.

Midfielder Lucas Bergvall suffered an ankle injury on the eve of the first leg which has ruled him out of the rest of the season.

Captain Son Heung-min has missed the last four games with a foot injury. Son has been training alone and is a doubt for the trip to Norway.

Dominic Solanke, also forced off against Bodo/Glimt, missed the draw at West Ham but is confident of being fit for Thursday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Besiktas beat Fenerbahce 1-0 in the Istanbul derby to further dent Jose Mourinho's chances of winning the Turkish Süper Lig.

Gedson Fernandes, who flopped at Tottenham Hotspur when Mourinho was in charge, missed a penalty but then scored the only goal to hand Solskjaer bragging rights at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

The win sees Solskjaer became the first foreign Besiktas coach to claim an away win at Fenerbahce in 22 years and spells the end of Fenerbahce's title hopes, with Mourinho's side eight points behind leaders Galatasaray.

The former Manchester United managers, who together spent five years at Old Trafford, clashed during their time in England and faced each other for the first time since moving to Turkey.

Solskjaer replaced Mourinho at United in 2018 and the two managers both recorded second place Premier League finishes - the highest the Red Devils have achieved since Sir Alex Ferguson.

The pair locked horns in April 2021 after Solskjaer's United beat Spurs 3-1, a week before Mourinho was sacked.

The 62-year-old Portuguese boss was incensed after Solskjaer claimed Son Heung-min had cheated to disallow a United goal.

Solskjaer, who revealed pre-match he has not spoken to Mourinho since his arrival in Turkey in January, criticised the South Korean for diving at the time.

'If that was my son and he stays down and he needs his mates to help him up, he doesn't get food because that's embarrassing, the game's absolutely gone,' the Norwegian said.

Mourinho took aim at Solskjaer's parenting in response.

'I just want to say that Sonny is very lucky that his father is a better person than Ole,' he said.

'I am a father. I think as a father you have to always feed your kids. It doesn't matter what they do. If you have to steal to feed your kids, you steal.

Solskjaer shrugged off the rivalry before the game, insisting: 'This is not a match between Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

'This is a match between Besiktas and Fenerbahce. The players will decide the score. I have great respect for Mourinho.'

Since replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst in January, the 52-year-old has lifted Besiktas to fourth place in the league and are competing for Europa League play-off spot.

Fenerbahce will compete in the Champions League next season but there is uncertainty whether Mourinho will still be in charge.

In November he tore into the Turkish Super Lig in an incredible tirade following his team's 3-2 away win at Trabzonspor on Sunday.

Mourinho did not hold back as he boldly stated: 'Nobody abroad wants to watch the Turkish league.

'Who wants to watch this Turkish league abroad? They have the Premier League, they have the French league, they have the German league, they have the Portuguese league, they have the Dutch league. Why should they see this?

'It's too grey. It's too dark, smells bad. But that's my job, and I will give everything to my job, to my club.'

Meanwhile, the former Chelsea manager was last month hit with a three-match ban and slapped with a 292,500 Turkish Lira (£5,955) fine after appearing to grab the nose of Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk in jaw-dropping scenes.

After approaching Buruk from behind, Mourinho seemingly pinched his opposite number's nose. Buruk, 51, then fell to the floor, covering his face with his hands.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has given an update on a key player

The star is a doubt for the second leg of Tottenham's Europa League semi-final

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Ange Postecoglou has given a worrying update regarding the fitness of a key Tottenham star.

The player is a doubt for the second leg of Tottenham's Europa League semi-final tie away to Bodo/Glimt.

He wasn't included in the matchday squad as Postecoglou's side drew 1-1 away to West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Wilson Odobert gave Tottenham the lead in the 15th minute before Jarrod Bowen equalised for West Ham 13 minutes later.

After the game attention turned to Tottenham's European campaign - they have a 3-1 lead from the first leg against Bodo/Glimt.

Tottenham are determined to avoid an upset and make it through to the Europa League final, where they could potentially face Manchester United.

James Maddison had to be substituted in the 65th minute of the first leg due to aknee problem.

Speaking after the game against West Ham, Postecoglou stated that the situation is 'not looking promising'.

As reported by football.London, Postecoglou said: 'It doesn't look great. Just waiting for further information. Probably get more clarity tomorrow but it's fair to say it's not looking promising.'

Maddison has played a key part in Tottenham's Europa League campaign, scoring three goals and providing four assists.

He was amongst the scorers in the first leg win but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to feature in the return fixture.

Dominic Solanke and Son Heung-min will also be assessed ahead of the game on Thursday.

Tottenham are without Radu Dragusin and Lucas Bergvall, who will miss the rest of the season.

It has been a challenging season for Tottenham in the Premier League - they are in 16th place in the Premier League.

However, the Europa League represents a chance for Tottenham to win their first trophy since 2008.

The final will take place in Spain on May 21.

Tottenham were held to a dire 1-1 draw by West Ham at the London Stadium

Wilson Odobert made an early breakthrough before Jarrod Bowen equalised

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Even against a Tottenham second string with their minds on Europe, Graham Potter needed Jarrod Bowen to come to his rescue again.

Hammers captain Bowen slotted home his 10th league goal of the season to level after Wilson Odobert gave Ange Postecoglou's side an early lead at the London Stadium.

James Ward-Prowse almost provided a dramatic finish, though, inches away from scoring a stoppage free-kick that would have drawn him level with David Beckham.

There was also a bizarre situation when West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta appeared to burst into tears after he received a yellow card in the second half for a foul on Spurs substitute Mikey Moore.

Paqueta remains the subject an FA spot-fixing investigation into four previous bookings for the club with the result of his hearing pushed back until the summer.

Postecoglou has long cast any Premier League ambitions to the scrapheap. Six defeats in their last eight before this, conceding five to Liverpool, two to Nottingham Forest and another four to Wolves in their last three with their only victory in that run against relegated Southampton.

All eyes, all hearts, are on Thursday night and their two-goal advantage heading into the second leg of their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt and the potential of a first European final in six years.

If that means a possibility of a lowest top-flight finish since 1977 when they were relegated then so be it.

Postecoglou made eight changes to the side that beat Bodo/Glimt in the first leg with only goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Yves Bissouma and Richarlison keeping their place.

And even then West Ham couldn't beat them as their winless run extended to eight games.

If the mood wasn't already bad enough inside the London Stadium, it took the Tottenham stiffs just 15 minutes to go in front – and from a situation that appeared to hold no danger at all.

A hopeful long ball forward into the channel looked routine for Max Kilman to sweep up but the £40million summer signing made a hash of clearing his lines, booted the ball twice against Mathys Tel and eventually gifting possession to the Spurs winger.

Tel squared the ball into the box past Aaron Cresswell to an unmarked Wilson Odobert who had the time to take a touch, pick his spot and finish past Alphonse Areola to score his first Premier League goal for the club.

Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski are the only two who started here expected to do so again in Norway on Thursday night but if there was anyone in Postecoglou's jumbled pack who staked a claim it was Tel.

The French forward, on loan from Bayern Munich, looked sharp every time he got the ball. He bamboozled Jean-Clair Todibo to earn a dangerous free-kick in the first half, breezed past him again to force a save in the second, and split the West Ham defence with a fine pass to Richarlison after Paqueta gave the ball away but the Spurs striker had no one waiting when he pulled the ball back in front of goal.

The opening goal summed up the often calamitous defending that's blighted much of West Ham's season and the throes of empty seats around the London Stadium for a derby encapsulated the apathy among a fanbase who cannot wait for the season to end and the summer overhaul to begin.

Potter refused to talk of any positives after the Brighton capitulation when the usually calm and collected coach let his frustrations boil over in his post-match press conference – he was so angry that he almost swore! – but there have been a few if you choose to look hard enough.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, another summer arrival, has exceeded expectations, especially in attack. A defender renowned for being solid in the tackle but with little beyond the halfway line, Wan-Bissaka has thrived as a key threat in Potter's wing-back system.

Whenever West Ham had possession, they looked to find Wan-Bissaka down the right and it was the former Manchester United full back who was key to the hosts levelling on 28 minutes.

Wan-Bissaka slipped in Bowen, making a run beyond the defensive line, and the captain slotted the ball neatly between Guglielmo Vicario's legs from a narrow angle. Something to cheer about at last and, for once, meant the half-time whistle could blow without boos to greet it.

Bowen has long been the man to save the day for West Ham and the club will entertain no offers for their captain in the summer, whose contract runs until 2030. Where would they be without the top scorer.

He had chances to win it in the second half, too, as he lashed an effort wide from a Mohammed Kudus cross at the back post before seeing his header from Ward-Prowse's free-kick clawed away from the line by Vicario.

MATCH FACTS

West Ham (3-4-2-1): Areola, Todibo (Coufal, 80), Kilman, Cresswell (Mavropanos, 88), Wan-Bissaka, Soucek (Soler, 80), Paqueta (Ward-Prowse, 80), Emerson, Bowen, Kudus, Fullkrug (Ferguson, 80)

Subs not used: Fabianski, Guilherme, Ings, Rodriguez

Goals: Bowen 28

Booked: Kudus, Paqueta

Manager: Graham Potter

Tottenham (4-3-3): Vicario, Gray, Danso, Davies, Spence, Kulusevski, Sarr, Bissouma, Odobert, Richarlison (Moore, 68), Tel

Subs not used: Udogie, Romero, Johnson, Porro, Bentancur, Kinsky, van de Ven, Ajayi

Goals: Odobert 15

Booked: Davies, Tel

Manager: Ange Postecoglou

It's likely to be the Ghanaian winger who funds Potter's summer overhaul with the club ready to accept offers in the region of £85million and he created another good chance when he wriggled his way past three Spurs defenders before dinking the ball into the box where Fullkrug headed over.

West Ham should really have won it – and they so nearly did with Ward-Prowse inches away from ruining Beckham's 50th birthday weekend.

Ryan Mason has been working with the Tottenham's first team since 2021

West Brom are on the market for a new manager after dismissing Tony Mowbray

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Tottenham assistant coach Ryan Mason has reportedly emerged as a leading candidate for the vacant managerial position at West Bromwich Albion - but the Baggies

Mason is an integral part of Ange Postecoglou's coaching team as they seek to end Spurs' long trophy drought this season.

The north London club secured a 3-1 victory over Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the semi-finals on Thursday, positioning them favorably for a potential final against Manchester United or Athletic Club in Bilbao on May 21.

West Brom sacked Tony Mowbray are just three months in charge after missing out on the play-offs and begun the search of a new manager.

While Mason is on their radar, his current responsibilities with Tottenham complicate immediate negotiations as reported by The Sun.

The 33-year-old is eager to take his first steps into full-time management, but remains committed to doing right by Tottenham and honouring his current role at the club.

Mason has been working with the Tottenham first team since 2021 and has served two stints as the club's interim head coach following the sackings of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

He could now be ready to end his long association with Tottenham as he looks to take his first steps into management.

Mason held talks to become Belgian side Anderlecht's new manager last October but talks fell through.

As the Europa League progresses, West Brom may need to consider alternative options or wait until Tottenham's European commitments conclude to pursue Mason further.

The former midfielder had to cut his playing career short owing to a gruesome head injury suffered in clash of heads with then Chelsea defender Gary Cahill.

Mason required skull surgery following the incident in January 2017 and after having moved to Hull, he retired from professional football 13 months later.

West Ham supporters have turned on Graham Potter after he made a controversial statement about their London rivals Tottenham ahead of this weekend's Premier League meeting between the two clubs.

Potter has been feeling the pressure in recent weeks, with West Ham 17th in the table amid a dire run of results, and he failed to keep his composure in his post-match press conference last week when his side threw away a lead to suffer an agonising loss at Brighton.

He told reporters 'if you want me to swear, I can swear,' as he insisted he was deeply frustrated by West Ham's plight.

The 49-year-old Englishman was in a much better mood at his press conference on Friday, but may have put his foot in his mouth when speaking about Spurs.

Asked for his thoughts on Ange Postecoglou's side after they won the first leg of their Europa League semi-final 3-1 against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night, Potter replied: 'They've had a tough season. I'm pretty sure if you speak to Ange - injuries, young players, the double competition etc.

'And this league, nothing is for given. They've done well in Europe, and hopefully they can finish the job and get into the final.'

Potter's desire to see a rival reach a European final did not go down well with a number of West Ham fans who took to social media to call for the club to take drastic action.

'Sack him immediately,' one supporter posted on X.

Another added: 'Get him out'.

'Potter out based purely upon this,' another fan agreed.

One incredulous fan was in disbelief at Potter's comment, as they asked: 'What an odd thing to say? Why would he want Tottenham to succeed?'

Potter has struggled to win some of the Irons' fanbase over since replacing Julen Lopetegui in January, and one X user admitted the ex-Chelsea boss was doing little to endear himself to supporters with his latest comments.

'He’s in desperate need for a PR manager,' they claimed.

Potter has won just three of his 15 games in charge of West Ham, losing eight.

Last weekend's results confirmed another season in the Premier League for the east London outfit, but it has been a bitterly disappointing campaign after they spent big last summer.

West Ham have not recorded a win since February, but victory on Sunday would lift them above Tottenham in the table.