Daily Mail

Almost eight months have passed since Tottenham’s lost in the North London derby, a painful defeat which inspired Ange Postecoglou to remind the world he always claims a trophy in his second season.

So, the timing seemed appropriate. On the day after Arsenal slithered out of the Champions League, Postecoglou’s Spurs are Bilbao bound. One step closer to fulfilling that promise.

Inside the Arctic Circle, the man from Down Under must have felt on top of the world. He has taken plenty of criticism this season and here he is with a date in the Europa League final.

Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro scored the goals to help the Londoners kill off the threat of Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt. Solanke pounced to convert from close range after a knock down from a corner just after the hour.

Porro scored with a cross six minutes later, but they all count, and this one counted plenty, extending the aggregate lead to 5-1 and finally convincing a boisterous home crowd that this was the night when their adventure would end.

Tottenham go on to the Basque Country in northern Spain on Wednesday week in search of their first major trophy since 2008, their first in Europe since they won the UEFA Cup in 1984.

Bodo/Glimt have made something a habit of embarrassing illustrious visitors to their humble home with its artificial surface.

They drenched it with powerful water jets before kick-off despite a couple of hours of steady rain and the ball travelled across the surface followed by an arc of spray.

Unsurprisingly, Bodo/Glimt settled quickest, cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, many of them kitted out in bright yellow rain ponchos like sowesters and seemingly undeterred by the 3-1 first-leg deficit.

There was a quiet confidence about the Norwegians, with three players back form suspension including captain Patrick Berg, whose grandfather is club legend, with a statue outside the Aspmyra Stadium.

And the feeling was encouraged by the early exchanges, with their team forcing a corner, which found its way to Ole Didrik Blomberg, who slammed their first effort of the game into the side netting.

Tottenham were wearing a similar shade of sage green to the one they wore six years ago to the day, on a famous night in Amsterdam when Lucas Moura’s hat trick completed a remarkable comeback and sent Spurs into the Champions League final.

Perhaps it focused the minds. They defended deep, keeping the ball carefully when they had it and seeking to test the patience of their hosts. As they did for much of the game in Frankfurt, the second leg of the quarter final and the standout display of this European campaign.

Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur screened the back four with Postecoglou tweaking his usual 433 into a 4231 shape. Tottenham’s players all took their time getting the ball back into play and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario often kicked long rather than invite Bodo/Glimt to press them.

Going forward, Spurs had promising situations without creating a clear chance. Richarlison, preferred to Mathys Tel on the left wing, had an early effort saved and Brennan Johnson almost converted a low cross by Destiny Udogie.

Bodo ‘keeper Nikita Haikin pushed a free-kick over by Porro over after a foul on Solanke.

Small signs of success included a yellow card for centre-forward Kasper Hogh for dissent shown after a foul was awarded against him in midfield.

There were minor alarms, such as when Vicario was almost caught out of his goal, but Tottenham made it through to half time without a major scare and with the two-goal advantage intact.

They had the last chance of the first half when a corner spilled to Bissouma, just outside the penalty area. Bissouma’s eyes lit up, but he could not keep his shot down and over it sailed.

Udogie was back on his goal line to make a vital block soon after the interval. An inswinging cross took a deflection and deceived almost everyone but the left back was in the right place to divert it away from goal.

Bodo took heart once again as Postecoglou paced about in the rain, hands sunk into the pockets of his winter coat

Tottenham were finding it more difficult to get out and exert any meaningful pressure by this stage.

They were simply repelling one attack after another and hope Solanke might forage them something on the counterattack. They needed a change and when Postecoglou sent on Tel for Richarlison it quickly paid dividends.

Tel took the corner from which Spurs broke the deadlock. Romero headed it down and Solanke was alert to stab it into the net from close range. Suddenly, all the noise came form a damp corner of the ground where the Tottenham fans were singing about Bilbao.

Postecoglou’s next change sent on Pape Matar Sarr to reinforce the midfield. And was Sarr who set Porro in motion for the second of the night.

Porro charged forward from right back looking to swing over a cross, but it swerved over ‘keeper Haikin and in off the far post.

There was no way back for Bodo/Glimt. They had a penalty awarded and overturned in stoppage time but it made no difference.

Spurs are on their way to Bilbao. Closing in on that elusive trophy and Postecoglou is one win from extending his proud record.

Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates from Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham in the Europa League plus updates from the Conference League clash of Chelsea vs Djurgarden.

© Associated Newspapers Ltd

Having secured a 3-1 lead in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, many would make Tottenham clear favourites to progress past their Norwegian opponents and take a major step towards silverware.

There are some, however, who are fearing Ange Postecoglou's side could become the latest to suffer a giant killing on a unique trip into the Arctic Circle.

In 10 home ties in this European campaign, which started in July in the Champions League qualifiers, the Norwegian champions have won nine.

This has included victories against established clubs such as Lazio, Olympiacos, Twente, Besiktas and Red Star. Three years ago, they beat Roma 6-1 after knocking out Postecoglou's Celtic.

Part of their success in Europe, where they have won 28 of their last 34 home games, has been put down to the artificial surface at the 8,270-capacity Aspmyra Stadium in the Norwegian fishing town.

'We are a good football team first and foremost. Like most teams, we are better at home than away,' said Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen.

'The grass we have is what we play on. It's due to the climate. And the more you play on it the better you get. At home, over time, we have learned to trust in ourselves. It's a good pitch and good players can easily adapt.'

Despite struggling on a artificial pitch in an FA Cup third round tie at non-league Tamworth in January, Postecoglou's side opted to only train on a plastic surface on Wednesday at the Norwegian side's stadium.

Tottenham do look set to benefit from warmer weather conditions than many of the sides to have fallen to Bodo/Glimt so far in Europe.

Sub-zero temperatures had led to snow needing to be cleared in the build-up to their quarter-final tie against Lazio last month. However, the temperature is expected to be around 5C by kick-off time, although Spurs may have to tackle windy conditions due to the town's location on the coast.

While the conditions might be more hospitable, some locals made an attempt to create some unease for their Premier League visitors by setting off fireworks outside the Tottenham hotel at around 2.37am.

'The perpetrators were observed running from the scene,' a police statement read. 'When the police arrived they found several rocket batteries. Some were not lit.

'These were taken by the police, in order to maintain peace and order.'

With the fishing town of Bodo, located around 1,000 kilometres north of the capital Olso, having a population of around 40,000 the club's rise over recent years has been remarkable.

Ulrik Saltnes, who scored their crucial late goal in the first leg, claimed earlier this year that the club was effectively semi-professional when he signed in 2011 but is now run like an elite outfit.

Having been relegated to the second tier in 2017, the club bounced back the following year before emerging as Norway's dominant force by claiming the domestic title in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

The appointment of a former Norwegian Air Force pilot, Bjørn Mannsverk, as a mental coach in 2017 was reportedly a key moment.

Mannsverk told the Associated Press his role was to help players talk openly about their feelings and reduce stress levels, having found the the squad suffered from 'a collective mental breakdown' in matches during their relegation season.

Mannsverk, whose duties in the Norwegian air force took him to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks and to Libya for a NATO-led intervention in 2011, explained his squadron had been subject to a mental training project in 2010 where the focus was on meditation and 'every day repeating boring stuff, but with 100 per cent attention.'

The training reportedly helped them perform dangerous missions in Libya, with his squadron's mantra of 'train as you intend to fight' working.

'Even though I got strong feelings when my first bombs hit the target and it was in infernal flames and fragments and everything,' Mannsverk said. 'It was like, "My training said that it´s OK, this is happening, recognize that, but know I have to return and do my job."'

Mannsverk would move across to Bodo/Glimt to help improve the team's 'mental conditioning', with members of the club's leadership coming across the squadron due the town until recently being home to a NATO air base.

Mannsverk's techniques - which include meditation, one-on-one sessions and group meetings - were said to have helped Saltnes overcome stress-related stomach issues that flared up around matches, with the midfielder having previously considered retiring.

As the club have enjoyed domestic success and have made strides in Europe in recent years, they have also sought to make an impact away from the football pitch.

Since 2019, the club have had a project titled Action Now which has attempted to raise awareness of key issues such as climate change and promote sustainable practices.

All members of the club are involved in the project, with the club's academy teams - down to their under-13s - choosing specific sustainability goals to support each season.

Activities have included clearing up beaches and raising awareness of reducing the amount of plastic in the oceans.

The club have had Action Now featured on their kits, which the club state have been produced by Puma with sustainable materials.

Given the appetite to watch the semi-final, locals have been battling in any way they can to secure tickets for Thursday night's match, with some selling fish and reindeer meat in order to get a seat.

Torbjorn Eide, a production boss at a fish farm in Torsken, told Norway's state broadcaster NRK that he offered five kilograms of semi-fried boknafisk for a ticket. The haul of fish, worth around £181, managed to tempt a fellow fan into giving up their seat.

'We produce Norway's best bokna fish, and it may not be possible to get it in Bodo city (which is eight hours away). So I thought maybe someone would like it, Eide said.

'You know, those of us who work in fishing are often creative. I didn't really think it would work, but then a guy showed up who wanted to try boknafisk.'

Boknafish, which is typically cod, is partially dried in the cold outdoors and is a traditional dish in northern Norway.

Oystein Aanes, who bought the fish, told NRK: 'It was just a funny thing. The ticket was actually for my brother, who was supposed to travel from Oslo, but he didn't make it anyway.

'I've never bought bokna fish before, I don't even know how to prepare it. The fish is for my mother, so she can take care of it.'

Another fan, Nils Erik Oskal, was inspired by the fish trade so thought he would try his luck with reindeer meat.

'I was number 40,000 in the queue or something. I had some extra meat to spare,' he told NRK.

'I thought it must be possible to do it with reindeer meat. Someone was munching on it. It didn't take long. It wasn't a cheap ticket considering what reindeer meat usually costs. But it's really the same thing, I get to experience something great.'

For those lucky enough to get a ticket, the likelihood is they will be waving one a giant yellow toothbrush, something that has been a tradition at the club since the 1970s.

The tradition emerged after the country's biggest dental company Jordan offered fans a sponsorship, after spotting how fan leaders had used toothbrushes to conduct singing.

Bodo/Glimt typically give a normal sized yellow toothbrush to the visiting team's captain ahead of matches. In the absence of Son Heung-min due to injury, that honour looks set to fall to Cristian Romero.

Tottenham will be hoping it will be a token on a successful journey to Bilbao, while Bodo/Glimt aim to make it the last prized possession Spurs receive in the competition this year.

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.