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Spurs pushed to move the game earlier to give equal rest time ahead of a potential Europa League final

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Jamie Gardner

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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.

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"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 vs Tottenham match and Chelsea vs Manchester United will be live on Sky Sports.

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Concerns: Dominic Solanke, Heung-min Son and James Maddison

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick

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Tottenham are preparing for their biggest game of the season with fresh worries over three players.

Spurs hold a 3-1 first-leg advantage over Bodo/Glimt ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg, but could be without James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Heung-min Son for the trip to Norway.

All three missed the 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday, and Postecoglou has issued differing updates on the trio ahead of their European decider.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the latest Tottenham injury news…

Dominic Solanke

The striker remains a doubt for the Europa League decider in Norway after being forced off during the first-leg win and then sitting out the derby at West Ham.

Solanke has complained after the midweek win of pain in his quad, but speaking to reporters the following day, Ange Postecoglou moved to allay fears of a serious injury.

And when providing an update on Sunday, Postecoglou was even more positive: “Dom is improving.

“We left him out today, but the medical team are pretty confident he should be alright for Thursday.”

Potential return date: Bodo/Glimt (a) on Thursday, May 8, 2025

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James Maddison

The midfielder missed the derby at the London Stadium after “tweaking” his knee during the first-leg win over Bodo/Glimt. Having scored a fine goal to give Spurs a two-goal cushion in the first half, Maddison was forced off in the second half.

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Ange Postecoglou was not too concerned straight after the game, but admitted on Friday that the player would require a scan on the area.

“Madders, we’re a bit more concerned about [than Solanke],” Postecogloug said. “He was heading for a scan [on Friday]. We’re just waiting to hear that outcome.”

Asked for an update on Sunday evening, Postecoglou was further downbeat ahead of the second leg: “It doesn’t look great, but we’re just waiting for further information.

“We’ll just wait and see. We’ll probably get some clarity tomorrow. It’s fair to say it’s not looking promising, but we’ll just wait and see.”

Reports have since suggested that Maddison could potentially be ruled out for the rest of the season.

Potential return date: Unknown

Heung-min Son

Heung-min Son has not featured for Spurs in the last five games are finally succumbing to a troublesome foot injury, but has returned to training.

It is hoped that Son will be fit for Thursday’s trips Bodo/Glimt, but Ange Postecoglou fell short of guaranteeing it when speaking to reporters last week.

Postecoglou said: “Sonny is working hard. He’s out on the grass every day. We’ll see how he’s going by Thursday whether he’s available for Thursday.”

Potential return date: Bodo/Glimt (a) on Thursday, May 8, 2025

Ruled out: Lucas Bergvall

John Walton/PA Wire

Lucas Bergvall

The young midfield star has been ruled out for the rest of the season after damaging ligaments in his ankle during the final training session ahead of last week’s Europa League semi-finals first leg, a game he was expected to start.

It is a huge blow for the teenager, who has enjoyed a stunning debut season in England and days earlier was rewarded with a new six-year contract. Bergvall has since been spotted wearing a foot brace and on crutches.

News of the injury leaked before the player or club were able to confirm, which Ange Postecoglou believes made the blow even tougher to handle for the “devastated” youngster.

He told reporters: "It’s not helpful. Some of it is just to protect the players themselves. You can imagine, Lucas was devastated. He didn’t want to deal with it and we didn’t want to make it public, not as much about the opposition but to give him the time to process it.

"He’s a young man. He had such a high in the week, he had signed a new deal, he was playing well, his whole family was out here looking forward to the game. We wanted to protect him more than anything else, but those kinds of levels of decency and respect don’t exist anymore."

Potential return date: June 2025

Radu Dragusin

Radu Dragusin is not expected to return for the remainder of the season.

The centre-back suffered a serious knee injury in February and quickly underwent surgery.

A club statement at the time read: “Radu underwent surgery today following his ACL injury. That procedure has now been completed, and the centre-back will now commence with his recovery before beginning the rehab process.”

As a result, Dragusin is not expected to return for months.

Potential return date: June 2025

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Graham Potter has decisions to make in attack as West Ham host Tottenham in a London derby.

The Hammers are without a win in seven Premier League matches but will be hoping to take advantage of a potentially distracted Spurs side, with Ange Postecoglou expected to have one eye on their Europa League second leg against Bodo/Glimt.

Niclas Fullkrug started on the bench for West Ham in last weekend’s defeat against Brighton but was brought on at half-time as Potter reshuffled the shape, and the German striker could be involved from the off here.

Evan Ferguson is also available for the hosts, having been ineligible to face his parent club last time out.

If Fullkrug does get the nod to start, James Ward-Prowse would potentially be the man to miss out, with Jarrod Bowen and Mohamed Kudus moving into wider roles either side of the forward.

Edson Alvarez is a doubt and the Hammers remain without Crysencio Summerville, as Potter revealed at his pre-match press conference on Friday that the focus for him was now on recovering in time for next season.

West Ham will hope a distracted Tottenham side offer up the chance to lift the mood with a much-needed London derby win this afternoon. With Spurs’ season resting on the Europa League, Ange Postecoglou rotates here with eight changes and that will be music to the ears of a West Ham side without a win in seven Premier League matches.

Pressure is building on Graham Potter, with his side sitting 17th in the table after conceding twice in the final minutes last weekend to lose to Brighton. It is now just 13 points picked up in 14 matches since Potter came in as a replacement for Julen Lopetegui. Not the impact manager and club were expecting.

Spurs sit only a place and a point above West Ham in the table, but have the chance to salvage something from their season. They will take a two-goal lead to Norway on Thursday night for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie against Bodo/Glimt and a host of changes, even if it risks a 20th Premier League defeat of the season, is understandable. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below, featuring expert analysis from Dom Smith at the London Stadium!

Spurs likely to have one eye on their Europa League exploits during this Premier League derby

Ange Postecoglou is likely to wrap key Tottenham players in cotton wool when Spurs travel to West Ham ahead of the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with Bodo/Glimt.

James Maddison (knee) and Dominic Solanke (thigh) both suffered injuries in the 3-1 first leg win in north London and will not be risked.

“Dom is not too bad,” Postecoglou said of Solanke’s injury on Friday. “Still a bit sore from last night but we don’t think it’s anything serious. Obviously a doubt for the weekend.”

Maddison is due to undergo a scan on a knee injury which has been described by Postecoglou as a “concern”.

Spurs captain Heung-min Son is working daily on the grass as he edges towards a return from his ankle injury. Having missed the first leg against Bodo/Glimt, a return is being targeted for the second leg, so he will also not feature against West Ham.

Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies and Djed Spence are likely to line up in defence, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero to be rested.

However, they have one foot in this month’s Europa League final after a 3-1 first-leg lead over Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final, and winning silverware for the first time in 2008 would go a long way to repaying supporters for their shoddy performances in domestic competitions.

Spurs knocked out AZ Alkmaar 3-2 over two legs in the round of 16, Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 on aggregate in the quarter-final, and hold a two-goal lead over Bodo/Glimt ahead of Thursday’s away second leg.

It is likely to be an all-English final on May 2021 in Bilbao if they get there, with Manchester United having won 3-0 away from home in the first leg of their own semi-final, against Athletic Bilbao.

Asked about the experience of Spurs having known for so long that their season will come down to their Europa League exploits, Postecoglou said: “I think we’ve understood that that’s the space we’re in now, for a little while. If you look at the players’ performances, if it was affecting them you would have seen that in the big games. I think they have performed really well in Europe.

“Our league form has obviously been nowhere near where it should be, and there’s a narrative around that, but I think the players have been really good at making sure this opportunity [doesn’t go to waste].

“We could have been having a great season and be third or fourth in the table and the opportunity is still the same. Whether you’re third or 16th, it’s still the semi-final of the Europa League.”

The Spurs manager continued: “This club has experienced so much in the last 15 years and longer in Europe that they know they don’t come around often, so you want to take it. What’s happening in your season almost becomes irrelevant once the opportunity presents itself. It’s an opportunity this group of players have earnt.

“I’d hate to think people don’t think I’ve been preparing the same I always have for these games and want to win these games. We were hugely disappointed with Liverpool, notwithstanding the fact they were outstanding all year and it was always going to be a difficult day whichever way we went.

“I was really hard on the players the day after the game. I wasn’t really sure how they would react to it, but I just felt we need to feel that pain. We’ve got an opportunity to do something special and I don’t want to let that slip because of us losing focus on what is important.”

Spurs will have one eye on their Europa League exploits during this Premier League derby

Tottenham should feel confident of scoring against Bodo/Glimt away from home in next week’s Europa League semi-final second leg to “kill the tie”, according to Glenn Hoddle.

Spurs will take a 3-1 lead to Norway next Thursday following a near-perfect performance in the first leg.

Brennan Johnson’s goal inside the opening 40 seconds, James Maddison’s cute finish just before the break and Dominic Solanke’s cooly-taken penalty had Tottenham three up after an hour.

Not only will Spurs have to contend with an artificial pitch in the Arctic Circle next week, they are facing a Bodo/Glimt side that are very impressive at home and will welcome back influential captain Patrick Berg.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Hoddle said: “It is going to be tough over there. Bodo/Glimt have beaten some top teams at home, they are almost a different side when they play at home.

“But I think Tottenham will score over there and that will kill the tie.”

Former Spurs goalkeeper Joe Hart wasn’t as bullish, but he believes the north London outfit would have taken a two-goal lead if it was offered to them before a ball had been kicked.

“The goal maybe changes things but the Maddison and Solanke injuries are really important,” he said.