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Max Kruse has revealed how he blew his chance to join Tottenham Hotspur back in 2015 after a meeting with ex-Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.

For several years, when Harry Kane was leading the line in north London for Tottenham Hotspur, finding an understudy for the talented Englishman was not the easiest of assignments.

Fernando Llorente was one who acted as Kane’s understudy for a few seasons, with his infamous role in Spurs’ win against Manchester City in the 2019 UEFA Champions League, a memory fans of Tottenham hold dear.

Tottenham were also linked with other forwards during Kane’s time at N17, one such being Max Kruse, although a move never materialised, with the forward opting for a move elsewhere.

Max Kruse reveals why Tottenham move collapsed in 2015

Now, the German forward has, in a podcast with his friend relayed by Bild, revealed that he had a potential move to join Mauricio Pochettino’s side in 2015, but it came crashing down.

The 37-year-old forward also disclosed that he was not too fond of the intense training regime the Argentine manager demanded of his squad.

“I was actually invited to the meeting,” he said. “I thought I was a little Messi back then and that’s how I sat in the office.

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“My English was so-so back then. I also had my agent with me. And they were sitting there with five people and told me what options they had, with video, the training ground, a gym.

“I told my agent: Can you tell them I am not really the training type? Then they were not really interested in me anymore. That was a bit stupid.

“They made me an offer, but I felt like a youth player. It was like back in the day at Werder. Tottenham could have done more.

“Unfortunately, it was over. In hindsight, they could have responded a bit more cleverly to make it work.

“Whenever I spoke with the club or someone in charge, I always asked: When do you train? For example, I also talked to Florian Kohfeldt (at Werder Bremen) about it and told him it is better to train in the afternoon. I tried to get the coach to train later because mornings are not really my time.”

Spurs moved on while Max Kruse forged solid career elsewhere

The German forward did still go on to have an impressive career, scoring 162 goals and assisting 134 in his 558 appearances.

While he did not sign for Tottenham, he was not a great miss for the Lilywhites, who were fortunate to have a young Harry Kane in their squad, who later went on to become one of the greatest forwards in the club’s history.

Former Arsenal man Alex Iwobi has now named an ex-Tottenham star ahead of Messi and Ronaldo as the best player he has ever faced.

In recent years, Tottenham Hotspur has been blessed with world-class players who have left their mark on the Premier League.

One could easily point to Harry Kane, Heung-min Son, Gareth Bale, and Dele Alli as examples of such talent – players who not only delivered on the pitch but became symbols of Tottenham’s modern era.

However, while fans are often quick to celebrate those who score goals or provide assists, those who have played the game tend to appreciate the unseen work, the technical brilliance, and the control that others often overlook.

Alex Iwobi names Mousa Dembele as toughest opponent despite facing Ronaldo and Messi

Former Tottenham forward Vincent Janssen named Mousa Dembele as the best player he ever played with during his time at Spurs, despite having shared a dressing room with Harry Kane.

Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest has also heaped praise on the Belgian midfielder, describing him as one of those players “the streets will never forget.”

Now, former Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi has joined the growing chorus of admiration, naming the former Tottenham man as the best player he has faced in his career.

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When asked to name the toughest opponent he had come up against, Iwobi told The Inside Scoop: “Obviously, played against Messi, played against Ronaldo, but for me I hate to say it because he did play for Tottenham. Mousa Dembele.”

He continued: “We spoke about this in the changing room the other day – Mousa Dembele gives you this arm… Bro, he was a joke.”

Asked to explain why Dembele stood out so much, Iwobi added: “When you play against him, you understand – you cannot get the ball off him.

“He is technically sound and he does not really use his right foot like that – he is one-footed. Left foot is insane, he finds a pass, like he is just eating up any man. He was insane, he could control the midfield by himself.”

Mousa Dembele praise shows Tottenham have never replaced him

Dembele has since retired from club football, but his name still echoes fondly among those who played with and against him.

Just a few weeks ago, Mousa Dembele was part of the group of players who came to bid farewell to Jan Vertonghen, another Tottenham cult hero, during his retirement event.

It was also revealed that between March and August 2016, not a single player managed to tackle Mousa Dembele – a statistic that underlines his ridiculous ball retention and physical strength.

Another former Tottenham player, Dele Alli was clearly impressed by the stat and reacted with a simple yet telling response: “Damn😂💜 my goat.”

The sentiment continues to be echoed by many, and the truth is that since he left N17, Tottenham Hotspur have never truly found a replacement capable of replicating his midfield dominance.

Tottenham Hotspur have kicked a ball for the final time this season, and it ended in yet another Premier League defeat.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Tottenham 1-4 Brighton:

Tottenham fans would not be losing sleep over the latest defeat

It has been a mixed season for Tottenham Hotspur in 2024/25, with the club showing flashes of brilliance while also exposing their vulnerability and fragility at key moments.

Those weaknesses came roaring back in their final League clash, as Spurs squandered a one-goal lead in the second half and allowed Brighton and Hove Albion to score four without reply.

Tottenham supporters, however, appeared unfazed by the defeat, cheering their team on with gusto after a season that brought some of the most joyous memories in recent years.

Their chants rang loud and proud, carrying the spirit of their recent Europa League triumph which ended a 17-year trophy drought.

Mathys Tel makes strong case for permanent move

Many of the Tottenham Hotspur players looked fatigued and leggy, particularly in the second half, and understandably so, with the schedule and recent celebrations clearly taking a toll.

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Mathys Tel, though, stood out as a bright spark. The French forward won the penalty that Dominic Solanke converted with a driving run down the flank, nearly scored from a Spurs counter late in the first half, and delivered a dangerous cutback that Brennan Johnson failed to convert in the second.

This has become a recurring theme in recent League matches, where, while others have faded, Tel continues to look like a player eager to make a difference. Whether that has been enough to earn him a permanent stay remains one of the big calls Spurs must make this summer.

Tottenham end the season 17th place

Europa League win or not, Tottenham Hotspur have finished 17th in the Premier League, and once the party settles, that will surely sting.

The domestic campaign has been abysmal, and with Champions League football returning next season, the level simply has to rise.

The numbers speak for themselves – 22 defeats from 38 games, a total that leaves them with less than 40 points and a negative goal difference.

It is now statistically the club’s worst ever season in the English top flight. Thankfully, the Europa League title has softened the blow, but that does not excuse the decline seen across the League season.

Tottenham have big decisions to make in the summer

Now that the curtain has fallen on a chaotic season, Tottenham must use the summer window to reassess and rebuild. While there have been encouraging signs under Ange Postecoglou, the issues have been glaring.

Mathys Tel is just one of many decisions the club must address. The managerial situation remains in question, while the future of Cristian Romero is another subplot that could unfold in the coming weeks.

If Postecoglou stays, Spurs must get their business done early and smartly. With the UEFA Super Cup and Champions League ahead, the club need better depth and quality across the squad to avoid another injury crisis derailing their ambitions.

If we get our business done early on in the summer, we give ourselves a chance to compete against the UCL winners in the Super Cup, potentially making it two European trophies on the bounce in three months. It sure is a big summer ahead.

It is time to unwind and enjoy the success

The season is over. We can unwind. We can breathe. We can take a dig at Arsenal, who are trophyless. We are no longer the “banter club.” It sure was not an easy ride, but it is all worth it.

The past few days, nothing tops it. We have celebrated a trophy win for the first time in 17 years. While the other side of London continues to try to convince themselves they have had the better season, we are champions of Europe, and they will never sing that.

It is time to rest and reset as fans too. Spend time with family, your loved ones have fun, and keep up with transfer stories. It has been fun, see you all once more during the 2025/26 season.

The latest reports state that Richarlison is currently weighing up his future with Tottenham Hotspur as the 2026 World Cup looms.

In the weeks leading up to Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League final, Brazilian forward Richarlison laid bare his objectives for the clash, stating he would love to help the team on the night.

Tottenham did go on to lift the Europa League trophy, and now Richarlison is a European champion; however, the forward’s future remains in doubt, with reports continuing to link Richarlison away from N17.

The 2026 World Cup is around the corner, and for Richarlison, the goal remains to play for his national team. Yet, with limited gametime in North London, speculation surrounding his future continues to swirl.

Richarlison assessing options ahead of pivotal summer

TBR Football are now reporting that Richarlison is currently assessing his options, as the Brazilian forward seeks more consistent gametime and a clearer role heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Dominic Solanke, who is Tottenham’s number nine, has made the centre-forward position his own, which has pushed Richarlison out to the left flank – a role he took up once again in the Europa League final.

The Tottenham man is not short of suitors, with some reports suggesting that Everton are interested in bringing him back, while Brazilian side Flamengo have also expressed a strong interest in his services.

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With the summer window fast approaching, TBR Football now report that Richarlison will take the coming weeks to decide what his best options are, with the next twelve months potentially defining the direction of his club and international career.

Richarlison’s Brazil hopes could hinge on Tottenham exit

Carlo Ancelotti has previously worked with Richarlison during their time together at Everton, and with the Italian set to take over as Brazil head coach, the forward will no doubt be keen to stake a claim for inclusion.

Brazil’s attacking options are stacked, with the likes of Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Neymar all pushing for starting roles, which makes breaking into the squad as a winger a significant challenge.

The final whistle has just been blown on the final match of the Premier League season between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion, and it is time for our full-time ratings.

Tottenham Hotspur’s 2024/25 season comes to a close with a dismal 4-1 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a result that sees the Lilywhites finish in 17th place, on 38 points after suffering a staggering 22 defeats – their most ever in a single Premier League campaign.

Despite the woeful League form, most Tottenham fans would not be losing sleep over it, especially after the club finally ended their 17-year trophy drought with Europa League glory on Wednesday, May 21.

Let’s take a look at our Tottenham player ratings from the defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

Tottenham player ratings vs Brighton

Guglielmo Vicario – Brighton did score four goals in the second half, but little of the blame would be on Vicario, who could do little to prevent the goals. The Italian also made a couple of fine saves throughout the second half. 5.

Pedro Porro – It was a tired second half display from Tottenham who let a one goal lead slip from their grasp. Porro was energetic in the first half, but fatigue did set in during the second forty-five. 5.

Kevin Danso – Danso was solid at the back in this tie, blocking shots and winning defensive headers each time Brighton looked to put the ball in the box. But it was not enough to prevent Tottenham from collasping in the second half. The ball ricocheted off his leg from a corner for the second Brighton goal of the day. Unlucky. 5.

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Micky van de Ven – The Dutchman had a few solid defensive actions and recoveries in both halves, but was still part of the defence that struggled to deal with corners throughout the game. He was subbed off later on for Ben Davies. 5.

Destiny Udogie – Although he held his own against Simon Adingra, the Italian full-back struggled in the second half against Yankuba Minteh, whose pace proved too much to handle. 4.

Rodrigo Bentancur – Bentancur was solid, particularly defensively, in the opening forty-five; however, as the game went on, his influence reduced and he was subbed off for Yves Bissouma. 5.

Archie Gray – Gray looked very impressive in the first half, but when Brighton upped the ante, he did not affect proceedings as much as Tottenham would have wanted. 5.

Pape Matar Sarr – Did not feature in the second half, as he was subbed off for Wilson Odobert at half-time. 5.

Brennan Johnson – Johnson spent most of this clash defending his own box, but he did have a chance in the 55th minute of the second half after he met a Mathys Tel cutback, only for him to shoot wide.. 5.

Dominic Solanke – A quiet half for the Englishman who has now finished his first season at Tottenham with 10 goals in the Premier League after slotting in from the spot in the first half. 5.

Mathys Tel – The young Frenchman picked up from where he left off in the first half, where he was a constant threat on the left, with the forward not scared to take on his man. He went on a long run once more in the second forty-five, putting in a lovely cutback into the box, but Johnson missed the target. 7.

Substitutes

Wilson Odobert – Came on after half-time, but it was poor from the midfielder who was used as a ten. He did not have any effect on the game. 4.

Richarlison – Richarlison came in for Solanke in the second half, but the Brazilian had no chance to threaten the Brighton defence, with Tottenham spending most of the second forty-five defending their own box. N/A.

Ben Davies – Davies was the one who replaced Micky van de Ven in the second half. The Welshman might have played his final game in a Tottenham shirt. N/A.

Yves Bissouma – Bissouma was the one who came on for a tired Bentancur, the Malian went straight into that pivot role, and gave away a penalty in the 86th minute after putting in a tired tackle on Diego Gomez. 3.

The first half of the action has just ended between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London, and it’s time for our half-time player ratings.

Tottenham Hotspur stepped onto the field in the Premier League as champions of Europe, following their 1-0 win against Manchester United on Wednesday, 21 May.

Spurs currently sit 17th on the Premier League table, heading into their final clash of the league season against Brighton and Hove Albion, with a win only enough to take them two places up the standings, if results elsewhere go their way.

The celebrations are set to continue at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium today, regardless of the Premier League result, as the club has finally ended a 17-year wait for silverware.

Check out our Tottenham Hotspur player ratings from the first half:

Tottenham half-time player ratings vs Brighton

Guglielmo Vicario – The Italian shot stopper has carried on from where he left off in the final in this encounter. His passing has been crisp and sharp, helping Tottenham in the build-up phase of things. 7.

Pedro Porro – Porro has been part of the Spurs defence that has kept things tight at the back against Brighton in the first half. The Spanish full-back nearly got an assist when Tottenham had a counter-attack late in the first half, but Tel could not convert. 7.

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Kevin Danso – We expected to see one of Romero or Davies in defence, but Postecoglou opted for Danso, and the centre-back has been solid alongside Van de Ven. He has been dealing with the crosses played into the box by the Seagulls. 7.

Micky van de Ven – Has looked quick and agile in the opening forty-five, had a good chance to get his head on a cross from a corner but missed the ball by an inch. 7.

Destiny Udogie – The Italian full-back has held his own well against Adingra in the opening forty-five in what has become a performance we have become accustomed to in recent weeks. 7.

Rodrigo Bentancur – Bentancur has been just as industrious in the centre of the pitch, with the midfielder being solid when Spurs are defending. 7.

Archie Gray – Gray has got a chance to feature in midfield once more, and this has been one of his best performances in the middle of the pitch for Spurs. He has won the ball well in the midfield, while also keeping possession. 7.5.

Pape Matar Sarr – Tottenham’s midfield has looked a lot more robust than Brighton and that is because of how hardworking the players have been and Sarr has played a big role in that. 6.

Brennan Johnson – Johnson has had a quiet first half, as Tottenham have looked to attack a lot more on the left hand side. He has looked to track back when Spurs have needed to defend. 6.

Dominic Solanke – Chances have been few and far between for Solanke, but the forward was cool from the spot, slotting in emphatically to give Tottenham a one goal lead. 6.5

Tottenham Hotspur play their final match of the Premier League season against Brighton and Hove Albion this aftenoon and the team line ups have just been confirmed.

It has been a remarkable few days with everyone associated with the club following Tottenham’s Europa League final win against Manchester United on Wednesday.

There were huge celebrations in North London on Friday when the open-top bus parade saw the players and coaching staff celebrate their first European trophy for 41 years after Brennan Johnson scored the only goal in Bilbao.

Lucas Bergvall, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison all missed the final through injury, and Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou had a decision to make on his starting eleven following the Europa League success.

What is the Tottenham team vs Brighton?

With the celebrations over the past few days, it’s hard to imagine that Tottenham will come out all guns blazing for this match.

Tottenham could finish the season as high as fifteenth in the Premier League table if West Ham and Manchester United fail to win their respective matches and Postecoglou’s side beat Brighton.

This is the Spurs side which takes to the field at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

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Tottenham: Vicario, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Gray, Sarr, Johnson, Solanke, Tel

Subs: Kinsky, Spence, Davies, Bissouma, Olusesi, Ajayi, Moore, Odobert, Richarlison

Brighton are without striker Joao Pedro after a training ground altercation with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke, while Georginio Rutter has failed to recover in time from an ankle issue.

Ange Postecoglou’s future continues to hang in the balance after the Tottenham hierarchy held a meeting about their managerial position following their Europa League success.

Postecoglou has said that he still has unfinished business at Tottenham, thus firmly putting the ball in Daniel Levy’s court.

However, reports over the last few days have indicated that there could still be a managerial change at Spurs this summer, with the Australian himself thought to feel that his chances of remaining in the job next season are low.

Now, a fresh report has given us some insight into what Tottenham Hotspur’s decision-makers are thinking about the 59-year-old’s future following their historic success.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham future remains up in the air

Football Insider claim that the Tottenham boss’s future remains up in the air and that there is still a very realistic chance that he will be let go by the North London club.

The outlet claims that in the wake of winning the Europa League, Levy and the Tottenham board have held talks over Potecoglou’s future.

There is still thought to be a feeling at Hotspur Way that they have to make a change after a dismal domestic season.

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The Europa League win has thus not offered Postecoglou any guarantees of keeping his job, with the decision expected to be finalised in due course.

Expert claims Postecoglou’s chances of staying are “50/50”

Transfer insider Pete O’Rourke, who stays abreast of all the developments in the game, has said that the Europa League win has papered over the cracks of what has been a poor campaign for Tottenham.

He claimed that while lifting the trophy has given food for thought to the Spurs top brass, he put Postecoglou’s chance of remaining at the club at 50 per cent.

However, this is significantly better than the five per cent chance Postecoglou allegedly gives himself of staying at Tottenham Hotspur.

O’Rourke told Football Insider: “It’s papering over the cracks. That Europa League success is a brilliant moment for Tottenham. Champions League football will boost the finances of the club and everything else, and that’s a big thing for Tottenham going forward. Their league form has not been good enough, there’s no getting away from that.

“It’s probably about 50/50 right now, it’s given the Spurs hierarchy food for thought and obviously the fans are very happy right now. I don’t think winning the Europa League will ensure Postecoglou keeps his job.

“To be fair to Postecoglou, he’s been open after the match what whatever happens will happen. It’s obviously given Spurs a bit more to think about, having ended that trophy drought. But the club’s hierarchy might be thinking they might have to make a change.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League victory has sparked a debate over which North London side has had a better season and even Arsenal fans should be in no doubt as to what the correct answer is.

Narratives change in football depending on personal biases. Tottenham supporters have already experienced this with Harry Kane. At Spurs, he was an overrated bottler who went missing on big occasions. Once he moved to Bayern Munich, he was suddenly a world-class striker who deserved to win a trophy.

These attitudes are far from exclusive to this situation. The narrative on Tottenham as a club has been altered since Wednesday. Years of mockery and being branded as the banter club of the Premier League are gone. West Ham and Chelsea supporters have turned their hatred away from Tottenham and are directing it towards Arsenal, at least for now anyway.

However, this is a narrative Arsenal will not stand for. The Gunners have come up with their own spin on recent events and the hypocrisy of it is comical.

Arsenal are the new Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal fans are claiming their team has had a better season than Tottenham because of a second-place league finish. A Telegraph journalist even took the time to write a mammoth article which created an imaginary points-based system to determine that Arsenal have had the better season. If you have time to kill and fancy a good laugh, you can read it here.

The reason this is so hilarious is because Spurs were the ‘almost’ club in England for years, finishing second in the league and losing the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals. As a result, they were the punchline of every joke.

Arsenal finished lower than Spurs six seasons in a row between 2017 and 2022, but they won the FA Cup twice in that period. Therefore, it would be silly to suggest Tottenham had the better season because, you know, warra trophy!

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Now, let us apply that logic to this season. Tottenham have won a trophy, while Arsenal have won nothing. If Leyton Orient win the League One play-off final, Arsenal will not even have had the second-best season out of the North London clubs.

Tottenham’s Premier League season is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things

Finishing second in the Premier League has no benefits which can compare to winning the Europa League. Both secure Champions League qualification, but only one guarantees a trophy. The fact that Spurs have been shocking in the league really does not matter in the grand scheme of things.

Arsenal supporters will claim Tottenham won a trophy they were too good to be competing in, but in all the years Arsenal have spent playing on Thursday nights, they have never won it. Mikel Arteta’s side can celebrate the we beat Real Madrid cup all they want, but oh the irony after years of criticising Spurs for doing virtually the same thing.

Trophies define a season and in London alone, Tottenham and Crystal Palace are champions and Chelsea could soon be too. But cheer up Arsenal, at least you have managed to achieve what Spurs did in their so-called banter years.

As the speculation continues to run rife regarding whether Ange Postecoglou will get another season at Tottenham after his Europa League success, a new report has now shed light on what the Spurs players expect to happen to the Australian.

There were some suggestions before the final that Postecoglou would resign if Tottenham won the competition, but the Australian has made it clear that he will not be doing that.

In fact, Postecoglou has said that he still has unfinished business at Spurs, thus leaving the club’s board with a huge decision to make.

It was reported a few days ago by the Independent that even Postecoglou privately believes that his chances of remaining in his job are slim and we have now heard what the feeling is within the Tottenham squad about the 59-year-old’s future.

Tottenham players expect Ange Postecoglou to depart

The Daily Mail have now revealed that the feeling within the Spurs squad is that Postecoglou is unlikely to be in charge for the start of next season despite winning the Europa League.

The Spurs boss has just one year left on his deal at the moment and it is revealed that in order for him to stay, it would require a change of heart from Daniel Levy.

The outlet claims that Levy and the Tottenham board have already started exploring replacements for the Australian, including a move for Fulham’s Marco Silva.

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It thus appears that unless the Lilywhites do a huge 180 over the coming days, Postecoglou’s time in the Spurs hot seat is about to run out.

What the Spurs players have said about Postecoglou

It is clear that the Spurs players were delighted for their head coach, with James Maddison referencing Postecoglou’s second-season promise on several occasions since Tottenham’s famous win in Bilbao.

Heung-min Son also lavished praise on Postecoglou after the final, but he added “we’ll see what happens” when asked about the Australian’s future.