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Ange Postecoglou has revealed whether any of the Tottenham players who featured against Bodo/Glimt will play against Crystal Palace and has given an insight into how he plans to manage his squad before the Europa League final.

With the Europa League final now less than two weeks away, Spurs fans will want to see all the key players wrapped up in cotton wool for the big clash.

The Lilywhites play two Premier League fixtures before the final in Bilbao as they host Palace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday before making the trip to Villa Park on Friday.

Tottenham have nothing to play for in the Premier League, but they will not want to head into the final on the back of two defeats, especially given the momentum they have now built.

Ange Postecoglou explains Tottenham squad balancing act

The Tottenham head coach pointed out that the club have already been carefully managing the minutes of some key men over the last couple of months, revealing that it is not going to change.

The 59-year-old confirmed that those who started in Norway on Thursday will not feature against the Eagles tomorrow, given the additional exertions that come with playing on an artificial pitch.

When asked if Tottenham team selection will be complicated ahead of the final, the Australian said (via Football.London): “It’s a challenging one, but we’ve tried to navigate that for the last sort of couple of months. I think particularly Micky and Romero and Destiny to a certain extent, because they’ve missed a huge chunk of the season, and you always know when guys come back, you’ve got to really manage them because Romero’s and Mickey’s season, they had a couple of setbacks after coming back.

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“We just didn’t want to go down that path. We’ve changed our structures and our processes so that when they come back, we keep them back.

“We’ve done that really well, I think the last two or three months, but part of that has just been managing their minutes so it will be a balancing act.

“I think they need to get some game time between now and then. Where does that happen? Look, unlikely tomorrow because I think what we do know about Thursday night, playing on an artificial pitch takes a lot out of the players, it’s fair to say they were sore.

“I remember when we played Tamworth, we actually got a couple of injuries in the game straight after that, I think, because of the surface. So we’ve got to be really careful about tomorrow’s game, but next Friday it’s a bit different. I think we’ve just got to make decisions we think is right. Ultimately, we want to be in a great condition come the final of Europa, so we’ll use that.”

Why some key players are likely to get minutes before the final

While Postecoglou’s priority will be to ensure that his key men avoid any injuries ahead of the final, the Tottenham Hotspur boss will know that not playing any of them in the two league games is not ideal.

The players will lack a bit of sharpness if they do not play for two weeks between the second leg against Bodo/Glimt and the final against Manchester United.

Over the next two league games, the Tottenham boss might hand around 30 to 45 minutes of football to most of the players that he sees starting the final.

Chris Sutton has branded Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming London derby against Crystal Palace a game ‘both clubs can almost forget about’.

Tottenham have been known in the past to prioritse the Premier League over any other competition. However, with nothing left to play for except pride and a Europa League final on the horizon, this match will feel more irrelevant than most.

Spurs already have the odds stacked against them, as their record in league matches directly after playing in Europe leaves much to be desired.

In these matches, Ange Postecoglou’s team have picked up 12 points out of a possible 39. This includes three victories and draws each and seven defeats. One of these defeats was against Crystal Palace earlier in the season, when the Eagles were in the relegation zone.

Chris Sutton highlights a key concern for Tottenham

Chris Sutton does not seem too enthusiastic about Sunday’s all-London clash. He believes the match is of little importance to either side, and for the hosts, it is a real inconvenience due to the injuries in the Spurs squad.

He told BBC Sport: “Both clubs can almost forget about this game, really. It is a bit of a nuisance for both of them.

“Tottenham’s season rests on what happens in the Europa League final on 21 May, while for Crystal Palace it is all about the FA Cup final next weekend.

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“Eagles boss Oliver Glasner went strong with his team selection against Forest last week and if he does the same here then I can see a Palace victory. They don’t have much to play for, though, because win or lose they look likely to finish in their usual position – 12th.

“Spurs are still having a stinker of a time with injuries, with James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall both set to miss the rest of the season, and that situation hardly helps Ange Postecoglou with the side he picks.

It is hard to make a call without knowing who will play but, all things considered, the most likely outcome is probably a draw.”

Sutton’s prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Crystal Palace

Spurs coped without James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall in the Europa League

Tottenham may be missing key players in James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall, but that did not matter on Thursday night. A 5-1 victory on aggregate against Bodø/Glimt was sealed, with Pedro Porro in particular, putting in a fine display.

However, the lack of meaning to the game against Crystal Palace is a valid point. It would be surprising if Postecoglou fielded a full first-team, which raises question marks over Tottenham’s ability to perform.

Ange Postecoglou has offered an update on Tottenham Hotspur’s injury situation, confirming he is ‘half hopeful’ one first-team starter will be able to play against Crystal Palace tomorrow.

Tottenham Hotspur need positive news on the injury front, as the club use their remaining Premier League fixtures to prepare for their biggest match of the season – the Europa League final.

Having as many players available as possible will be key to defeating a Manchester United side who, despite struggling in domestic competitions, have looked like a force to be reckoned with in Europe.

However, Ange Postecoglou has revealed disappointing news about two Spurs midfielders, who have recently suffered injuries. James Maddison was recently ruled out for the rest of the season and Postecoglou has today confirmed that Lucas Bergvall will miss the Europa League final.

Ange Postecoglou delivers positive Spurs injury news

Things are not all doom and gloom at Hotspur Way. Tottenham have not picked up any new injuries and better still, the club captain could make his return to the pitch at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Heung-min-Son first became unavailable after his team’s 1-1 draw with Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-final, but his spell on the sidelines looks to be at its end.

Speaking at his pre-match Tottenham press conference, Postecoglou said: “Yeah there’s no [fresh injuries], everyone got through okay the other night.

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“Half hopeful that we get Sonny some minutes tomorrow so he’ll be the only one that sort of can come back in.”

Heung-min-Son has had a mixed season at Tottenham

The news of Son’s return is likely to prompt some mixed reactions. The Korean international is a club legend, but he is 10 goals shy of his league goal tally last season, while he has faced criticism for many of his performances. His failure to take on the defender on the left wing has been one of the main aspects of his game to be targeted.

Despite this, Son has 23 goal contributions from 43 appearances in all competitions this season. This includes 10 assists in the Premier League, which is more than any other Tottenham player.

Ange Postecoglou has revealed some heartbreaking news about how close Lucas Bergvall will be to a Tottenham return ahead of the Europa League final.

Tottenham Hotspur have booked their ticket to Bilbao for the Europa League final after dominating Bodø/Glimt over two legs. However, it is not all plain sailing, as a recurring theme of injuries this season has once again hit the Tottenham first-team squad.

Spurs have been without club captain Heung-min-Son since he picked up a foot injury, while James Maddison has been ruled out of the Europa League final with a knee injury.

Bergvall is another casualty of Tottenham’s recent injury problems. The teenage prodigy delighted supporters by recently signing a six-year contract with Spurs, but he remains on the sidelines after sustaining damage to ligaments in his ankle.

Lucas Bergvall will miss Tottenham’s Europa League final

Postecoglou has given an update on Bergvall’s injury in his pre-match press conference ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

His revelation is that the 19-year-old is likely to miss Tottenham’s high-stakes clash with Manchester United. However, had the final been a fortnight later, there is a good chance Bergvall would have been available.

According to Football London, Postecoglou confirmed that Bergvall would miss the rest of the season through injury, but could have featured in the final had it been in early June.

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Postecoglou said: “Yeah, that is unlikely. If we had another two weeks, potentially he could. I am sure he will be trying, I am sure Madders will be trying mate just to get the strip on.

“Unfortunate for both of those guys, but that has been our season. Nothing has run smooth. I am sure there will be parts of themselves really disappointed they are not part of this most important part, but they have been so integral to us getting here.

“As I mentioned after the game, I don’t think there is a single player in the dressing room who hasn’t contributed to help us get to where we have got to today and should we have success, we’ll make sure they get acknowledged in the right way.”

How Bergvall’s absence will impact Spurs

Bergvall has been a bright spark this season in a Spurs team which has often been the opposite. His superb dribbling and phenomenal workrate has been a joy to watch and he will be missed in Bilbao.

Tottenham Hotspur return home from Norway for domestic duties as they prepare to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Tottenham fans are still riding the high after their side booked a place in the Europa League final, comfortably seeing off Bodo/Glimt 2-0 away (5-1 on aggregate) on Thursday night.

It’s hard to move on from a feeling like that, especially considering their Premier League woes. However, the remaining fixtures still need to be played, whether they matter or not.

Likewise, Crystal Palace fans are also on top of the world, having secured a spot in the FA Cup final two weeks ago, where they’ll take on the blue side of Manchester.

How both teams go into Tottenham v Crystal Palace

Spurs come into this fixture fresh off their 2-0 second leg win in the semi-final over Bodo/Glimt. Goals from Dominic Solanke and Pedro Porro secured a 5-1 aggregate win and punched their ticket to Bilbao, where Manchester United now await.

In the league, however, it’s been a less joyful tale. Just before their trip to Norway, a run of three consecutive defeats was halted by a 1-1 draw away to West Ham. They sit 16th with 38 points from 35 games, ensuring a bottom-half finish for the first time since 2007-08.

Four places above them, Crystal Palace sit 12th with 46 points from their 35 matches. A miserable start to the season was slowly turned around under Oliver Glasner. However, like Spurs, the Premier League isn’t their main concern anymore.

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After beating Aston Villa (yes, the same Villa who ended Spurs’ FA Cup run) 3-0 in the semis, they now face Manchester City in next week’s final. A win would not only end a 30-year trophy drought (their last honour being the Championship title in 1993-94) but would also earn them European football for the first time in the club’s history.

After their semi-final win, Palace returned to league action with a third consecutive 1-1 draw, this time against Nottingham Forest. Proper scoreline, although a 0-0 draw might have felt more fitting. That followed stalemates against Bournemouth and Arsenal, with their last five in the league reading LLDDD.

Head-to-head: Tottenham v Crystal Palace

The last time Spurs faced Palace, the Eagles hadn’t won a single match, and Spurs were firmly in the top-four conversation. Oh, how the tables have turned (literally).

The reverse fixture saw ‘Dr Tottenham’ at his best, ending Palace’s winless streak with a 1-0 defeat in late October at Selhurst Park.

That said, Palace haven’t won away to Spurs since a 0-0 draw in 2014. That match featured Ryan Mason and Mile Jedinak going head-to-head, both of whom now work under Ange Postecoglou.

If you ignore the home record, Spurs have still been dominant in this fixture. In the last 25 meetings in all competitions, Spurs have won 17, Palace five, and the rest were draws.

Tottenham team news

There was a slight concern when Brennan Johnson appeared to be struggling with his leg after being subbed off in the second leg. However, Ange Postecoglou didn’t mention anything about it in the post-match press conference, and the Welshman seemed fine during the celebrations.

Everyone else from the first leg got through the game uninjured, though we still expect significant rotations.

Postecoglou said Heung-Min Son has a chance for this weekend, but we await further clarity from his press conference later today.

Confirmed absentees for the rest of the season include James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, and Radu Dragusin.

Crystal Palace team news

Oliver Glasner confirmed that Adam Wharton will miss Sunday’s match but is hopeful of having him back for the FA Cup final.

He also mentioned that all the others are fit and available.

The long-term absentees remain Chadi Riad and Oumar Doucoure.

Predicted Tottenham lineup

Vicario, Gray, Romero, Danso, Spence, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Sarr, Odobert, Richarlison, Tel

Nine of Spurs’ starting XI played the full 90 minutes on Bodo/Glimt’s artificial pitch on Thursday, so the changes are self-explanatory.

Ben Davies has a decent chance of starting over Romero, though we expect Ange to rest the Argentine against Villa instead.

Pedro Porro could also retain his spot. But again, Ange might prefer to save him for Villa Park next week, given his comfort with quick turnarounds.

Midfield remains thin with Maddison and Bergvall out. But one possibility could see Davies slot in at left-back, Spence move to the right, and Gray pushed into midfield. Yves Bissouma was arguably Spurs’ best player over the two semi-final legs and will very likely start the final in the #6 role. Either he or Bentancur should retain their place here – the Uruguayan feels more likely.

If Son is fit, Ange may prefer to ease him back from the bench. Richarlison, who only played an hour in Norway, may be fit enough to start for a fourth straight game.

Players to watch out for

Kevin Danso: I can’t think of one person who doesn’t like this man. As things stand, he’s the most successful of Spurs’ January signings. Fans can only hope he makes his move permanent this summer. He’s arguably only behind Romero in positional awareness and passing from Spurs’ defence. A defensive duo of him and Romero could easily make a second successive clean sheet very likely.

Archie Gray: We’re aware that the chances of him starting aren’t very strong, although we’d love to see him. Fans have been too harsh on him after his showing at Anfield, but that atmosphere would’ve rattled even the best, let alone a teenager. If he starts, expect him to be more confident, regardless of the position.

Eberechi Eze: Definitely on Spurs’ summer watchlist. And should they win the Europa League and secure Champions League football, there will hardly be a reason for him not to join. He’s scored in each of Palace’s last three games and this match gives him the perfect chance to up his price if Spurs do come calling.

Our prediction

This might feel like a formality for both sides, but as Glasner said, momentum is vital heading into the big games.

Spurs will enter this fixture the more confident after their showing in the Arctic Circle. A win here, combined with losses for Wolves, Everton, and Manchester United, could lift them to 13th. A defeat, however, coupled with a West Ham win, could see them drop to 17th. And let’s be honest, Spurs do care about that. Like Ange Postecoglou said, ‘Spurs does crazy things to people’ – and even if they win the Europa League, critics won’t be quiet about their league finish.

Crystal Palace will likely rotate their key players, which should give Spurs a real chance to claim the three points.

Tottenham and Manchester United have shared some thrilling battles in recent years, so let’s have a look at the head-to-head record of their last ten meetings ahead of the all-important Europa League final.

It is official. Following the results of the last two Europa League semi-final ties, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are set to contest the sixth all-English European final.

The Europa League final will be staged in Spain this year, with the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao handed the honour of hosting the showpiece event.

The final will take place on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 8 pm UK time.

While this will be the first time Tottenham and Manchester United meet in a European final, it is far from their first encounter. In fact, the clash in Bilbao will mark the 192nd meeting between the two clubs.

Tottenham vs Manchester United head-to-head: recent results and form

Indeed, Spurs have had the edge over Manchester United this season, beating them three times, but overall, United hold the better record in this fixture, having won 93 matches in total, with Tottenham winning 52 and 46 ending in a draw.

But what do the last ten encounters between these sides tell us? And how has the dynamic shifted in recent seasons?

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In the last ten meetings, Tottenham Hotspur have emerged victorious on four occasions, with three of those wins coming in this current campaign.

The most recent clash saw the Lilywhites secure a 1-0 victory at home on Matchday 25 of the Premier League.

Prior to that, they edged Manchester United 4-3 in an end-to-end Carabao Cup quarter-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Of course, earlier this season, Tottenham also claimed a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Matchday 6, while their fourth win against Man United in their last ten meetings came in the 2023/24 season, a 2-0 home win for Spurs.

Manchester United vs Spurs: past dominance and recent shift

In that same period, there have been two draws. Both finished 2-2 – one at Old Trafford in the 2023/24 campaign and the other at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the 2022/23 season.

Manchester United’s strongest run in this fixture came four to five years ago, between the 2020/21 and 2022/23 seasons, when they beat Tottenham four times in a row.

That included a 3-1 away win in the 2020/21 season, followed by a dominant 3-0 result at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021/22.

United also won the reverse fixture that season, edging it 3-2, before a 2-0 home victory in 2022/23 capped off their streak.

Head to Head: Last 10 Matches Between Tottenham and Manchester United

Based on the last ten meetings, results show that Manchester United enjoyed a dominant spell between 2020/21 and 2022/23, winning four straight ties, but now Tottenham appear to be in the ascendancy, with three consecutive victories of their own.

Should that trend continue, the Lilywhites may well be on course to extend their winning run and lift the trophy in Bilbao. Yet, as history has shown, momentum in this fixture rarely stays in one camp for long.

Serge Aurier’s message to the Tottenham Hotspur players ahead of their Europa League final shows he is still fully ‘COYS’ despite leaving North London in 2021.

Tottenham Hotspur are so close to ending their long wait for silverware, with a victory against Manchester United at San Mames in Spain all that is needed.

Tottenham have already beaten Manchester United three times this season, including a thrilling 4-3 win in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup.

Ange Postecoglou has stated that the Lilywhites must remain focused, treating every game between now and the final as if it were training, because each step matters.

Serge Aurier sends a message of support to Tottenham players ahead of the Europa League final

Everyone affiliated with Tottenham are desperate to see the north London club triumph, with David Bentley urging Ange Postecoglou’s side to go on and get the job done against Manchester United.

Former Tottenham full-back Serge Aurier has now followed suit, sending a message to the current players which shows he is still Spurs through and through.

In the comment section of the behind-the-scenes post shared by the official Tottenham Hotspur social media page, Serge Aurier simply stated: “One to go ☝🏾🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍”

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Glenn Hoddle issues warning ahead of Spurs vs Manchester United final

While every Tottenham fan, including Aurier, has their eye on the clash in Spain, former Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle has warned of a potential bad omen heading into the Europa League final.

The ex-manager pointed out the difficulty of beating a Premier League side four times in one season, but he believes this Tottenham team are more than capable, provided they are at their best.

He said: “That is a slight problem for me actually, I am on a down… To beat a team four times in one season from the Premier League is really tough, it really is.

“But it is a one-off game and Spurs, when they are on their game, when they defend properly, they are a match for anyone and they have proved that with some of the performances they have put in this year.”

James Maddison would have been delighted to watch Tottenham Hotspur seal passage into the Europa League finals with a 2-0 away win against Bodo/Glimt, and one moment from the game in particular would have put a smile on the injured midfielder’s face.

After losing two of their biggest creative outlets in Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison to injuries, Tottenham once again had a workmanlike midfield in Norway, with Ange Postecoglou playing a trio of Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski.

That worked perfectly for the Lilywhites on the night as the home side struggled to break down Tottenham and create any clear-cut chances through the game.

Dominic Solanke scored Tottenham’s opener on 63 minutes, leaving the Norwegian side with a mountain to climb before Porro sealed the result with an outstanding strike six minutes later.

James Maddison would have been delighted with Pedro Porro’s Tottenham celebration

The Spaniard somehow managed to lob the goalkeeper from an extremely tight angle, but the right-back confessed after the game that he actually meant to cross the ball into the box.

Either way, the Tottenham players did not care as the wild celebrations that followed the goal showed just what it meant to the side to make the final in Bilbao.

After his strike, Porro opted to do Maddison’s trademark darts celebration, which would have undoubtedly put a smile on the face of the 28-year-old, who would have been watching from London.

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Maddison reacts on social media to Porro’s message

Porro led the celebration in front of the travelling fans after the final whistle, with the 25-year-old really taking in the moment.

After the game, the full-back took to social media to express his delight, writing: “Got the job done together. We’ll see you in Bilbao… VAMOSSSSS !!!”

Maddison replied in the comments with “Love you brother”, while Djed Spence added a light-hearted message, calling his strike “a Rocket” and adding a laughing emoji.

Heung-min Son might have missed both legs of Tottenham Hotspur’s semi-final clash against Bodo/Glimt, but the club captain has now hinted that he could be back in time to lead the team out in the Europa League final.

Tottenham Hotspur followed up their 3-1 win against Bodo/Glimt at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a 2-0 win over the Norwegian side at the Aspmyra Stadion.

It was a performance described as “professional” and “outstanding” by former Spurs midfielder David Bentley, and given how well Tottenham performed, the expectation is that the Lilywhites build on this win ahead of their final with Manchester United.

Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff had to secure a victory without club captain Heung-min Son, who is still nursing a foot injury, hence why he did not travel with Tottenham.

Heung-min Son sends message to Tottenham fans ahead of final

However, on social media, Son has shown that he is right behind this Tottenham team, sending a message to fans ahead of the final.

On his Instagram stories, the Korean forward simply wrote: “Good morning and see you soon on pitch.”

This, of course, hints that a return to action is very much on the cards for the Tottenham wide man who has yet to feature since April, missing the second leg tie against Frankfurt and the two semi-final games against Bodo/Glimt.

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Speaking ahead of the clash in Norway, Ange Postecoglou already provided an update on how soon Son would make a return.

The Australian manager made it clear that while the Spurs skipper did not travel with the squad, he is in contention to feature against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.

When asked if Son has travelled, Postecoglou added: “Disappointing for Sonny. He has progressed and he is a possibility to get minutes at the weekend but he has not trained with the team yet.”

Tottenham Hotspur may have a history of falling at the final hurdle over the last two decades, but Ange Postecoglou has now revealed what he sees in the current Spurs squad that gives him confidence that they can get their hands on the Europa League trophy in Bilbao.

Spurs will take on Man United at San Mames on May 21 in one of the most high-profile Europa League finals in a long time, given the pedigree of the two sides involved.

Tottenham have beaten the Red Devils on three occasions already this season across all competitions, which the Lilywhites will take confidence from.

However, some pundits believe that Man United are clear favourites in the final, due to the club’s history of regularly winning silverware.

Ange Postecoglou reveals why he has faith in his Tottenham players ahead of Europa League final

While this will undoubtedly be the biggest game of Postecoglou’s managerial career so far, the Australian is no stranger to being involved in cup finals, having won trophies wherever he has been.

The 59-year-old pointed out that his Tottenham side have shown tremendous resilience amidst adversity all season, admitting that it gives him the belief that they can deal with the pressure and expectations of a massive final.

When it was pointed out that United have a knack of winning silverware, and when Postecoglou was asked if his players were mentally ready to take on Rubem Amorim’s men in the final, he said (via Football.London): “A final is a unique standalone game, it’s a bit different to everything you do in the build up to it.

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“But if you’re talking about resilience and adversity, this group of players have had it in bucket loads this year and we’ve still found a way to deal with it. We’ve been losing players, key players and yet they’ve still found a way to stick together and believe in what we’re doing.

“That gives me the belief that the challenge we have of trying to overcome a tough opponent in a massive game, I know the lads have it in them to rise to that.”

History will count for very little in Bilbao

One can certainly create a narrative based on the history of the two clubs involved in the final, but the reality is that the majority of the players in both squads are completely unburdened by past failures or successes.

There are a lot of players in the United squad who have not tasted success at the highest level, while Tottenham Hotspur boast a World Cup winner and a two-time Copa America winner in their squad, among several other league title winners.

Basing one’s assessment on the history of two clubs rather than on the history of the actual players and managers involved in this game is flawed.