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Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Heung-min Son will get minutes against Aston Villa and has explained why he has not yet decided if the Tottenham captain will start the Europa League final.

A fully fit and firing Son walks into the Tottenham Hotspur team for the final, not only given the fact that he has been a big-game player over the years, but also because of the experience and the leadership he brings to the side.

However, the South Korean only returned from his foot injury in the 2-0 win against Crystal Palace, and with just five days to go until the Europa League final, he is in a race against time to get his sharpness back before the showpiece event in Bilbao.

A couple of days ago, Postecoglou confirmed that Son will get minutes at Villa Park, and the Australian has now hinted at what the 32-year-old needs to do to secure his place in the starting eleven for the final.

Ange Postecoglou is thrilled to have Heung-min Son back but remains cautious

The Tottenham boss admitted that it is a major boost to his side to have their captain back ahead of the Europa League final against Man United.

However, one again, the Australian insisted that he would not decide on the starting eleven for Bilbao so soon, hinting that Son’s performance against Villa may influence his final decision for next Wednesday’s game.

When asked about having Son back, Postecoglou told Football.London: “It’s absolutely fantastic to have him available. He has the experience and he does have that creative ability, but the game tomorrow night, we need to get him some match minutes and see how he is,” said the head coach.

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“I’ve never tried to look too far into the future in terms of what we might do, but if nothing else, this year has taught me that our planning is pretty much a day-to-day proposition. Let’s get through training today, and let’s get through the game tomorrow. Post-game tomorrow, we can start looking at those kinds of things.”

Son is desperate to hoist the Europa League trophy at Bilbao

Over his decade-long stay at the club, the Tottenham captain has been involved in three finals, all of which have ended in heartbreak.

He is thus determined to put things right against Man United, with Son admitting that the Europa League final is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write his name into Spurs folklore.

Having been burned by losing Dejan Kulusevski to an injury, Ange Postecoglou has hinted that he is not prepared to risk too many key players this evening at Villa Park, just five days ahead of the Europa League final.

The Tottenham boss faces a big dilemma ahead of the final: On the one hand, some of his key players have not played at all since the second leg of the semifinal against Bodo/Glimt. Those players could thus be a little rusty going straight into the final on the back of no football for two weeks.

On the other hand, the Australian found out the risk of allowing his key men to get some minutes in their legs, with Dejan Kulusevski picking up an injury against Crystal Palace, which has ruled him out of the big clash at Bilbao.

Ange Postecoglou will not take any risks at Aston Villa

The Spurs head coach is thus stuck between a rock and a hard place, and admitting that under normal circumstances, he would give minutes to his key men in the Premier League clash this evening.

However, Postecoglou acknowledged that Tottenham are not in a position to take any more risks ahead of the final after already losing Kulusevski, Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison over recent weeks.

When asked if we could see some of his first-choice eleven feature at Villa Park, he responded (via Football.London): “Look, in a normal world you use this for sharpening up, but we’re not living in a normal world. That’s the reality of our existence at the moment, where we can’t lose another player to an injury.

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“It’s just too finely balanced for us considering what’s at stake. Villa are obviously going for Champions League football, and you see how important it is to them, and we’re doing the same.”

Postecoglou insists Tottenham are not hurting the integrity of the Premier League

Some understandably feel that the integrity of the Premier League is compromised by the fact that the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Man United are playing weakened sides.

Tottenham’s opponents, Aston Villa, are involved in a race for Champions League qualification, and some have pointed out that they would have an advantage, given that they will be playing a makeshift Spurs side.

When this question was posted to Postecoglou, he responded: “I’m not sure what people are talking about when they talk about the integrity of the game – I don’t know what that means.

“We have certainly put out teams this year that because of our injury situation were not the strongest we needed to put out there but we still needed to play those games and it’s the same with other clubs.

“I don’t even know why that question is being asked if I’m honest because if anyone thinks we are going to go out there and not do our absolute best to win – that’s the only time when integrity gets questioned.

“When we played Man City last year and apparently I was in the wrong for trying to win a game of football that’s where integrity comes into it, that’s why I was so strong on it.

“When you put a line-up out there you are trying to win a game of football but at the same time every club has got its own interests and you have to prioritise what’s important for your club.

“Champions League is very important for all those clubs fighting for it at the moment, I can see how important it is and every game and every decision is crucial but we are in exactly the same boat.

“We have got Champions League qualification plus a trophy to win. It would be negligent of me if I wasn’t doing the best thing for our football club to make sure we achieve that.”

Micky van de Ven has refused to label Tottenham as favourites over Manchester United ahead of the Europa League final despite Spurs’ treble win over the Red Devils this season.

Tottenham Hotspur must be laser-focused when they take on Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final at the San Mames Stadium in Spain.

Winning the Europa League would represent a major triumph for Tottenham, who currently find themselves languishing in 17th place in the Premier League table, with no hope of securing European football through their league finish.

A club of Tottenham Hotspur’s stature simply needs to be playing in Europe’s top-tier competitions, and with no other route back into the Champions League, winning in Bilbao is now the only option.

Micky van de Ven downplays Spurs advantage over Manchester United

Manchester United now await Tottenham in the final, having dismantled Athletic Bilbao 7-1 on aggregate in their semi-final clash.

However, their league form is every bit as bleak as Tottenham’s, with Ruben Amorim’s side currently sitting just one point and one place above the Lilywhites in the Premier League standings.

Spurs remain unbeaten against Manchester United in all domestic competitions this season, after beating them twice in the Premier League and once more in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

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Micky van de Ven and the rest of the Tottenham squad know that a fourth win over Manchester United would seal the trophy on Wednesday, 21 May.

Despite this, the Dutch defender has insisted that those past wins count for nothing now, stating there is no advantage to be drawn from earlier victories.

Asked if Tottenham had the edge over United, Van de Ven told Hayters: “I would not say it is an advantage because it is games in past so this is a game, it is a final and I know in a final anything can happen. We won three times against them so hopefully we can do the same thing for the final.”

Manchester United history looms over Spurs despite unbeaten run

Tottenham Hotspur remain unbeaten in their last six matches against Manchester United, with both sides recording four wins and two draws in their last ten meetings.

Several Manchester United legends have hinted that United’s pedigree in Europe makes them favourites for this tie, regardless of recent form.

Paul Scholes is the latest to weigh in, stating that while Tottenham might be seen as favourites on paper, he still backs Manchester United based on their history and track record in major finals.

He said: “When you look at the recent matches between the two teams, then you will probably have to make Tottenham the slight favourites.

“But Manchester United are used to being in finals. Even in recent bad periods, they are still reaching finals and winning trophies and I think that experience is big. Tottenham will probably be the best team on the night, but I just think United will have enough to win.”

Guglielmo Vicario lifts lid on Ange Postecoglou’s Europa League ambition with Tottenham – “He is the first person that wants to win this trophy!”

Ange Postecoglou has received a lot of stick and rightfully so, given Tottenham Hotspur’s poor domestic campaign.

The Lilywhites are now currently camped in 17th place, the lowest they have been in the modern Premier League era, while also being on their highest number of losses in a single season – 20.

However, despite their abysmal domestic campaign, Tottenham are still within touching distance of silverware, thanks to their impressive Europa League run.

Guglielmo Vicario on Ange Postecoglou’s push for Europa League success with Tottenham

Ange Postecoglou stated earlier this campaign that in his second season, he usually wins trophies, and in the next seven days, the Australian will be hoping to deliver on that promise by guiding Tottenham to Europa League glory.

The Tottenham players also want to bring an end to the club’s trophy drought, and Guglielmo Vicario has now opened up on just how much the players are fighting to win for their manager, especially after his comments about second-season success.

The Italian shot-stopper made it clear that Postecoglou is the first person who wants to win the Europa League, but he stressed that success must be collective.

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He said: “I think he is the first that wants to win this trophy. He has always been saying to us, that this group could go through this competition and play this final and we reached that. Now we have to be very pleased about that and try to go the final step altogether.”

Spurs’ wait for silverware and Heung-min Son’s hunger for success

Tottenham securing silverware would be massive, considering their nearly two-decade wait for a major honour. Ange Postecoglou already has a few trophies in his cabinet, but the same cannot be said for Tottenham’s captain.

Heung-min Son will also be hoping to end his own trophy drought this season, especially after watching former Tottenham players Harry Kane and Eric Dier lift their first major trophies elsewhere.

Son has already labelled the Europa League final as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, stressing that his focus is fully on delivering for both the fans and the club.

He said: “Every match is special to me and holds the same value. But this one feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I want to give it my full focus and prepare both mentally and physically for it. This time, I do not want to have any regrets.

“Especially for the fans who want this more than I do – I want to bring them joy. When I return to Korea after the season, I want to give both Korean fans and Spurs fans the best gift possible: a big smile.”

Tottenham Hotspur will come face to face with their former talisman Harry Kane this summer, as part of the club’s plans for the 2025/26 season.

With just three games remaining before the curtain falls on the 2024/25 campaign, Tottenham Hotspur have already turned their attention to preparations for the 2025/26 season.

Earlier this year, Tottenham confirmed plans for a pre-season tour of Asia, where Tottenham and Arsenal are scheduled to face off in what will be the first-ever North London derby to be held outside of England.

Now, the club have announced another eye-catching fixture against Bayern Munich in Germany which will form part of their pre-season schedule ahead of the new campaign.

Tottenham to play Bayern Munich in pre-season friendly

On their official X account, formerly known as Twitter, Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed they will travel to Munich to face Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on 7th August at the Allianz Arena in the Telekom Cup, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30pm UK time.

The club posted: “We’re heading to Munich to face FC Bayern in the Telekom Cup! 🏟️ Allianz Arena 🗓 7 August 2025 🕡 6.30pm (local time)”

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The meeting will mark just the seventh time in history that Spurs and Bayern Munich have faced each other, and it will also be a notable reunion with the club’s all-time top scorer Harry Kane.

Harry Kane to face Spurs for the second time since his exit

Harry Kane is Tottenham’s record goalscorer with 280 goals in all competitions to his name and left the club in the summer of 2023. This is not the first time the striker has come up against Spurs, having faced his former side in a pre-season friendly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last August.

The upcoming Telekom Cup clash will see the Bayern Munich striker take on his old side for the first time since lifting silverware in Germany, having finally ended his 14-year wait for a major trophy.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to lock horns with Barcelona for a Ligue 1 full-back, who has been put in the shop window by Monaco, who are hoping to make a big profit from his sale this summer.

Over the last couple of weeks, Pedro Porro has been linked with a move away from Tottenham, with Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Barcelona credited with an interest in the right-back.

According to some sources, the Spurs man is also on Manchester City’s radar, but it has been asserted over recent days that it would take an eye-watering offer to prise Porro away from Tottenham.

It turns out that the Lilywhites are now considering reigniting their interest in a right-back they should be interested in during the January window.

Tottenham set to battle Barcelona for Vanderson

This update comes from UOL, who say that Vanderson looks set to exit Monaco this summer, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona said to be on the Brazilian’s trail.

It is revealed that both clubs have been tracking the 23-year-old for many months, and they have both announced that they are willing to open negotiations with Monaco this summer.

The Ligue 1 club are hoping to collect more than €35m (£29.5m) from the sale of Vanderson, who looks set to be the subject of a tug-of-war between the Premier League club and the La Liga side.

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Why Spurs may have an advantage over Barcelona

UOL point out that a new right-back is a much more pressing need for the Catalan club than the Lilywhites, which is why the former is likely to show more concrete interest in Vanderson.

However, it is revealed that tax laws could work to Tottenham’s advantage. With taxes in Spain being higher than in England, Monaco could lose 15% of the sale if they did a deal with the La Liga side.

As a result, Adi Hutter’s men would prefer to do business with the North London club rather than the Spanish giants.

Tottenham scouts were in attendance as Cristiano Ronaldo Jr made his Portugal Under-15 debut against Japan, with the youngster drawing a crowd of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur are no strangers to buying and nurturing youngsters, and we have seen the Lilywhites hone more into that skillset this season.

In fact, in March, five of Tottenham’s starlets made Goal’s Next Gen list of the world’s best young talents, with Yang Min-hyeok, currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers, securing 43rd place.

Luka Vuskovic, on loan at Westerlo, landed in 26th, Mikey Moore came in at 22nd, while Lucas Bergvall ranked 16th. The highest-placed Spurs player was Archie Gray, who secured 13th spot.

Tottenham scouts watch Cristiano Ronaldo Jr debut for Portugal Under-15s

Tottenham continue to be linked with youngsters like Roony Bardghji, and now reports from The Sun have revealed that Tottenham scouts were present when Cristiano Ronaldo Jr made his Portugal Under-15 debut against Japan.

Although the 14-year-old did not start the match, the son of one of the best players in football history was cheered onto the pitch when he came off the bench in a 4-1 win over Japan’s Under-15s on Tuesday.

The Portuguese youngster did not score a goal in the tie, but he was watched by several top clubs across Europe.

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Tottenham’s UEFA Europa League opponents, Manchester United, were in attendance, along with up to 10 Bundesliga clubs who are also rumoured to have been represented in the crowd.

Spurs among elite clubs scouting Portugal Under-15 talent

While Spurs and Manchester United scouts were present, it has also been revealed that Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim, Red Bull Salzburg, Inter Milan, Juventus and Atalanta all sent scouts to cover the game.

The Portuguese Under-15 players did indeed catch the eye, with Braga forward Rafael Cabral stealing the show by bagging a hat-trick.

Rafael Cabral is Braga’s top scorer in the youth league with 13 goals this season, and given the talent on display in the Portuguese side, the Tottenham scouts would have plenty to think about as they head back to north London.

It has been reported that Tottenham fans are set to flood Bilbao in their thousands later this month, with travelling support for the Europa League final expected to significantly outweigh that of Manchester United.

It does not get any bigger for Tottenham Hotspur this season than the Europa League final on Wednesday, 21 May 2025.

The final is set to take place at Athletic Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium in Spain, with Manchester United confirmed as Tottenham’s opponent in what will be the sixth all-English European final in history.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have already got the better of the Red Devils three times this season, and if they are to finish the job in Spain, they will need to beat Ruben Amorim’s men for a fourth time.

Tottenham fans to outnumber Manchester United in Bilbao

UEFA have already confirmed the official ticket allocations for the final, with Tottenham receiving 14,770 tickets – a package that includes 25 pairs of wheelchair user tickets, along with 15 pairs of easy-access seats.

While both clubs have officially received 15,000 tickets each, The Daily Mail are now reporting that a further 15,000 Tottenham fans without tickets are expected to make the trip to the Basque Country.

In contrast, only around 2,000 Manchester United supporters are believed to be travelling without tickets, creating the prospect of a significantly one-sided crowd in the city.

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Despite this, the report also notes that there is little expectation that those without tickets will be able to gain entry to the stadium for what could be a season-defining encounter.

Spurs and Manchester United coordinate Europa League final security plans

The publication also revealed that security personnel – including officers from Greater Manchester Police, the Met Police, and the UK Football Policing Unit – will be present in Bilbao and have been working closely with Spanish authorities to ensure the event runs smoothly.

Officials from both Manchester United and Spurs are said to be collaborating behind the scenes, with a strong desire to avoid the kind of chaos that marred recent UEFA Champions League finals in Istanbul and Paris.

It has been stated that two separate fan zones are expected to be set up, and although the locals are fiercely passionate about their football, they are also known for their warm hospitality, so tensions with residents are not anticipated.

Tottenham fans would be hoping their side can get over the line in Spain this time around, after they suffered heartbreak in their 2-0 UEFA Champions League loss to Liverpool back in 2019.

Ange Postecoglou is over the moon for two Spurs youngsters who are out on loan as the pair eye creating history later this month, with the Tottenham boss expecting the duo to return to Hotspur Way this summer with much more self-belief.

Several Tottenham Hotspur youngsters have impressed out on loan across various divisions this season, but two players in particular have done as well as they could have hoped for and are hoping to have a fairytale end to the season.

Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley have not only been regulars in Leyton Orient’s starting line-up but have been among the club’s most consistent performers, playing a key role in their promotion push.

The duo will now get a chance to walk out at Wembley for the League One playoff final on May 25 as the O’s are looking to secure promotion to English football’s second tier for the first time since 1982.

Ange Postecoglou is delighted for Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley

Postecoglou admitted that he watched the second leg of Orient’s playoff semifinal against Stockport County, with the tie ending 3-3 on aggregate and Keeley emerging as the hero in the shootout.

The Tottenham boss is delighted with the experience that the pair have gained this season and is looking forward to seeing them tested in a high-stakes contest at Wembley later this month.

When asked what he thinks of the pair helping Orient reach the Playoff final, Postecoglou said (via Football.London): “Yeah, I watched the game last night, it was a cracking game and super pleased for both of them. You know, when players go on loan, obviously, the key for it is for them to get match minutes and development.

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“I think both of those guys have, but it’s even better if they’re part of something that could be special for them in terms of success. I think that helps as well in terms of their own self-belief and being part of something successful. So yeah, super pleased with them, it’ll be a great occasion and hopefully they get through.”

When asked if he can see them competing for a first-team squad next season at Tottenham, Postecoglou responded: “I think with all these things, they’re for the off-season when guys come back. Right now our focus is fairly on what’s happening in the next two weeks.”

Both Keeley and Donley could arrive at Tottenham with international experience

It is not just in club football that the Spurs duo have made strides in. The pair could both be fully capped international footballers before they return to Hotspur Way this summer.

Donley made his debut for Northern Ireland in their 1-1 draw against Switzerland in an international friendly back in March.

Keeley has now received his first senior call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad for their upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg next month.

Jason Cundy has launched an astonishing attack on the current Tottenham side and the Premier League season they are having, rubbishing the idea that winning the Europa League would save the Lilywhites’ campaign.

There is no way to sugarcoat how poor Spurs have been this season. The club’s injury crisis does not explain their shortcomings fully, with results failing to improve since the return of key players.

Tottenham have set a new club record for the most defeats in a single Premier League season, and the record could get even worse, with two more league games left to go.

While there is genuine excitement among the Spurs fan base at the moment, with the Europa League final fast approaching, their club’s performance in Europe has papered over how historically bad the Lilywhites have been domestically.

Jason Cundy claims no team as bad as Tottenham have stayed up

Jason Cundy has now stuck the boot into Tottenham Hotspur and his fellow panellist Jamie O’Hara, insisting that the current Spurs side is the worst team to ever avoid relegation.

That is not statistically true, with Spurs having amassed four more points than West Brom’s total of 34 in the 2004/05 campaign, the lowest a team has ever recorded and still stayed up.

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However, Cundy went all in with his attack on Postecoglou’s men, insisting that this Tottenham side is as bad a team as he has seen in the English top-flight

He told O’Hara on talkSPORT: “You are the worst team in Premier League history thus far, not to go down. You’re a disgrace!”

When O’Hara pointed out that Tottenham can still qualify for the Champions League via the Europa League, Cundy responded: “You don’t need glory because you lot, by the way, you are an absolute disgrace to Premier League football!

“You think I’m joking? You are an absolute shambles of a team. This time last year, you wanted to lose a game [against Manchester City]. This time this year, you don’t care whether you win. Mate, this is not life in the Premier League.

“You’re the rag and bone, mate. You are the worst team this season, currently, in the Premier League, other than the three teams that went down. You’re a disgrace!”

Cundy insists Europa League win will not make Tottenham’s season

O’Hara had claimed that Tottenham’s season will be better than Arsenal’s if they win the Europa League, but Cundy dismissed those claims out of hand.

He told his co-host that he was deluding himself, insisting that the cup would merely save Spurs’ season.

Cundy added: “Listen, you try to have this argument with me every day about [how] it’s a better season than Arsenal’s. Do not fool yourself. You’re kidding [yourself], you’re lying to yourself. You know what, mate? It saves your season. It doesn’t make your season. It saves it.”