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Former Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has opened up on his time with Mauricio Pochettino at Hotspur Way and explained what makes the Argentine different to every manager he has worked with.

Looking back, Pochettino’s sacking by Tottenham in 2019 was not only a crossroads in the club’s trajectory but also in Dele Alli’s career.

The attacking midfielder has never been the same since he stopped working with the Argentine, with successive Spurs managers, Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte, failing to get anywhere near the best out of him.

Dele has continued to struggle since exiting Tottenham, although a large part of that has been down to his injury woes.

Dele Alli makes an admission about working with Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham

The former Tottenham Hotspur man is now trying to get his career back on track at Serie A side Como and has now reflected on his career so far in an interview with TuttoMercatoWeb.

In the interview, Dele Alli revealed why Pochettino was able to bring the best out of him at Tottenham. He explained that the Argentine allowed players to express themselves on the pitch instead of burdening them with tactical instructions like many modern-day managers.

The 29-year-old said about Pochettino: “He always told me to be myself. He didn’t correct me on superfluous things, while other coaches would have done it. It just let me express myself the way I wanted. Real freedom on the pitch is fundamental.

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“As footballers, each of us has our own style, our own way of playing. Sometimes football can get too schematic. ‘You have to run here, pass there,’ and for me, this takes away the beauty of the game. We want to entertain, we want to make our own games, and every player is different, and brings something unique.

“Sometimes it happens that you think of a play on the spot and it works, without it being planned. I think moving away from the rigidity of tactics a bit and keeping your personality is important.”

Pochettino has admitted he has unfinished business at Spurs

Even though it has now been almost six years since Pochettino was sacked, Spurs fans continue to hold a special affection for the 53-year-old.

He is currently in charge of the US Men’s national side and is set to lead them into next year’s World Cup.

Troy Deeney believes that there could be some wholesale changes in the Tottenham squad this summer, predicting that several senior players could follow Ange Postecoglou out of the exit door.

Those who were ready to write the obituaries on Tottenham’s season and Ange Postecoglou’s tenure at the club have been forced to put that off for at least a few more weeks after the club kept their dream of Europa League glory alive.

Ange Postecoglou came out fighting after Spurs overcame Eintracht Frankfurt, and the Australian would have certainly enjoyed giving it back to his critics after taking so many punches over the last few months.

While the club’s focus will entirely be on ending their 17-year trophy drought, Deeney believes that Tottenham Hotspur could have an extremely busy summer coming up.

Troy Deeney expects four senior Spurs players to leave

We have already seen plenty of reports suggest that a managerial change is likely at Tottenham no matter what happens in the Europa League.

Deeney believes that Postecoglou could be followed out of the door by several senior Spurs players this summer, with the former Watford striker suggesting that Tottenham are in a transitional phase.

Rather surprisingly, the 36-year-old named Heung-min Son and James Maddison as players who could be on their way out of Hotspur Way.

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When asked about Postecoglou’s time at the club, Deeny told talkSPORT: “For me, he’s done a good job blooding the younger players and giving them the confidence to go and score a lot. Brennan Johnson, what is he on, about 16 goals now?

“I think they’re in a transition period, I think you could see the likes of Son [Heung-min] move on. Potentially [James] Maddison, [Yves] Bissouma, Richarlison, these guys will start moving on.

“And then obviously they have a lot of young players like Mikey Moore, but I still think they’re a little bit like Chelsea. They need one, maybe two, older pros just to be like, ‘We don’t do that here, this is how you win things.’ And that’s the bit I think that they’re missing.”

Troy Deeney says Tottenham Hotspur lack leaders

Deeney believes that the current squad assembled by Spurs is not lacking in talent but is short of leaders on the pitch.

He questioned who among the current Tottenham squad sets an example with their work rate and has developed a strong connection with the club’s fan base.

Deeney added about the North London side: “Every time they lose, it’s like, ‘Is he going to be sacked?’ I’ll say this again. What are Spurs? They’ve been trying to win a trophy forever. I don’t know what the plan is, they’ve got loads of young talent, no real proper leaders as what I would describe as a leader.

“I look at Ryan Yates at [Nottingham] Forest [vice-captain], while Morgan Gibbs-White is the [stand-in] captain, Ryan Yates is the heartbeat of that team. And when he plays, he’s got the emotional connection with the fanbase, the players respond, he knows he’s not the best player, but he’s probably the most important to how they play.”

Tottenham are two games away from a European final, but their next Europa League test comes with a twist – they’re up against a side few know, but one that’s made history of their own. Let’s meet Spurs’ Europa League semi-final opponent, Bodo/Glimt.

Tottenham Hotspur did the business against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night as Dominic Solanke’s penalty proved to be the decider.

That win has now seen Spurs progress to the last four of the Europa League, where Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt await.

Of course, Glimt had to grind out their own result before setting up this clash with Tottenham, standing firm against Lazio, who came close to overturning a two-goal deficit.

Penalties were the ultimate decider, and Bodo/Glimt, against the odds, are now Europa League semi-finalists.

Tottenham fans have since reacted to their Europa League semi-final draw, warning Ange Postecoglou’s men against any hint of complacency when they lock horns with the Norwegians.

But who are they, and should Tottenham be worried about the Norwegian side looking to make history? Let’s find out.

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Bodo Glimt – A little look at their history

Bodo/Glimt are a Norwegian professional football club from the town of Bodo, currently playing in Eliteserien – Norway’s top division.

They are four-time champions in Norway, having lifted the Eliteserien title in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

The club also boasts nine Northern Norwegian Cup wins and two Norwegian Cup triumphs. Their 1975 cup win made them the first team from northern Norway to secure a national title.

A look at Bodo/Glimt’s European pedigree

When it comes to Europe, the club’s most notable European run came in the 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League season, when they smashed Roma 8-3 on aggregate in the group stage and knocked out Celtic to reach the quarter-finals, where they eventually fell to Roma.

In 2025, Bodo/Glimt became the first ever Norwegian side to reach a European semi-final – the Europa League, after eliminating Lazio on penalties.

Andreas Helmersen’s extra-time equaliser levelled the tie 3-3 on aggregate, after a 2-0 win in the first leg.

Bodo/Glimt league record

Bodo/Glimt have made a strong start in their domestic campaign, winning both of their opening league fixtures.

They have scored four goals without conceding any, showing a solid balance at both ends of the pitch early on in the Eliteserien season, which only kicked off on 29 March.

Bodo/Glimt Europa League record

While the Norwegian league only recently resumed, Bodo/Glimt have had plenty of competitive action through their Europa League journey.

In the league phase of the competition, Kjetil Knutsen’s side impressed, winning four matches, drawing two and losing two. They finished ninth in the standings, narrowly missing out on an automatic knockout spot due to goal difference.

In the knockout rounds, they dispatched Twente 6-4 on aggregate to reach the round of 16. Then, Olympiacos were brushed aside 4-2 over two legs – a 3-0 home win was followed by a narrow 2-1 defeat away.

The quarter-finals brought Lazio, and Bodo/Glimt passed with flying colours. A 2-0 home win gave them the edge before a 3-1 defeat in Rome forced penalties, where they held their nerve to win 3-2.

Head to head vs Spurs

Next up for Bodo/Glimt is Tottenham Hotspur – a side they’ve never faced before in their history. The Norwegian side has never made it this far in Europe, which in itself is history.

Of course, with their fairy tale European campaign still alive, Kjetil Knutsen’s side would be hoping to pull off another shock result when they take on Spurs in the semi-finals.

The semi-final first leg on 1 May 2025 marks the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, and it promises to be a landmark clash for both sides.

Tottenham passed on Marcus Rashford in January, but with the England forward now finding his feet again at Aston Villa, they might want to revisit that decision come this summer.

During the winter window, it was reported that Marcus Rashford was a player that new Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, was looking to move on.

The player has since been loaned out to Aston Villa, where he seems to have found some form, putting in performances that seem much more like his old self.

However, before his move to the Midlands, Rashford was linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, although we all know how that story ended.

Tottenham passed on Marcus Rashford in January, but should they go back in?

Of course, in hindsight, no one could outrightly blame Daniel Levy and co for not taking a gamble on Marcus Rashford.

In fact, given his performances during the first half of the campaign, it seemed like a correct decision, as Rashford only managed five goal contributions in his opening 23 games for Manchester United in the Premier League, scoring four and assisting once in that time.

However, since making the switch to Aston Villa, the English forward looks like a completely different man and has already registered nine goal contributions in all competitions for Aston Villa in far fewer games.

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His performances also earned him a place in Thomas Tuchel’s last England squad, one that Tottenham midfielder James Maddison missed out on.

Spurs face tricky call on £40m Marcus Rashford transfer

With Rashford still only on loan, there is bound to be speculation about where he will ply his trade next season.

Aston Villa currently hold a £40m option to buy, which is a rough valuation of how much Manchester United would be looking to make from the sale of Rashford.

This means that sides like Spurs, who were linked with the forward during the winter window, could make a move for the winger this summer.

At the moment, the wide forward has loads of the things the Lilywhites need. He is experienced and is a player who has won a handful of trophies in his career.

He is versatile, can play on both the right and the left, as well as through the middle. He has enormous quality and, as we’ve seen, if given the platform, he can thrive.

However, while £40m is considerably low compared to Southampton’s asking price for Tottenham target Tyler Dibling, one could argue that it would be better for Spurs to bring Rashford in.

But, while that might seem like a good call, it currently wouldn’t suit Spurs, and one of the reasons is that he prefers to play off the left, an area Tottenham are already well-stocked in.

Rashford is a player who comes with loads of media attention, and while it might seem like his attitude problems have gone, it’s worth noting there’s a lot of positivity at Aston Villa right now, as they’re a club performing well above expectations.

That would not be the case at Spurs, who are currently struggling, which would only allow for more negative press around the player.

Unai Emery, when asked about Villa’s chances of triggering their option to buy, said: “It is difficult to plan it now. It depends on the circumstances and what happens in the next weeks.”

“He’s feeling comfortable and feeling better. He played a fantastic match vs PSG. We are very happy.”

Of course, it wouldn’t be a completely bad move to sign the forward, but the pros and cons need to be weighed, and let’s be real, Rashford wouldn’t significantly improve this team.

Opta’s Supercomputer has crunched the numbers to deduce which of the four semi-finalists are favourites to win the Europa League and the prediction makes for exciting reading for Tottenham fans.

Spurs’ dream of ending their trophy drought and getting their hands on the Europa League has suddenly become a lot more realistic after their huge win away at Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

Speaking after his side’s 2-1 win on aggregate against the Bundesliga side, Ange Postecoglou admitted that there is now plenty of belief among the squad that they can go all the way.

Spurs fans were delighted to find out that they will play Bodo/Glimt in the semifinals after the Norwegian side upset one of the tournament favourites, Lazio, in the quarterfinal.

Supercomputer predicts Tottenham’s chances of Europa League glory

Opta Analyst have now revealed what their supercomputer has predicted ahead of the semifinal showdowns next month after running simulations of the remaining fixtures in the competition 10,000 times.

The supercomputer has installed Tottenham Hotspur as the favourites to win the Europa League, with the North London side being given a 66.6 per cent chance of making the final and a 34.9 per cent chance of lifting the trophy

Athletic Club Bilbao, who will be playing the final at home if they get past Manchester United in the semis, have been deemed the second favourites, being handed a 28.5 per cent chance of getting their hands on the prize.

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Manchester United have been given a 24.2 per cent chance of being Champions, while Tottenham’s semifinal opponents, Bodo/Glimt, have only been handed a 12.4 per cent chance.

Why Spurs have a huge advantage in the Europa League

The reason Tottenham have been deemed favourites ahead of Athletic Club and Man United is due to their favourable semifinal draw.

Spurs are much more likely to progress to the final than their Premier League rivals or the La Liga side, which is why they have been given more than a 1/3rd chance of lifting the trophy by Opta.

However, the Tottenham players certainly cannot afford to take Bodo/Glimt lightly, given the scalps that the Norwegian side have had on their way to the final four.

A new report has shed light on what the feeling at Hotspur Way is about Destiny Udogie’s future after Manchester City expressed an interest in the Tottenham full-back ahead of the summer transfer window.

News first broke last week that Man City have set their sights on Udogie this summer as they go in search of a new left-back.

The report came as a surprise to some Spurs fans, given that the Italian has not been in the best of form, but it seems like the Lilywhites are not expected to let the 22-year-old go without a fight.

A few days ago, one source reported that Daniel Levy will make negotiations for Udogie very difficult if City do push ahead with an offer, and a fresh update has now provided more insight into what Tottenham are thinking about the former Udinese man.

Tottenham are confident about Destiny Udogie’s future

Football Insider have now become the latest outlet to credit the Premier League champions with an interest in the Spurs man, and they claim that the full-back could be tempted by a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

However, the report states that Tottenham are confident of keeping Udogie even if City make advances towards the player.

The club believe that Udogie’s long-term contract, which runs until 2030, gives them sufficient leverage to reject bids for him this summer.

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Interestingly, the publication adds that Ange Postecoglou’s men will consider ‘mega-money offers’ for Udogie but the North London club are said to be adamant that the Italy international would only be allowed to depart on their terms.

What Tottenham will recognise about Udogie’s struggles this season

While assessing Udogie’s form over the season, it is impossible to overlook the fact that the left-back has had a couple of major injury setbacks over the last 12 months.

That is why he deserves the benefit of the doubt, particularly after the stellar first season that he enjoyed at N17.

That is why Tottenham’s valuation of Udogie will not have dropped much and the club will believe that the 22-year-old can find consistency again and fulfil his undoubtedly enormous potential.

Spurs need a win in the Premier League after a disappointing 4-2 loss to Wolves last time out, but third-placed Nottingham Forest stands in their way. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur’s focus may have swiftly shifted to European competition in recent days, but the reality of their domestic woes continues to hover ominously.

Currently languishing in 15th place in the Premier League table, Ange Postecoglou’s men are just two points clear of West Ham United, who sit in 17th.

Their next hurdle comes in the form of a Nottingham Forest side who, unlike Spurs, still harbour dreams of European football next season.

The Midlands outfit, rejuvenated under Nuno Espirito Santo, arrive in north London with ambition and momentum, having pieced together an encouraging run of form that has them eyeing up a top-five finish.

The last meeting between these two sides at the City Ground saw Forest edge a cagey contest 1-0, with the home crowd roaring their side to a gritty win.

When and where is the game?

The Premier League clash will be hosted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday, April 21, 2025. The fixture is scheduled for an 8 pm UK time kick-off.

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How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest

Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

Spurs vs Nottingham Forest team news

Tottenham have one notable absentee for Thursday, as Heung-min Son is the only one dealing with a foot injury. Radu Dragusin is also injured in the long term with an ACL.

As for Forest, they are set to be without Ola Aina and Tawio Awoniyi, who are nursing long-term injuries, expected to keep them out until May.

Spurs Web prediction

It is going to be a tough encounter and one would expect that Tottenham would build on their impressive display against Frankfurt, but expectations are very low given Spurs’ league form.

Tottenham’s league campaign is over, whereas Forest are very much in the heat of the battle, as they would be hoping to see out their fight to qualify for Europe.

These are two sides with different aspirations, and we’d back the ones who have proven themselves a lot more in the league.

Ange Postecoglou has provided an update on James Maddison ahead of his side’s Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest after the Tottenham midfielder was forced off with an injury in their win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

James Maddison played a crucial role in the only goal of the game, with the attacking midfielder winning the penalty, which was turned home by Dominic Solanke.

The 28-year-old ran onto a ball over the top of the Frankfurt defence, and he was wiped out by the Bundesliga club’s goalkeeper Kaua Santos after knocking the ball past the Brazilian.

While the referee initially waved play-on, VAR intervened to recommend a review of the incident via the pitch-side monitor, with the referee only needing one look at the replay before showing Santos a yellow card and pointing to the spot.

While Maddison showed bravery to get to the ball first, knowing he was about to be clattered, the incident proved to be the end of the attacking midfielder’s night as he was forced off with an injury just minutes later.

Postecoglou has now revealed that the former Leicester City man is still sore from his knock and admitted that he may miss the clash against Nottingham Forest on Monday.

When asked about the midfielder’s return date, the Spurs boss told Football.London: “We had the day off yesterday as we didn’t get back until the early hours of Friday morning. Madders is probably a bit sore, so a doubt for Monday. Sonny is still out.”

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Tottenham have no need to rush back Maddison or Heung-min Son

With Spurs having only pride to play for in the Premier League, the club’s entire focus will be on the Europa League until the end of the campaign.

That is why Postecoglou’s priority would be to ensure that both James Maddison and Heung-min Son have the best chance of being involved in the semifinal against Bodo/Glimt.

As a result, one would not expect the pair to play any part in the upcoming league matches, with the Australian also likely to rest many of his key men.

Tottenham Hotspur may have to accept a huge loss on a youngster they signed nearly two years ago, as his future at North London is in doubt beyond this summer.

While many of Tottenham’s young guns have seen their reputation blossom out on loan this season, that has not been the case for one man.

Alejo Veliz has endured two disappointing loan spells at Sevilla and Espanyol over the last two seasons, with the striker struggling to get starts under his belt and looking short of confidence at the moment.

Over recent weeks, it has been reported that River Plate are keen on taking Veliz back to Argentine football, with the club allegedly wanting to bring the centre-forward through the door ahead of their Club World Cup campaign this summer.

River Plate could sign Alejo Veliz on a discount

A new report in Bolavip has also credited River Plate with an interest in the Argentine youngster.

The outlet points out that Veliz has struggled this season with just four goals from 1,171 minutes across 24 games for Espanyol so far.

Even though his current deal with Tottenham runs until 2029, it is suggested that he is unlikely to have a place at the North London club next season.

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As a result, a return to Argentine football would be a ‘tempting’ option for Veliz, with River Plate emerging as a potential destination.

The Argentine giants could sign him for a discount as the outlet states that the forward, who was valued at €11m (£9.4m) when he left Rosario Central, is now valued at just €2.8m (£2.4m).

Tottenham actually signed Veliz for £12.9m in 2023, and a sale at £2.4m would result in an 81.5% loss.

Is Veliz ready to call time on his Tottenham career?

While this latest update by Bolavip might be talking up the chances of the forward returning to his home country this summer, other Argentine outlets have suggested that it is unlikely to happen.

This includes an update by TyC Sports two weeks ago, with the publication claiming that Veliz has told River Plate that he intends to continue in Europe.

One Premier League side are now preparing for the possibility of losing their star man this summer after Tottenham Hotspur and others registered an interest in him ahead of the summer.

Adding reinforcement to their forward line is expected to be one of Spurs’ priorities this summer, with some big names expected to depart.

Reports indicate that Richarlison could be on his way out of Tottenham this summer, while rumours also continue to suggest that Heung-min Son’s ten-year spell at Spurs could come to an end.

Additionally, Timo Werner will return to RB Leipzig when his loan spell comes to an end while it is unclear if Tottenham will activate the option to buy Mathys Tel.

A new report has now suggested that Spurs could solve their issues in attack by turning to a striker who has found the back of the net 15 times in the Premier League this season.

Brentford braced for Tottenham offers for Yoane Wissa

This update comes from The Standard, who say that Yoane Wissa’s impressive performances at the Gtech Community Stadium have brought him to the attention of Spurs.

Spurs opened talks for a late Wissa deal in January before eventually landing Mathys Tel. Tottenham are also said to be in the race to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford this summer.

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The report confirms that Tottenham expressed an interest in Wissa in January, while Nottingham Forest had an offer of £22m knocked back, with both clubs potentially set to return with fresh approaches this summer for the Congo international.

In fact, the outlet adds that Brentford are ‘braced for offers’ for Wissa as well as fellow forward, Bryan Mbeumo, with both players attracting interest from several top sides – including Tottenham Hotspur.

Brentford preparing for life after Yoane Wissa

Interestingly, the report explains that the Bees are determined to keep hold of Wissa and Mbeumo, pointing out that Thomas Frank has also said publicly that the pair will not be sold.

However, internally at the club, their stance is not that straightforward, with the West London side resigned to the likelihood of interest in the pair resurfacing.

As a result, the club have already started succession planning for Wissa and Mbeumo, with the publication adding that a high enough offer could prompt the club to sell either player.