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Tottenham’s new interim manager Igor Tudor said on Tuesday that the club’s perilous position in the Premier League is unacceptable as he aims to ward off a relegation battle amid significant unrest.

The former Juventus boss has been appointed until the end of the season after Spurs slipped to 16th in the table under Thomas Frank, who was sacked last week.

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Tudor faces a baptism of fire at home to league leaders Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday.

But he said there can be no excuses despite a lengthy injury list that hampered Frank’s eight-month tenure.

“I need to be, with my staff, very intelligent to find the best possible way in a very short time,” Tudor told Tottenham’s in-house media channel.

“I’m coming here knowing that situation is not easy. There is no time to find excuses. What I said from the first day here, each of us, need to give something more, something extra.”

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Tudor arrives at Spurs with troubles spilling over to off-field matters, such as the club’s relationship with fans and sponsors.

This week, reports in the UK emerged about Spurs facing a massive financial blow regardless of whether they are relegated, with sponsors considering their deals.

The Telegraph reports that one major, long-term sponsor has its deal expiring at the end of the season and there are doubts over whether they will renew.

Adding to the potential blow is that many of the club’s sponsorship deals include bonuses based on European football, which Spurs won’t qualify for unless they win the Champions League.

An expert on the matter with knowledge of Spurs’ sponsorship deals told the publication of the missed bonuses: “The penalties for missing Europe alone run into tens of millions. That would be even bigger and potentially catastrophic if the club were relegated.”

Meanwhile, fans are said to be furious over a claim that their fears were erased from minutes of a fans’ meeting that was held earlier this month.

The Telegraph reports that just over a week before Thomas Frank was sacked, Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust met with the club and raised concerns about relegation, producing youth players, and profit building.

The group claims that those concerns were selectively edited in the minutes of the meeting, including the removal of a line that claimed the club “welcomed the input” of supporters.

Spurs have a five-point cushion over West Ham in the battle to avoid the drop. But the Hammers have picked up seven more points than Tottenham over the past eight league games as they have turned a corner under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Spurs, by contrast, have won just two of their last 17 league games.

“The position of the club in this moment is one that nobody can accept,” added Tudor, who was sacked by Juventus earlier this season after just seven months in charge.

“Every Tottenham fan cannot accept the situation. We are aware of that. But it’s not enough to just be aware of that.

“The situation is not easy because we have a lot of injured players, so we need first to find the best system to suit the players that are available in this moment.”

Captain Cristian Romero is suspended for the visit of Arsenal, while James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall are among those set to miss out through injury.

Ange Postecoglou warned that this would happen.

When the Australian was given his marching orders by Tottenham after winning the Europa League title in May - the club’s first piece of silverware in 17 years - his ‘John the Pragmatist’ proclamation rang in the ears of Spurs fans around the world.

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It was almost a decade ago during his time as Socceroos boss that Postecoglou uttered the words: “At some point in time I’ll get replaced by ‘John the Pragmatist’ and you can all be happy and revel in it.”

As Postecoglou began to globetrot from Japan to Scotland and then England, the quote from the aftermath of a 1-1 draw with Chile at the 2017 Confederations Cup became more and more iconic.

With the news breaking in the space of just 14 hours across Wednesday night and Thursday morning AEST that Postecoglou’s Tottenham replacement Thomas Frank and his Nottingham Forest successor Sean Dyche had been sacked, the Australian’s warning once again rang true.

Postecoglou’s time at Forest will go down as a chaotic footnote in the history of both manager and club, but Tottenham’s decision to discard the former Celtic boss holds a longer lasting legacy.

Frank traded west London for north London after the Spurs hierarchy identified him as the antithesis of Ange.

The Dane enjoyed a successful seven-year spell with Brentford where he brought the Bees up from the Championship and then established them as a Premier League club.

He did so off the back of solid defensive formations and a hardworking team who were brought together with a budget dwarfed by many of their rivals.

Frank was viewed as being ready to make the step up to a big club, but things unravelled quickly in his eight-month stint.

As Frank packs up his desk, Tottenham sit 16th on the Premier League table.

That is one place better than Postecoglou’s squad finished last campaign.

But Spurs are only five points above the drop zone right now.

Whereas last season, they finished 13 points clear of relegation.

Postecoglou’s side were never seriously threatened with going down despite rolling out inexperienced starting XIs in the final few months of the season once the European campaign became the clear priority for an injury-hit squad.

While the losses mounted in the league and frustration grew, there was at least always the promise of glory that was eventually fulfilled by Postecoglou against Manchester United in Bilbao.

The same cannot be said of Frank.

“It is easy to think Postecoglou lasted as long as he did because the vision he outlined, however flawed, was a thing of beauty,” The Guardian’s David Hytner wrote.

“Spurs fans demand excitement and attacking football and Postecoglou allowed them to dream. He seemed to have the knack of keeping them onside with his persuasive and almost romantic rhetoric, along with the patches of stirring stuff on the field.

“With Frank, it was the opposite. If a Spurs manager is going to prioritise defensive tightness, set‑piece productivity and forcing turnovers in dangerous areas, he had better deliver results, especially at home. The margins are finer, the buy-in more problematic. It was the case to an extent with (Jose) Mourinho and (Antonio) Conte.”

Frank’s promise was to compete on all fronts.

That certainly fell flat as in addition to the disastrous league campaign, chances to win trophies were gone before they truly began.

Frank’s side were knocked out of the League Cup by Newcastle back in October - Postecoglou made the semi-final last season.

While they were eliminated from the FA Cup in their first outing of the competition - a 2-1 loss at home to Aston Villa, the same side who knocked them out in the fourth round a year prior but that was at Villa Park.

The Champions League campaign has been Tottenham’s sole success so far this season.

Spurs remarkably qualified in fourth place for the Round of 16 - where they will meet one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray.

But the draw gods did smile on Frank’s men as half of the teams they faced in the eight-game league phase failed to make the top 24, who reach the knockout phase, in a 36-team competition.

And none of Tottenham’s opponents finished in the top eight and secured direct passage to the Round of 16.

Behind closed doors, it appears that the situation was even more dire than the on pitch numbers suggest.

Frank lost the playing group early on.

He publicly admitted so much himself last week, saying, “I am pretty sure there are also some players who don’t think I am the best bloke or whatever it is.”

It was his obsession with Tottenham’s fiercest rival that irked the most.

Frank was publicly ridiculed by Spurs supporters after he was spotted drinking from a cup with an Arsenal logo on it before a 3-2 loss at Bournemouth last month.

It seemed to be an innocent mistake as the Gunners had visited the Cherries earlier that week and must have left a cup behind.

But Frank was not spared the wrath of angry supporters who vented their fury, and created a treasure trove of memes on social media.

Multiple reports in the wake of Frank’s sacking suggest that those memes were shared among players and Tottenham staff.

Spurs were battered by their north London rivals 4-1 in November with Eberechi Eze, who Arsenal pinched from under Tottenham’s nose during the summer transfer window, scoring a hat-trick to rub salt into the wounds.

Frank’s fascination with the league leaders surrounding that derby was not appreciated.

One source told Telegraph Sport: “He was constantly going on to the players about Arsenal and they quickly got sick of it. Even before and after the game at the Emirates, he was telling them how good Arsenal were. The feeling among some was very much ‘just shut up about Arsenal’.”

Frank’s style of play was valso a sticking point.

After the chaotic frenzy of Angeball, the switch to a more dour gameplay was a challenging one.

A source told Telegraph Sport of Frank’s early training sessions after taking charge: “Most of the work was on what to do out of possession and how to nullify the opposition, rather than working on how they could hurt opponents.”

It did not sit well with the players who reflected “fondly” on their time under Postecoglou.

Midfielder James Maddison never took the pitch under Frank after he unfortunately sustained an ACL injury in pre-season.

But during a guest punditry appearance on Sky Sports in December, the England international laid out how different the training pitch looked during the Australian’s two seasons at the helm.

“We’d never have a session with Ange where the base of the session, the model, wasn’t around how we played, with fullbacks inside, wingers high and wide, not really allowed to move from the touchline, kind of fixed wingers, and then rotation from the midfield three,” Maddison said.

“Sometimes he’s shown us clips … of the fullbacks in the No.10 positions, and maybe your No.10 and your No.8 in the fullback positions, just like rotations.

“There’s still structure, it just didn’t matter who the personnel was … and he enjoyed that. We loved playing (that way).

“You (pundits) would describe it as chaotic and entertaining, but it was really fun to play, and we ended up with a trophy under Ange, so huge respect (for him).

“I loved that little period with him. We had ups and downs. but that’s what I miss.

“That period under Ange was one I look back on fondly.”

Maddison’s comments show why almost every member of the playing group took the social media to express their fondness for Postecoglou in the aftermath of his sacking.

Given the connection the Australian had with his players, Frank could be forgiven for feeling like a step-parent coming into the family home.

He was never able to create the same rapport.

The Athletic’s Jay Harris reported that a Tottenham player said Postecoglou was perhaps not the best coach, but the players respected him, admired his charisma and listened to what he said.

That player said that his colleagues quickly stopped listening to Frank because he did not have the personality required to coach a big team.

Many at Tottenham also felt that Frank exert enough authority over his players.

The Dane tried to draw a line in the sand early in his tenure by leaving Yves Bissouma out of the squad for pre-season UEFA Super Cup loss to PSG due to serial lateness.

But Frank’s threats appeared thinly veiled as captain Cristian Romero went unpunished for a social media post attacking the club hierarchy for its inaction during the January transfer window, and a reckless red card against Manchester United that incurred a four-game suspension.

While fellow defenders Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence also seemingly got away with acts of disrespect towards the manager, ignoring him as they stormed off the pitch after a home loss.

The fans were off side too.

Calling those who taunted goalkeeper Gianluigi Vicario after a howler earlier in the season, “not true fans” generated outrage.

With all those issues combining with the mounting losses, it meant any excuses wore thin.

“Once the fans stand up and instil that ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’, and it wasn’t just a couple, it looked like it was untenable,” former Leeds United and Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown told Fox Sports News.

“It was a sad moment watching Thomas Frank. He looked broken. He looked like he didn’t have the answers.”

Tottenham have been cruelled by injuries this season, but that has become an annual tradition as Postecoglou wrestled with the same problem.

Frank insisted that he needed more time to turn the ship around.

“I didn’t expect us to be in the position we are in with 11-12 injuries,” Frank said after Tuesday’s loss to Newcastle at home.

“There are a few before me up here at Tottenham and many other clubs that have lost their head. I have to stay calm. We have to get through this together.

“I also think there is a lot of studies that show (sacking the manager) is not the right thing to do.

“The only thing I am focused on is fighting. We of course understand we are not in a good situation. But with everything in life, you need to stay calm and keep going.”

In the end though, he did lose his head.

Roberto De Zerbi, who left Marseille on Wednesday, is one of the favourites to replace Frank.

While one of their current coaches, John Heitinga, is reportedly in the conversation to take on an interim role for the remainder of the season.

Several managers, including former boss Mauricio ­Pochettino, are set to become available after this year’s World Cup.

Pochettino is in charge of host nation the USA and has not shied away from talk of a return to Tottenham when asked about the possibility in recent years.

Spurs also fancied Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola as a replacement for Postecoglou.

Whichever direction they go in, there is a belief that they need to recapture some of the spirit of Postecoglou’s tenure.

“I think the players are there. I just think a change in attitude (is needed),” former England midfielder David Bentley told Fox Sports News

“The negativity around the football club (needs to go). When Ange first came in, he got that attitude back. He got that buzz back from the fans, from the players with the way they were playing.

“They sort of lost that in the last six months again.

“With what’s gone on with the boards, Daniel Levy leaving, they need to encourage that positive environment.

“Whoever comes in needs to be the right man that encourages that mental positivity around the football club.”

Tottenham has sacked Thomas Frank, after he failed to improve the side’s Premier League performance following Ange Postecoglou’s European trophy-winning stint.

Home fans chanted for the Spurs boss to be “sacked in the morning” after a 2-1 loss to Newcastle on Tuesday (UK time) and they got their wish.

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Frank has been axed with the club 16th in the Premier League and facing a genuine threat of relegation, after winning just two of their last 17 matches.

“The club has taken the decision to make a change in the Men’s Head Coach position and Thomas Frank will leave today,” Tottenham said on social media.

“Thomas was appointed in June 2025, and we have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together.

“However, results and performances have led the Board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.

“Throughout his time at the club, Thomas has conducted himself with unwavering commitment, giving everything in his efforts to move the club forward. We would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him every success in the future.”

Roberto De Zerbi, who left Marseille on Wednesday, is the favourite to replace Frank.

Frank replaced Postecoglou in June signing a three-year contract.

He was previously Brentford’s head coach for seven years, leading them to promotion and then stability in the top flight.

The Aussie’s final season in charge saw Tottenham score 38 points and finish 17th, but 13 points safe of relegation, while they also won the Europa League.

The decision to sack Frank is not a cheap one.

Tottenha were forced to pay £6.7million in compensation to Brentford after appointing Frank in the summer. His arrival saw him sign a yearly deal of £8m-a-year.

The ex-Brentford manager has already received £6m from the club and could mean Spurs may need to pay the £18m ($34 million AUD) still left on his contract.

However, there may have been a clause in the 52-year-old’s contract for a smaller pay-off fee.

Incredibly, Postecoglou was scheduled for a recording of Gary Neville’s Stick to Football podcast on The Overlap YouTuibe channel when news of Frank’s sacking broke.

The Overlap shared a teaser clip of Postecoglou’s reaction.

“Some timing eh,” he said.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, described Frank as “extraordinary” after the Dane’s dismissal, but said football managers are all vulnerable to the sack.

“It is always very sad news when you have a colleague that doesn’t continue doing his job because Thomas is an excellent coach, he’s an extraordinary man, and he’s proven that in the league,” said Arteta.

“But we know where we are. We know that our responsibility is beyond just performance. And results dictate what happens with us.”

Asked if Premier League clubs are now too impatient for success, Arteta replied: “In the context of every club it is very different, but it’s always a possibility.

“But at the end as well, this league is so competitive. We are all vulnerable because anybody can beat you on the day, you know that. And that’s really tough to manage.”

Through 26 matches under Frank the club has 29 points, just three above 17th-placed Nottingham Forest (where Postecoglou briefly coached after his sacking), and five above the relegation zone (West Ham, 24 pts).

“I understand the fans’ frustration,” Frank responded when asked about the fan booing following the defeat to Newcastle.

“It’s a position they don’t want to be in. We are working day and night to try and change. It’s a position the club have been in the last two years. The pattern is the club are struggling to compete in Europe and the Premier League.”

Injuries cruelled both Postecoglou and Frank though the English press was far more critical of the Australian coach.

“I didn’t expect us to be in the position we are in with 11-12 injuries,” Frank said.

“There are a few before me up here at Tottenham and many other clubs that have lost their head. I have to stay calm. We have to get through this together.

“I also think there is a lot of studies that show it is not the right thing to do.

“The only thing I am focused on is fighting. We of course understand we are not in a good situation. But with everything in life, you need to stay calm and keep going.”

Harry Redknapp, meanwhile, said he would be delighted to return to Spurs amid suggestions he could act as a caretaker boss, but the 78-year-old Englishman won’t be expecting a call.

Redknapp was Tottenham manager from 2008-2012, taking the club into the Champions League.

“Would I fancy it? Of course I would do it, without any shadow of a doubt,” he told Sky Sports News.

“But I am a realist – I don’t live in (cloud) cuckoo land. It is very doubtful if I would get the job. But could I do the job? Yeah, of course I could do the job.”

Spurs have pulled off a mammoth transfer coup, hijacking Aston Villa with a £34m (AUD 68m) move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher.

Initially, Villa had finalised a verbal agreement with the Spanish club on a loan deal with a buy option that would see the 25-year-old return to the Premier League under Unai Emery.

Tottenham powerbrokers had reportedly inquired about Gallagher according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, but Villa’s move was the most concrete of the pair.

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That was until it was revealed by Sky Sports that Spurs have agreed to a permanent move for the former Chelsea midfielder, with Thomas Frank desperate to add reinforcements.

Rodrigo Bentancur suffered a hamstring injury during Tottenham’s loss to Bournemouth which is set to keep him sidelined for the majority of the remaining season.

Frank made it clear he was desperate to recruit in the midfield, and Spurs bosses then swooped in to recruit Gallagher.

The England international joined Atletico in 2024, making a move from Chelsea where he spent two seasons.

Previously, he played for Charlton Athletic, Swansea, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace — having tallied 136 Premier League appearances.

Spurs have been one of the most active clubs so far in the January transfer window, selling winger Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace for $70m AUD.

Meanwhile, according to TalkSport, Spurs have also agreed a deal with Santos for left-back Souza who has been signed for a reported fee of $26m AUD.

It’s an interesting recruitment decision considering both Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie have both shared duties on the flank this season under Frank.

Tottenham have had a turbulent season thus far, sitting in 14th place under the former Brentford boss who replaced Australia Ange Postecoglou.

Under Frank, Spurs have won only seven of their 21 Premier League games, with pressure mounting on the Danish mentor to keep his job.

WEST HAM STAR WANTS OUT

If their performances on the field weren’t ugly enough, one of West Ham’s star players wants out of the London club.

According to Sky Sports, Lucas Paqueta is pushing for a return to Brazil, with Flamengo reportedly willing to pay £26m ($52m AUD) to secure his services.

Paqueta garnered interest from rival Premier League clubs, but reportedly has a desire to return to his home country.

The Brazilian Serie A’s transfer window will remain open until March, meaning Paqueta could continue to push for a move beyond January.

Regardless of where the midfielder lands, Paqueta reportedly will not be at the club beyond this season and did not feature in the club’s latest FA Cup tie against QPR.

West Ham splashed £51m ($102m AUD) to make the Brazilian their record transfer in 2022 but could be resigned to losing a significant portion of that figure.

The London club are currently in a relegation battle, sitting 18th and seven points from Nottingham Forest outside of the bottom three.

THE GUEHI SITUATION

As it stands, Marc Guehi’s future is up in the air.

The English international have a host of clubs interested in acquiring his services, but the Crystal Palace gun is in no rush to make a final call.

That is according to Sky Sports’ News’ Chief Correspondent Kaveh Solhekol, who is reporting Manchester City have concrete interest in signing the defender in January.

However, for a move to eventuate, the PL heavyweights will have to table an offer that is “too good to turn down”.

Elsewhere, both Liverpool and Arsenal are also in the running with both clubs previously showing an interest in the star centre back in the summer.

Liverpool went as far as making a £35m ($70m AUD) bid for his services, meaning any offer during the January transfer window may have to trump that figure.

However, Arne Slot’s side will reportedly instead push to sign Guehi as a free agent next summer, having held discussions with him regarding how he will be used.

Outside of the Premier League, German giants Bayern Munich are also interested in signing Guehi as a free agent.

CITY SPLASH THE CASH FOR BOURNEMOUTH TALISMAN

Antoine Semenyo said Friday that he wants to “rewrite history again” at Manchester City after joining from Bournemouth for a reported fee of £65 million ($130 million).

The 26-year-old, who has scored 10 Premier League goals this season, has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal at the Etihad and will be a major addition to their attacking arsenal.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham were also interested in the London-born Ghana international, who had a buyout clause that was understood to expire on Saturday.

The widely trailed transfer is the first major move by Premier League clubs in the January window.

“I have watched City over the last decade under Pep Guardiola, and they have been the dominant team in the Premier League as well as achieving amazing things in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup,” said Semenyo.

“They have set the highest of standards and it’s a club with world-class players, world-class facilities and one of the greatest managers ever in Pep.”

On debut, Semenyo scored one and assisted another goal in a 10-1 win over Exeter City, which marked the biggest ever win of Manchester City’s modern era.

An emerging Welshman has completed his move from Tottenham to a Premier League rival for a record club fee.

Meantime, Liverpool is closing in on an Ecuadorian, while Raheem Sterling pursues a permanent Chelsea exit with two London clubs in the mix.

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Brennan Johnson on Friday completed a move from Tottenham to Crystal Palace for a reported fee of £35 million (AU$70,362,425).

The Wales international, 24, has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Selhurst Park.

The forward, who fell out of favour under Thomas Frank at Spurs despite being the London club’s top scorer last season, is set to make his debut for Palace in their Premier League match against Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday.

“I’m really excited and I’m really happy,” said Johnson, who is Palace’s record signing. “Crystal Palace are such a great club, one that I’ve always admired.

“It’s a great time for me to be here and join the journey that this club is on.”

Palace manager Oliver Glasner said: “Brennan will give us options in our attacking play with his pace and goalscoring ability.”

Johnson finished with 18 goals last season and scored the winner in the Europa League final against Manchester United to end Tottenham’s 17-year wait for silverware.

However, he has largely been a back-up to Mohammed Kudus since Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou.

The transfer will be a huge boost to Glasner, who said his threadbare side were in “survival mode” following Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Fulham.

FA Cup holders Palace, 10th in the Premier League table, travel to Newcastle eager to end a six-match winless run in all competitions.

REDS CLOSE IN ON ECUADORIAN

Liverpool is set to cement a move for Club Brugge centre-half Joel Ordonez, as the Reds source defensive reinforcements for coach Arne Slot.

The Daily Mirror reports Liverpool could spend as much as £43 million (AU$86,472,570) for the 21-year-old Ecuadorian, given the initial purported fee of £35 million (AU$70,362,425) could increase with add-ons.

Since joining Club Brugge in 2023, Ordonez has made 57 starts for the Belgian giant, including 12 this season.

Brugge sits second in the Belgian Pro League with a second-best goal difference of 14, with Ordonez helping lead the club’s stout defence.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s 26 goals conceded through 19 games is 10th-worst in the Premier League, with the Reds’ need for help at the back no secret.

Liverpool is fourth in the standings, 13 points shy of current leaders Arsenal.

STERLING WANTS PERMANENT CHELSEA EXIT

Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling is reportedly “prioritising a permanent move” away from the Blues, with two rivals in the frame to land his signature.

Sterling, 31, has been on the outs at Chelsea — spending the second half of last season on loan at Arsenal — though Enzo Maresca’s exit isn’t expected to change the winger’s situation.

ESPN’s James Olley reports West Ham and Fulham have shown interest, but that Sterling rejected the Hammers’ advances due to the fact the club pursued a loan move as opposed to a permanent one.

Meanwhile, Fulham reportedly expressed an interest in attaining Sterling last transfer window and is considered interested in assessing a move this time around.

Chelsea is thought to be keen on offloading Sterling’s £325,000-a-week (AU$653,545) salary, with 18 months still left on the deal he initially signed in 2022 when crossing over from Manchester City.

Tottenham fans turned on Guglielmo Vicario after the Spurs goalkeeper conceded two early goals in Saturday’s Premier League home loss to Fulham.

The visitors scored twice in the opening six minutes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Kenney Tete and Harry Wilson finding the back of the net.

The second goal came courtesy of a comically poor clearance from Vicario, who was out of position near the corner flag when Wilson scored. It was the earliest Tottenham had ever conceded two goals in a home Premier League game.

“Vicario is getting absolute pelters from his own supporters,” former England striker Alan Smith said on Sky Sports.

“He makes a complete hash of his clearance.

“You don’t hear that often, booing your own player after seven minutes.

“A goalkeeper too. This could get really testing for the Spurs players now.”

Fulham ultimately sealed a 2-1 victory, with Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus scoring in the 59th minute to set up a tense final half-hour.

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LAST-GASP GOAL SPARES MAN CITY’S BLUSHES

Phil Foden spared Manchester City’s blushes with a last-gasp winner after the Premier League title challengers blew a two-goal lead in a dramatic 3-2 win over lowly Leeds on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side were in danger of losing more ground in the title race following a second-half collapse at the Etihad Stadium.

Foden and Josko Gvardiol put City two up before the interval, but third-bottom Leeds hit back through Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.

Foden clinched a nerve-jangling victory that lifted City into second place, four points behind leaders Arsenal, who travel to third-placed Chelsea on Sunday.

It was a much-needed win after consecutive defeats against Newcastle last weekend and Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.

“It was a relief,” Guardiola said.

“The game was not perfect in the first half but it should be over with the chances we had.

“Football is emotions. We conceded the second and after we made a step up. In the end it’s the quality of Phil.”

Guardiola’s decision to make 10 changes against Leverkusen backfired in a 2-0 loss that prompted the furious Spaniard to claim his players “didn’t try”.

Foden, Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Gianluigi Donnarumma were among the stars back in City’s starting line-up for the Leeds clash.

City had made their worst start to a campaign for five years and their second-worst under Guardiola.

But they took just 59 seconds to move in front as Foden fired a close-range strike in off the bar.

Leeds had no answer to City’s slick start and Gvardiol looked to have put the hosts in complete control with a tap-in from Nico O’Reilly’s header in the 25th minute.

Calvert-Lewin made an immediate impact after coming off the bench, reducing the deficit with a clinical finish after pouncing on Matheus Nunes’ woeful pass inside the City area in the 49th minute.

Leeds equalised in the 68th minute when Nmecha’s penalty - awarded for Gvardiol’s foul on Calvert-Lewin - was saved by Donnarumma before the forward recovered to score from the rebound.

In stoppage-time, Foden cleverly made room in the area for an ice-cool finish as Guardiola breathed a sigh of relief.

Leeds’ sixth defeat in their last seven matches increased the pressure on manager Daniel Farke.

NEWCASTLE’S BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR BOSS

Elsewhere, Newcastle celebrated boss Eddie Howe’s 48th birthday with a 4-1 rout of Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

A first away league win since April 7 was the ideal present for Howe, whose side made an explosive start when Malick Thiaw headed home from Lewis Miley’s corner after just 52 seconds.

It was the fastest goal in the Premier League this season.

Beaten in their previous four away games, Newcastle netted again in the 25th minute when Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford allowed Miley’s shot to squirm past his woeful attempted save.

Everton looked exhausted after playing with 10 men for much of Monday’s win at Manchester United, when Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off for slapping teammate Michael Keane.

Nick Woltemade made it three with a cheeky chip over Pickford in the 45th minute.

Thiaw’s 58th-minute header added to Everton’s misery and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 70th-minute eye-catching strike was little consolation for David Moyes’ men.

Brentford striker Igor Thiago reached 11 league goals this season as his double fuelled a 3-1 win against second-bottom Burnley in west London.

Igor Thiago and Zian Flemming traded penalties late in the second half, before the Brazilian bagged his second in the 86th minute and Dango Ouattara put the result beyond doubt in stoppage-time.

Sunderland climbed to fourth place after fighting back from two goals down to beat Bournemouth 3-2 at the Stadium of Light.

Amine Adli and Tyler Adams, with an audacious effort from the half-way line, scored for Bournemouth in the first half.

But Enzo Le Fee’s 30th-minute penalty was followed by Bertrand Traore 46th-minute equaliser.

Brian Brobbey completed Sunderland’s stirring revival, heading in Le Fee’s cross in the 69th minute.

Joao Pedro finally brought a halt to his Chelsea goal drought as the Brazilian striker sealed a 1-0 win to extend Tottenham’s dismal record on their home turf.

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Enzo Maresca’s side took the lead when Joao Pedro netted late in the first half of the London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It was his first goal in nine games in all competitions dating back to his last strike against Fulham on August 30.

The 24-year-old has netted only three times for the Blues since signing from Brighton in a £60 million ($78 million) move in the close-season.

Chelsea’s third win in their last four Premier League games lifted them into fourth place, behind third-placed Tottenham on goal difference.

Tottenham haven’t won at home in the league since beating Burnley on the opening weekend of the season in August.

Their wretched home league form in 2025 started under Frank’s predecessor Ange Postecoglou and the former Brentford boss is yet to find a cure.

Although they lost in the League Cup fourth round at Newcastle in midweek, Tottenham have fared much better on the road this season, with an emphatic 3-0 win at Everton in their previous top-flight game.

But Tottenham fans are beginning to show signs of discontent at Frank’s prosaic tactics, which stand in stark contrast to the club’s ‘to dare is to do’ ethos.

“This will be a big result for Chelsea, but lot for Frank to ponder,” Jamie Carragher said post-game on Sky Sports.

“They have a big problem in this stadium.”

Adding to Frank’s problems, Van de Ven and Spence headed towards the tunnel after the final whistle and, despite Frank seemingly telling them to thank the Tottenham fans, they walked past the Dane, who stared in their direction before he turned to applaud the crowd.

“I think that is one of the small issues. We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence who are doing everything they can. Theyperform very well so far this season and everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, so I don’t think it is a big problem,” Frank said.

“All the players are of course frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform well, so I understand that.

“I think it is about, which is difficult, to be consistent in good times and in bad times. That is why I went around to the fans as I did. It is more fun when we win, I can tell you that.”

Frank was hit by an early injury blow when Lucas Bergvall suffered a head injury and was replaced by concussion substitute Xavi Simons.

Bergvall appeared to plead with Tottenham’s medical staff to let him stay on and when they refused, he angrily pushed one of the medics before Frank intervened to diffuse the situation.

Alejandro Garnacho carried Chelsea’s main threat in the first half as the Argentine forward tested Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario from distance.

Vicario went down with an knee injury midway through the half, but he was able to continue after treatment and immediately came to Tottenham’s rescue.

Pedro Porro’s clearance rebounded off Garnacho to Joao Pedro inside the area and Vicario stood tall to repel his low strike.

But Joao Pedro wasn’t to be denied and he made amends for that miss with Chelsea’s opener in the 34th minute.

Moises Caicedo tenaciously harried Simons and van de Ven on the edge of the Tottenham area, winning possession and poking the ball towards Joao Pedro, who lashed into the roof of the net from six yards.

Frank was furious with Tottenham’s sloppy defending, kicking a water bottle in disgust on the touchline.

Having ended his barren run, Joao Pedro nearly struck again when he took Malo Gusto’s pass and unleashed a powerful effort that Vicario tipped over.

Rodrigo Bentancur could consider himself fortunate to escape with a booking after the Tottenham midfielder’s ugly challenge on Reece James was deemed “not serious foul play”.

Tottenham finally forced Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez into action on the stroke of half-time with a Mohammed Kudus blast, but the Spaniard was equal to it.

Enzo Fernandez, unmarked 10 yards from goal, headed wastefully over from James’ cross soon after the interval.

Frank’s side were guilty of conceding possession far too easily, with their lack of attacking impetus leaving their supporters increasingly frustrated.

The fans’ angst mounted as Vicario had to tip over from Pedro Neto’s fierce strike and Tottenham never seriously threatened a late escape.

TABLE-TOPPING ARSENAL ‘EXCEPTIONAL’ IN WIN

Elsewhere, Arsenal brushed Burnley aside 2-0 to surge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have won five league games in a row to position themselves as firm favourites to end their painful two-decade wait to be crowned English champions.

Viktor Gyokeres headed the Gunners ahead following a Declan Rice corner in the first half at Turf Moor for his first league goal since mid-September -- yet more joy for the set-piece specialists.

England midfielder Rice himself headed home to double the visitors’ lead in the 35th minute and put them in total control.

“The first half was exceptional -- we scored two goals and gave nothing away,” Arteta told the BBC.

“That was the platform. We had to make a few changes and didn’t have that much control in the second half. Defending was exceptional again, we didn’t give anything.”

Arsenal, who have now won nine games in a row in all competitions, have enviable options in attack but their team is built on a rock-solid defence that has conceded just three league goals in 10 games this season.

MANCHESTER UNITED SALVAGE DRAW

Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, seeking their fourth straight league win, were on track to climb to second in the table when leading 1-0 at the City Ground courtesy of Casemiro’s first-half opener.

But Forest, who had not scored a league goal since September 20, roared back after the break as their confidence flooded back.

Morgan Gibbs-White headed the home side level in the 48th minute before Nicolo Savona tapped in just two minutes later to complete a dramatic turnaround.

But Amad Diallo levelled with a sweet volley in the 81st minute to rescue a point for United, who have been much improved in recent weeks after a poor start to the season.

Amorim, marking a year since his appointment as United manager, was disappointed to drop points but encouraged by his team’s mentality.

“I feel in the recent past if we had had this situation (from 1-0 up to 2-1 down) we would have struggled so much more than today,” he said.

“My feeling is we played well but we dropped a little bit of energy. When we have the full energy we are the better team. My players are giving everything but we have the potential to do better.”

Forest, who last month appointed Sean Dyche as manager to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, remain in the relegation zone, four points behind 17th-placed Burnley.

IN OTHER GAMES AROUND THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Rock-bottom Wolves, reduced to 10 men in the first half following the dismissal of Emmanuel Agbadou, are an alarming eight points from safety after a miserable 3-0 defeat at Fulham, with manager Vitor Pereira under mounting pressure.

Crystal Palace returned to winning ways courtesy of a header from Jean-Philippe Mateta and an own goal from Brentford’s Nathan Collins, which made it 2-0.

The evergreen Danny Welbeck netted his sixth Premier League goal of the season and there were also two for Diego Gomez as Brighton pummelled Leeds 3-0.

Bournemouth, second in the Premier League, travel to face Manchester City on Monday.

Liverpool suffered a second defeat in as many games, and were hit with two significant injury blows in the process, while Tottenham salvaged a draw at a fortress former manager Ange Postecoglou breached in an eventful morning of UEFA Champions League action.

Chelsea picked up their first victory of the campaign with a 1-0 victory against Portuguese outfit Benfica in Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge, but all eyes were on Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Goalkeeper Alisson and forward Hugo Ekitike both limped off the pitch with injuries in Istanbul as the Reds were unable to bounce back from their league loss to Crystal Palace on the weekend.

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Arne Slot’s side were set to have a golden chance to equalise in the dying minutes, with the referee pointing to the penalty spot after he deemed contact was made on Ibrahima Konate as he attempted a volley.

VAR stepped in to over turn the penalty however, with replays showing the Galatasaray defender got the ball first, meaning Victor Osimhen’s 16th minute penalty stood as the only goal for the match.

Meanwhile, Tottenham escaped with a point from their second trip to the Arctic Circle of the year courtesy of an 89th minute own goal.

Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt dominated most of the match on the artificial turf with Jens Petter Hauge scoring a brace in the space of 13 minutes to give the hosts a two-goal lead, before Tottenham hit back through Micky van de Ven and then Jostein Gundersen’s late blunder.

It was a very different match from the first leg of the Europa League semi-final in May, when Postecoglou’s side prevailed 2-0 in a composed display at Bodø/Glimt’s 8,000 seat stadium.

Chelsea picked up a confidence boosting win ahead of welcoming Liverpool to Stamford Bridge on the weekend, having lost three of their last four matches across all competitions.

The decisive goal came via an own goal from Benfica’s Richard Rios, and the Club World Cup winners were also hit with a late blow as Joao Pedro was sent off in the 96th minute.

Elsewhere, Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Kairat 5-0 in Kazakhstan.

Antoine Griezmann scored his 200th goal for Atletico Madrid as they smacked Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1, while Bayern Munich won by the same score line against Pafos in Cyprus.

Inter Milan had a comfortable 3-0 win against Salvia Praha, Marseille hammered Ajax 4-0 and Atalanta prevailed 2-1 against Club Brugge.

LIVERPOOL’S SURPRISE DEFEAT

Liverpool slumped to a shock 1-0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray on Tuesday as Victor Osimhen’s 16th-minute penalty handed the Turkish giants victory.

The English champions were punished for the latest in a series of poor performances in Istanbul as they suffered back-to-back defeats for only the second time under Arne Slot.

Liverpool were beaten for the first time this season at Crystal Palace on Saturday, but a series of late winners have masked an unconvincing start since a summer transformation of the squad that strolled to the Premier League title last season.

Slot responded by leaving Mohamed Salah and £125 million ($168 million) signing Alexander Isak on the bench among four changes.

The Dutchman was scathing in his assessment of Liverpool’s first-half performance at Palace as only Alisson Becker prevented an embarrassing half-time score.

However, Slot got little in the way of a response in another disjointed display from his array of star names.

Galatasaray had been thrashed 5-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt to start their Champions League campaign.

The Turkish champions are a far more formidable force on home soil, though, and made the most of Liverpool’s defensive deficiencies.

Slot’s decision to play midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai at right-back backfired. Baris Alper Yilmaz gave the visitors a warning of the threat down Galatasaray’s left when he failed to beat Alisson when one-on-one with the Brazilian.

Liverpool should have led just seconds before they fell behind. Hugo Ekitike was denied by Ugurcan Cakir as he tried to round the goalkeeper and Ismail Jakobs cleared Cody Gakpo’s follow-up effort off the line.

Galatasaray swiftly broke upfield and Yilmaz was awarded a soft penalty for a stray Szoboszlai arm into the Turkish international’s face.

Osimhen had previously seen a Champions League penalty saved by Alisson, but this time converted the resulting spot-kick.

Florian Wirtz has struggled badly to deliver on his £100 million price tag and is still waiting for his first Liverpool goal after his effort was turned behind by Cakir, while Ibrahima Konate headed just off target from a corner before half-time.

Konate’s poor form has been a major factor in the Reds’ defensive issues at the start of the season and the Frenchman nearly cost his side a second goal early in the second half.

Alisson saved his teammate’s blushes with another save from Osimhen but at a cost as the Liverpool number one suffered an injury sprinting off his line and had to be replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Slot introduced Salah and Isak on the hour mark, but Liverpool were still an impotent attacking force.

Isak fired tamely into the arms of Cakir with his first touch. The closest the visitors came to a response was when French referee Clement Turpin initially pointed to the spot by a foul on Konate, but overturned his decision after a VAR review.

Instead it was Galatasaray who were inches away from the second goal of the night in stoppage time when Lucas Torreira drilled a shot just wide.

MOURINHO’S CHELSEA RETURN

Benfica boss Jose Mourinho was beaten on his return to Chelsea as Richard Rios’s own goal condemned the former Blues boss to a 1-0 defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Rios’s costly blunder in the first half at Stamford Bridge ruined Mourinho’s hopes of a win over the club he is most closely associated with.

Mourinho and then owner Roman Abramovich transformed Chelsea into a superpower after his appointment in 2004, winning three Premier League titles among seven major trophies across his two spells in charge.

The 62-year-old’s managerial star may be on the wane following a decade without a league title, but his west London home-coming was still a box office occasion.

Mourinho had started the season in charge of Fenerbahce, who sacked him in August before he returned to his former club Benfica this month.

While Stamford Bridge is the scene of Mourinho’s former glories, it has not been a happy hunting ground for him since.

He has failed to win any of his seven visits with Manchester United, Tottenham and now Benfica since leaving Chelsea for the second time in 2015.

Mourinho’s lone success in the away dugout came with Inter Milan in 2010, when he knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League on his way to lifting the trophy.

Having claimed he was “always a Blue” and still the “biggest” manager in the club’s history on Monday, Mourinho, who retains a house near Stamford Bridge, had insisted Chelsea’s fans would give him a warm welcome on his latest return.

The prediction proved spot-on as Mourinho’s name was loudly chanted several times throughout the match by Chelsea fans who rose in unison to applaud him.

The Mourinho love-in inspired a strong start from Benfica, with Vangelis Pavlidis forcing Robert Sanchez to save at the climax of a flowing move.

Sanchez made another important stop when Dodi Lukebakio’s drive was pushed onto the near post by the Chelsea keeper.

- Mourinho frustration -

Mourinho’s game-plan was exposing holes in Chelsea’s defence and Heorhiy Sudakov should have done better with a chance that Sanchez gratefully smothered.

But Chelsea rode their luck to take an 18th minute lead thanks to Rios’s blunder.

Pedro Neto found Alejandro Garnacho inside the Benfica area and the Argentine’s cross triggered a panicked clearance from Rios, who diverted the ball high into his own net from close-range.

Mourinho’s luck was out, but he was still willing to play peacemaker when Benfica fans threw missiles at Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez, who had a brief spell at the Portuguese club, marching down the touchline and gesturing to the supporters to stop the barrage.

Mourinho got his wish but Chelsea weren’t so compliant and Tyrique George should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when the young forward shot wide from a good position.

Benfica played with purpose after the interval but lacked the cutting edge required to carve out an equaliser.

Even a red card for Chelsea forward Joao Pedro for a high boot on Leandro Barreiro in the final seconds couldn’t spare Mourinho from a frustrating defeat.

While Mourinho was left to bemoan the first loss of his Benfica reign, it was a welcome success for Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Chelsea had lost three of their previous four games against Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Brighton, raising questions about Maresca’s ability to take the club to the next level.

Maresca has led Chelsea to UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup glory since taking charge last year, but Mourinho waspishly diminished both those achievements this week.

The Blues’ fourth win in nine games in all competitions this season was a timely response from Maresca.

TOTTENHAM’S ARCTIC ESCAPE

Tottenham emerged from a chastening trip to the Arctic Circle with a 2-2 draw in the league phase of the Champions League thanks to a late own-goal by Bodo/Glimt’s Jostein Gundersen.

Local-born Jens Petter Hauge scored a brace for the impressive hosts before Micky van de Ven and the 89th-minute own-goal snatched a point for Thomas Frank’s Europa League winners.

The repeat of last year’s Europa League semi-final, which Spurs won 5-1 on aggregate, looked set to finish as a first win for Champions League debutants Bodo/Glimt until the late drama.

The result leaves Spurs on four points after an opening win against Villarreal, while Bodo/Glimt have back-to-back 2-2 draws following their late equaliser last time out at Slavia Prague.

Playing at home for the very first time in Europe’s top-club competition, Bodo/Glimt grew into the occasion and soon took a firm grip ahold the match.

The referee awarded a penalty to the dominant hosts shortly after the half-hour when Rodrigo Bentancur followed through and caught Fredrik Andre Bjorkan.

But Kasper Hogh’s woes from the spot in the league phase this year continued as his effort flew over the crossbar -- following on from his saved effort against Slavia Prague on matchday one.

Spurs remained penned in their own half through the rest of the first period, and Bodo/Glimt’s dominance finally paid off eight minutes after the break when Hauge curled in from inside the box.

The jubilant scenes at the Aspmyra Stadion were curtailed two minutes later when Pedro Porro’s free-kick drifted onto the post and Bentancur turned in the rebound.

However, the yellow-clad mass of Norwegian fans soon roared again as VAR spotted a foul by Van de Ven as Porro’s cross came in and the referee disallowed the goal.

Hauge doubled Bodo/Glimt’s lead in the 66th minute with a rifled left-footed finish that flew past Guglielmo Vicario after the 25-year-old had glided easily past Porro on the edge of the box.

Porro and Van de Ven made amends for their errors two minutes later when the Dutchman headed home the right-back’s pinpoint cross to give Spurs hope.

Tottenham manager Frank rang the substitutions in search of a leveller, and replacement Destiny Udogie found Wilson Odobert, but the Frenchman’s header glanced off the woodwork on 85 minutes.

The hosts responded to the pressure as Andreas Helmersen hit the crossbar down the other end.

But it was heartbreak in the end for Bodo/Glimt as Spurs forced an 89th-minute equaliser when Nikita Haikin’s save smashed into the stomach of Gundersen from close range and trickled over the line -- the leveller validated after a length check for offside.

MBAPPE HAT-TRICK

Kylian Mbappe struck a hat-trick as record 15-time Champions League winners Real Madrid romped to a 5-0 league phase win over Kairat in Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Xabi Alonso’s side bounced back from their thrashing by city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday with an emphatic victory on the road, after travelling more than 7,000 kilometres.

Mbappe put the hosts to the sword with his treble and Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz wrapped up Madrid’s victory, which took them provisionally top of the table.

Kairat, appearing in the tournament proper for the first time, beat Celtic in qualifying but could not handle Los Blancos, even after their long journey east, in particular French superstar Mbappe.

“We can’t forget what happened this weekend (against Atletico) but we have to keep thinking about it, and working to be better each day and each week so we don’t have another night like that,” Mbappe told Movistar.

The forward boasts 13 goals already this season in nine games across all competitions, but looked frustrated with himself when he missed a good chance in the second half.

“My work is helping the team, doing what I can so that the team wins,” continued Mbappe.

“If I have five chances, and I want to score five goals then I have to score five goals, that’s why Real Madrid bought me.

“I’ll work to be better and try to score more goals and be more efficient in front of goal.” Hosts Kairat lined up with 18-year-old Sherkhan Kalmurza in goal because of injuries to three other goalkeepers at the club.

Kalmurza was to blame for Madrid’s opener, as he clumsily felled Franco Mastantuono.

Mbappe, who had a shot saved earlier by the youngster, sent Kalmurza the wrong way from the spot in the 25th minute.

The Frenchman was Madrid’s main threat, as has been the case all season, and whistled a shot narrowly wide of the far post before the break.

- ‘Enormous pass’ -

Seven minutes into the second period Mbappe grabbed his second, after a long kick by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sent him through on goal.

Mbappe gently dinked the ball over Kalmurza to net his fourth in the competition after a brace against Marseille in Madrid’s opener.

“It was an enormous pass worth 80 per cent of the goal, and I added the other 20 per cent,” said Mbappe.

The striker should have had his hat-trick after exchanging passes with Vinicius Junior but fired wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

At the other end, promising 17-year-old forward Dastan Satpayev, who will join Chelsea next summer, whipped a free-kick narrowly wide.

Kairat thought they had won a penalty when Dani Ceballos was penalised for tripping Valery Gromyko, but it was cancelled after a VAR review.

Mbappe then completed his treble after Arda Guler flicked the ball into his path on the edge of the box and he produced a razor-sharp finish.

Camavinga, on as a substitute, nodded home after 83 minutes and Diaz rounded off Madrid’s rout in stoppage time.

Ange Postecoglou has slammed Arsene Wenger’s “crazy” claim that Tottenham shouldn’t be allowed to qualify for the Champions League if they win the Europa League.

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Postecoglou’s troubled side can seal a place in the Europa League final when they face Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final second leg in Norway on Thursday.

Tottenham won the first leg 3-1 as they look to set up a final showdown with Athletic Bilbao or Manchester United, who go into their second leg with a 3-0 advantage.

Despite languishing in 16th place in the Premier League, Europa League glory would earn them qualification for the Champions League due to a UEFA rule in place since the 2014-15 campaign.

United are one place above Tottenham in the English top-flight after an equally bad domestic campaign.

And former Arsenal boss Wenger, currently head of global football development at FIFA, this week told beIN Sport that Tottenham and United should not be able to get into Europe’s elite competition via the Europa League, urging UEFA to “review” their rule.

The under-fire Postecoglou responded to Wenger’s controversial comments in acerbic fashion.

“Well, I mean that’s a debate that’s been raging for years, like at least the last eight days,” Postecoglou told reporters on Wednesday.

“I’ve never heard that before. I’ve said it before, mate, Spurs does crazy things to people. It does, it does.

“You put that club into any sentence or any issue and invariably they all come out and try and diminish as much as they can.”

Although Tottenham’s troubled season hardly warrants a place in the Champions League, Postecoglou said victory in the Europa League would make it a worthy achievement.

The Australian cannot understand why Wenger raised the topic now, insisting the rules should be respected.

“Why wasn’t there an issue before and it’s an issue now? What’s the difference? I don’t understand what the difference is,” he said.

“Last year, fifth didn’t get you into the Champions League, this year it does. What does that mean?

“There are competition rules and the rules say that the winner goes into Champions League and it’s not the first year.

“And there isn’t an asterisk against it that you have to do something else as well, but it’s Spurs, mate, they love it. They love it.

“I’ve got a great respect for Arsene. He’s one of the legends of the game, but it does crazy things to people, mate. I love it, bring it on. It’s going to upset people, so that makes me happy.”

Asked if Tottenham had made him crazy as well during a season where he has faced constant speculation over his future, Postecoglou said: “It hasn’t made me crazy at all.

“I was talking about other people, I wasn’t talking about me. I was asked the question about apparently there is a massive raging debate about the legitimacy of us or Man U potentially being in the Champions League next year.”

MADDISON GONE FOR SEASON

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed James Maddison will miss the rest of the season ahead of Thursday’s crucial Europa League semi-final showdown with Bodo/Glimt.

Maddison suffered a knee injury after scoring in last week’s 3-1 first-leg win against the Norwegian club.

After undergoing tests on the problem, the England international has discovered he will not feature again this term.

The 28-year-old’s absence is another setback in an injury-plagued campaign for the Premier League club.

Postecoglou is already without captain Son Heung-min due to a foot issue, although England striker Dominic Solanke has been declared fit for the second leg in Norway.

“Madders tweaked his knee in the first leg so he is out and will miss the rest of this season,” Postecoglou told reporters on Wednesday.

“Yeah, disappointing for him because he’s been a big part of this latter part of the season for us, particularly in Europe.

“He misses out but it has always been a constant of this season. Everyone else from the first leg travelled and is ready to go.

“Disappointing for Sonny as well. He has progressed and there’s a possibility of him getting some game time at the weekend but he hasn’t trained with the team yet.”

Tottenham are bidding to win their first European trophy since the 1984 UEFA Cup and their first silverware of any kind in 17 years.

Languishing in 16th place in the Premier League amid talk that Postecoglou faces the sack at the end of the season, Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario said his team have got used to dealing with injuries throughout their turbulent campaign.

“We have to always deal with it to be fair. We will not have Sonny and Madders tomorrow, but it is on us,” he said.

“The importance of the entire squad will be crucial.”