londonworld.com

Villarreal star says Tottenham have 'one of the best in the world'

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Villarreal star says Tottenham have 'one of the best in the world' ahead of Champions League date - londonworld.com
Description

One Villarreal star will be going up against his old club on Tuesday night.

Sign up to our LondonWorld Today newsletter

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to LondonWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Villarreal star Juan Foyth has been speaking ahead of his Tottenham reunion on Tuesday night in the Champions League. Spurs host the Yellow Submarine in their first game of the Champions League group phase, and it will be Foyth’s first time returning to play against his old club.

The defender played for Tottenham between 2017 and 2021, though he spent the last of those years on loan with Villarreal and joined them permanently that summer.

The Argentine went on to play his best football in Castellon, temporarily becoming a right-back as he played a central role in them winning the Europa League and then reaching the Champions League semi-final the following year.

Since then, Foyth has reverted to his old position at centre-back, but his reputation of being one of the most reliable defenders in Spain holds strong, and the Argentine was reportedly being eyed by some top clubs in the summer before he put pen-to-paper on a new long-term deal.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s return to London in a pre-match press conference, he said: “It a special game because it’s the Champions League and it’s one one of the beautiful competitions. And also because I was there for three years. I remember this stadium being started and and I had many great moments, and I hope to have more tomorrow.”

Asked about Tottenham’s threat, he added: “Last season wasn’t so great in the Premier League, but they have great players and a big potential. They are very physical, like the rest of the Premier League, strong, fast and they press well. We have to trust in our players and in the quality that we have.”

Foyth also knows Tottenham defender Cristian Romero well, given he plays alongside him for Argentina. “Our strikers are going to have to endure a lot against one of the best defenders in the world,” he said. “We played together in the younger age groups against each other and then together in the under-20s. He is one of the best centre-backs in the world and I’m pleased for him. He is a great player and a great person.”

On the atmosphere he expects at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Foyth continued: “They push a lot in English stadiums. They are very happy to return to the Champions League and I hope that there will be a great atmosphere. It will help us to have an extra motivation. We are going to enjoy it as friends and as a family on the pitch.”

The last time Villarreal were in the Champions League was in the 2021/22 season when they defeated the likes of Bayern Munich and Juventus to reach the semi-final, ultimately losing to Liverpool despite a two-goal comeback in the second leg.

“I remember the last Champions League, how we enjoyed it all with our town and it was very beautiful,” Foyth recalled. “Many things and many players have changed, but the dream remains. We want to start from zero and do great things. There is a great opportunity to start off on the right foot.

“The objective is to get as many points as possible and tomorrow is the first step. We have reached the semi-finals twice in different circumstances and we will see what this path holds. We believe we can compete against any team.”

Sky Sports confirm D-Day for Tottenham decision on Ange Postecoglou future

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Sky Sports confirm D-Day for Tottenham decision on Ange Postecoglou future - londonworld.com
Description

Ange Postecoglou led Tottenham Hotspur to Europa League triumph but still faces questions over his future.

Sign up to our LondonWorld Today newsletter

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to LondonWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has not yet made a formal decision over the future of manager Ange Postecoglou at the London club.

The Aussie ended the 2024/25 season on a high as the club lifted the Europa League trophy but a dismal Premier League campaign still hung over those jubilant celebrations. Tottenham Hotspur placed 17th in the top flight, just one point above the drop zone, their worst ever finish.

Postecoglou arrived at the club in 2023, having spent two years with Glasgow giants Celtic in the Scottish Premiership. He has won 47 of his 101 matches in charge of Spurs, losing 39.

Daniel Levy to make Ange Postecoglou decision after holiday

Over the weekend, it was claimed that a final decision on Postecoglou had been made and that the manager would indeed be sacked by Levy. Football Insider carried those reports and claimed that the club was ‘pressing ahead’ with finding a new manager.

However, on Monday morning, Sky Sports claimed that no official decision has been made with Levy out of office on holiday at the moment. The outlet added that the decision is ‘highly likely to be made this week’ with the Spurs chairman coming to the end of his break abroad.

Postecoglou himself has been on holiday with family in Greece. The manager was hounded with questions over his future over the final few weeks of the season and that hasn’t stopped while he is out of the contract.

Australian Story spoke to Postecoglou in Greece and asked the Spurs boss to clarify what he meant when hinting that ‘season three is better than season two’ during the Europa League trophy parade. He said: "I didn't want us to just enjoy the moment.

"I also wanted us to think about what's next, you know — don't settle for this. We've got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club's got a taste for it. Well, let's make sure we're back here again."

Brentford boss frontrunner to take on Tottenham Hotspur challenge

Postecoglou was also asked to reflect on his longer journey through management when speaking to the publication. The 59-year-old, who began his managerial career in Australia before going to Greece, then back to Australia and onto Scotland, said: “When we sat down 10 years ago and did the initial Australian Story, I think maybe even you guys thought that that was the culmination of what I was about to achieve. In 10 years' time, if we sit down again, I've got no doubt in my mind that there'll be more stories to tell."

It remains to be seen who Spurs would turn to if Postecoglou is sacked but there have been no shortage of names linked with the post, which will come with Champions League football next year. Taking to social media platform X on Monday, transfer reporter Ben Jacobs said: “Thomas Frank is a leading candidate to replace Ange Postecoglou at Spurs should a change be made, as revealed on @talkSPORT in May. Multiple meetings between Frank and Spurs have already taken place. A decision on Postecoglou’s future is expected this week.”

In other news, Tottenham learn manager's 'priority' after 'advanced talks' with boss Liverpool tried to appoint.

Tottenham vs Man Utd early injury news as 6 ruled out for final

Submitted by daniel on
Picture
Remote Image
Tottenham vs Man Utd early injury news as 6 ruled out for final - londonworld.com
Description

All the early injury news surrounding Tottenham and Manchester United ahead of the Europa League final.

Sign up to our LondonWorld Today newsletter

Sign up

Thank you for signing up!

Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to LondonWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Submitting...

The 2025 UEFA Europa League final is now just days away, with Tottenham and Manchester United now preparing to go head-to-head at San Mamés. The two English clubs will face off in Bilbao with silverware and a Champions League spot on the line.

Both sides have endured disastrous Premier League campaigns, but they can bail themselves out somewhat with a win in Northern Spain on Wednesday night. Spurs and United rested a number of players on Friday night, and as preparations for the final step up, we have rounded up all the early injury news surrounding both teams.

Leny Yoro - Doubt

Yoro is expected to have a chance of returning for the final having not been risked against Chelsea.

Mathijs De Ligt - Doubt

The same applies to De Ligt, who is said to have a chance of returning here.

Lisandro Martinez - Out

Martinez will be out until 2026 with another serious knee injury. Ruben Amorim has said: “Licha is a difficult situation. He's going to be out for a while. We don't know the extent of the injury, but it's an injury that is going to take time.”

Joshua Zirkzee - Out

Amorim has confirmed Zirkzee is out for the season, explaining: “So, he’s not going to play more this season. Let’s prepare him for the next one. It’s tough, especially in this moment. I think he’s improving in all aspects of the game, so it’s hard for any player to stop.”

Diogo Dalot - Doubt

The United website stated after the Chelsea defeat: “Diogo Dalot is also working hard to be fit enough to make the trip to the Basque Country but the good news from the capital is there do not appear to be any fresh issues.”

Ayden Heaven - Fit

Heaven came off the bench against Chelsea and is back in contention.

Toby Collyer - Fit

Collyer was among the substitutes on Friday night and has returned to fitness.

Jonny Evans - Doubt

The United website has confirmed that Evans has returned to contention.

Mikey Moore - Fit

Moore seemed to have an issue against Villa, but it was only fatigue. Postecoglousaid: “I think Mikey was okay. It was fatigue as much as anything else. He hasn’t played that sort of amount of minutes before."

Pape Matar Sarr - Doubt

Sarr came off against Villa, and Postecoglou explained afterwards: "Pape felt something in his back, so we took him off as a bit of a precaution. I don’t think it’s anything too significant speaking to him afterwards.”

Dejan Kulusevski - Out

Kulusevski is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery. A statement confirmed: “We can confirm that Dejan Kulusevski suffered an injury to his right patella in our Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace last weekend. Following further specialist consultation, the midfielder has undergone surgery today (Wednesday) and will commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff immediately.” Postecoglou added on the injury blow: "It’s obviously disappointing news. Initially we thought it wasn’t too serious because obviously the medical team were worried about how the knee was structurally, but it seemed pretty good. But then it kind of blew up a day after and so we knew there was an issue there. He’s had surgery and it will put him out at least for a few months."

Lucas Bergvall - Out

Postecoglou has previously said when asked if Bergvall will be back before the Europa League final: “Yeah, that is unlikely. If we had another two weeks, potentially he could. I am sure he will be trying, I am sure Madders will be trying, mate, just to get the strip on. Unfortunate for both of those guys, but that has been our season. Nothing has run smoothly. I am sure there will be parts of themselves disappointed they are not part of this most important part, but they have been so integral to us getting here.”

James Maddison - Out

Maddison recently suffered a knee injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season. The Spurs boss said: “Madders from the first leg, so he's out. He'll miss the rest of this season and it’s disappointing for him. I'm disappointed for him because he's been a real catalyst for us. He'll miss out but that's been the story of our season.”

Radu Dragusin - Out

Dragusin is out for the rest of the season and likely a chunk of next term with an ACL injury. Postecoglou confirmed at the time: “Radu underwent surgery today following his ACL injury. That procedure has now been completed, and the centre-back will now commence with his recovery before beginning the rehab process.”