Tottenham Hotspur

Gallery | Bodø/Glimt 0-2 Spurs  Tottenham Hotspur

Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media at Aspmyra Stadion after our 2-0 win against Bodo/Glimt in the second leg of our UEFA Europa League semi-final on Thursday night, taking us into the final against Manchester United in Bilbao on 21 May.

Here's what he had to say...

Ange on the game plan...

"The players were outstanding. They were well-prepared tonight, the staff did a great job of making sure the boys were really clear about what we needed to do. They executed it perfectly. It's been well-chronicled in the last few days it's a difficult place to come to, they've got a really imposing home record, not just with wins but with goals, I thought the lads handled it really well, as they have throughout this European campaign, particularly the knock-out stages, and credit to them, I thought they did an outstanding job."

Ange on his pride at reaching a European final...

"It's a great opportunity. It's my fourth year in European football, plenty of people have been in European football for longer than I have, they haven't got to a final. So, you understand it's something that you need to appreciate, and I'll certainly do that. I haven't really thought a lot about it, because obviously the focus is on tonight. More importantly, just really pleased for the players and the staff, and particularly our supporters. There were a few hundred here tonight who I'm sure will remember this night, and thousands back home. We've given them some real hope and something to dream about, that we can do something special this year."

Ange on ourselves and United reaching the final 'after tough seasons'...

"It's going to upset a lot of people isn't it! The debate's now raging, the latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win, they're just going to take a team photo because we're not worthy. I mean, who cares if we're struggling in the league? Why is that important? If it's so easy to get to a final, then why doesn't everyone who finishes in the top three do it? It's a separate thing. It's got nothing to do with league form. We understand our league form hasn't been great. We understand the struggles we've had. A lot of them are because of the situation we've been in, but how that diminishes the achievement of getting to a final... like I said, this club and others have finished in first, second or third in the Premier League, and haven't made finals. Why should that be diminished? I couldn't care less who's struggling and who's not. I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there. I think we've probably beaten teams who will be in the Champions League next year on our road to getting there. So, looking forward to it, should be a great game."

Ange on the win against Bodo/Glimt 'being built on discipline and pragmatism'...

"I love winning. That's what I've done my whole career. People will dismiss it, that's fine. But I love winning, and I love the way the boys, like I said, clearly understood what we needed to do tonight. The key thing for us was not to allow them to get any sort of rhythm in their game. They like to play at a quick tempo, because they use the surface, they take advantage of the opposition being uncertain on it. But I thought our press was just outstanding. We never allowed them really to get into our half with any sort of clean possession. It's a credit to the boys that they understood what the task was tonight, and still had the quality to score the goals we did."

Ange on United saying the UEL won't save their season...

"Why do I care what Man United think? Why is that relevant to me? Ask the Manchester United manager why he said that. Me, I've said all along that this is important."

To rephrase, what does it mean for Tottenham's season?

"Well... to be fair, you know better than me. You've followed this club for longer than I have. What do you think a trophy would do for this club? "

I think it would be massive...

"Exactly. That's exactly right. So the question answers itself, it doesn't need me to... but what’s happening now is people are fearing that. That it actually might happen and let's see how we can tear it down somehow and diminish it somehow by saying it's been a poor season and we don't deserve this or we don't deserve that. Or somehow comparing us to Man United. Maybe if we had Man United’s success then maybe I’d have a different view. But I came into this role, you know better than me, I could have been sitting here at exactly the same time in fifth position and I can guarantee that the commentary around me 'well that's great Ange but this club needs to win something'. That's exactly what everyone would be saying. So of course it’s massive. Of course it is, because you have to frame it against what this club has been through over the last 15 or 20 years and what the supporters have been through. Man United have got their own journey to go on. Maybe if they go 15 years without winning something they'll change their perspective on things as well."

Ange on the players being 'mentally ready' for the final...

"A final is a unique standalone game, it's a bit different to everything you do in the build up to it. But if you’re talking about resilience and adversity, this group of players have had it in bucket loads this year and we've still found a way to deal with it. We've been losing players, key players and yet they've still found a way to stick together and believe in what we’re doing. That gives me the belief that the challenge we have of trying to overcome a tough opponent in a massive game - I know the lads have it in them to rise to that."

Ange on what his father would make of him leading a team out in a European final...

"There'll be a time when I reflect on all this stuff but I've got friends who I grew up with who are probably booking tickets to Bilbao. For all intents and purposes I’ll be on the touchline but almost with the imposter syndrome that I should be in the stands with them because that's where it comes from. It's my fourth year in European football and I've got the chance to lead a team into a European final. That's something I will look back on but I’d rather look back fondly with a positive memory on the day. But yeah, not just my Dad but my family, my wife who was here today cheering on with the away end. Credit to her and two boys on a school night who I've promised a trip to Bilbao. There's so many people you know who take the knocks and feel it more than I do. I'm sure they're proud of me tonight but more importantly I'm just pleased I can give it back to them for all their sacrifices."

Ange Postecoglou spoke about his ‘joy and pride’ particularly in the way the players executed the game plan to beat Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night to reach the UEFA Europa League Final, where we’ll face Manchester United in Bilbao on 21 May.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg of the semi-final, it was somewhat of step into the unknown at Bodo, playing against a team renowned for their form on an artificial surface at the Aspmyra Stadion – a team that beat Lazio 2-0 at home in the quarter-finals in April.

But this was a performance that oozed control and discipline, with the players determined not to let the chance of reaching a major European final slip through the fingers. Our press certainly disrupted Bodo’s tactic of playing out from the back, and we simply wouldn’t let them settle, winning possession time after time.

So, where Bodo had 18 efforts at goal against Lazio, we restricted them to seven. Indeed, we edged that count 8-7. It just needed the icing on the cake, and that arrived on 63 minutes, when the outstanding Dominic Solanke was on the spot to turn home Cristian Romero’s header from Mathys Tel’s corner. That made it 4-1 on aggregate and five minutes later it was 2-0 on the night and 5-1 overall as Pedro Porro’s cross drifted over Nikita Haikin and home.

Ange on how it feels to reach the final…

“Look, firstly it’s pride in the efforts of the players and the staff. I thought the lads were outstanding tonight, well prepared, disciplined, organised, as you need to be, because it’s a difficult place to come to, we knew that, they have a great home record, but the way the guys handled it all was outstanding, so, great pride and joy as well, because we know what it does for our supporters. There were a few hundred here tonight, they won’t forget it, and thousands back home that we’ve now given them some hope, something to dream about, and we’ll now look forward to the next couple of weeks and preparing for a big game.”

Ange on how we got it right tactically, especially in our press…

“I think the key to playing them here… you know they like to get into a bit of a rhythm, they like to play quickly, they are obviously used to this surface and try to take advantage of any uncertainty from the opposition. Our press is as good as anyone’s and today, we had to be really aggressive with that. The boys were really disciplined and, at times, even if we weren’t winning the ball, we were disrupting their rhythm, we didn't really allow them into our half with any sort of clear possession, so, credit to the lads, they were well prepared for it, but they executed it perfectly.”

Ange on what pleased him most from the performance…

“The maturity of the lads to handle it. I thought we were really good in the first leg and probably should have had a more comfortable lead, and the way the club is always perceived, there’s a nervousness around the club, then you realise their home record, the surface, all these things which are legitimate challenges. I just loved the way the boys just stayed calm throughout, never fazed by anything, knew what they had to do and got the job done.”

Ange on facing United in the final…

“Yes, it's exciting. It's brilliant. We know, irrespective of which club you’re at, you don’t get these opportunities too often, so you want to make the most of them. We’ve a couple of weeks to prepare for it, it should be a great game and obviously it gives our supporters some hope now that we can do something special this year.”

Watch | Ange speaks to SPURSPLAY after Bodo/Glimt success

It will be an all Premier League clash in this year's UEFA Europa League Final with Manchester United confirmed as our opponents.

Having booked our place in the final on Thursday night with a 2-0 victory over Bodø/Glimt in Norway to win our semi-final tie 5-1 on aggregate, Manchester United secured their spot in the showpiece by defeating their opponents, Athletic Club, 7-1 on aggregate.

United had ran out 3-0 winners at San Mames Stadium - the host venue for this year's final - last week as they claimed victory on Athletic's home soil before a 4-1 win at Old Trafford tonight confirmed their progression.

The Final will be played out on Wednesday 21 May in Bilbao with kick-off at 8pm (UK).

Further details about the Final, including ticketing, will follow in due course.

We have faced United three times already this season and have come out on top on each occasion. We defeated the Reds 3-0 back in September in a Premier League trip to Old Trafford before earning back-to-back home wins over the Red Devils with a 4-3 win in the League Cup quarter-finals in December before we claimed a 1-0 league win in February.

We have once before played United in Europe. Taking them on in a two-legged second round tie in the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1963 as holders, we won 2-0 at home but lost 4-1 in the away leg.

We’re heading to the Europa League Final in Bilbao in just under two weeks’ time after a superb disciplined performance gave us a 2-0 victory in Norway to see us progress 5-1 on aggregate against Bodø/Glimt.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg in N17 seven days ago, there were concerns that an artificial surface and chilly conditions in deepest northern Norway would be tough to negotiate at Bodø’s Aspmyra Stadium. But we did everything right on the night – defended well, showed great character and commitment and scored two second half goals to book our place in the showpiece occasion at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium, against Manchester United, victors over Athletic Bilbao in the other semi-final.

After a fairly even first half in which we kept Bodø pretty much at bay, we made the crucial breakthrough in the second period as Dominic Solanke scored his third goal in three successive Euro games before Pedro Porro’s attempted cross ended up in the net to start the celebrations!

The weather was miserable and grey and the tiny Aspmyra Stadium might only hold 8,500, but that didn’t prevent a wonderful atmosphere as kick-off approached with the home fans enjoying the biggest game in their club’s history. But perhaps there was a touch of nerves early on from our hosts as we were able to settle quickly into the game and there were just two minutes gone when Richarlison had a shot blocked.

Ole Didrik Blomberg fired an angled drive into the side-netting with Bodø’s first chance before home goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was twice called into action. First, he had to get a strong touch to push away Destiny Udogie’s cross on the overlap while he made a fine save in the 23rd minute. Solanke was brought down 22 yards out, Pedro Porro stepped up to take the free-kick and clipped right-footed over the wall only for Haikin to tip the ball over the crossbar. The home side started to grow into the game and, just after the half hour mark, Patrick Berg hit a free-kick out on the left which was dipping in until Guglielmo Vicario pushed it away for a corner, while Kasper Hogh sent a header high and wide. We were on the front foot as the half drew to a close and had the last sight of goal right on the half-time whistle, Yves Bissouma lashing a shot well over the bar but we went into the interval in a great position in the tie.

Bodø had to come out fighting for the second period and were starting to throw more crosses into the danger zone, but we were defending really well with Micky van de Ven and Udogie in particular making vital interventions. Then came the big moment in the 63rd minute. Mathys Tel had just come on for Richarlison and took a deep corner from the left, the outstanding Cristian Romero did superbly well to climb high and head it back into mix where Solanke was on hand to slide the ball home to send 400 or so Spurs fans into sheer delight in the rain!

It was a goal that took the sting out of the contest as we extended our advantage to three goals overall in the tie, and that soon became four just six minutes later. There might have been a touch of good fortune as Pedro Porro’s cross in from the right flew over Haikin, hit the far post and nestled in the back of the net, but we weren’t complaining! In truth, there was little goalmouth action of note after that apart from a straight-forward Vicario save from Sondre Sorli’s 20-yard drive, while the referee awarded the hosts a penalty in the final seconds of the game, although he reversed his decision after VAR advised he check the pitchside monitor, as Pedro Porro had clearly won the ball from Sorli. That meant we became the first side in 2025 to stop Bodø from scoring at home as we enjoyed a glory, glory night – hopefully with another big one to come in Spain on 21 May! Get in!

We can confirm the starting line-ups and substitutes for tonight’s UEFA Europa League semi-final, second leg away to Bodo/Glimt (9pm local time in Norway, 8pm UK).

We’ve made just the one enforced change from last week’s first leg, with Dejan Kulusevski coming in for the injured James Maddison.

It’s seven changes from the West Ham draw at the weekend with only Guglielmo Vicario, Yves Bissouma, Kulusevski and Richarlison retaining their places in the starting line-up.

Our full team is as follows...

Starting XI: Vicario, Pedro Porro, Romero (c), van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Bissouma, Kulusevski, Johnson, Solanke, Richarlison.

Substitutes: Austin, Whiteman, Spence, Danso, Davies, Gray, Sarr, Olusesi, Ajayi, Odobert, Moore, Tel.

Hosts Bodo/Glimt line up as follows...

Starting XI: Haikin, Sjovold, Moe, Gundersen, Bjorkan, Evjen, Berg (c), Saltnes, Blomberg, Hogh, Hauge.

Substitutes: Faye Lund, Nielsen, Auklend, Brunstad Fet, Helmersen, Maatta, Sorli, Hansen, Jensen, Brondbo.

Guglielmo Vicario says the players are determined to “make history” by reaching a European final.

The squad is in the Norwegian town of Bodo to face a Bodo/Glimt side that is renowned for having an excellent home record in the crucial second leg of our UEFA Europa League semi-final this evening (9pm local time, 8pm UK).

We lead 3-1 from last week’s first meeting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Vic says we’re taking nothing for granted as we look to reach the final of this competition for the first time in 41 years.

“Of course, we know the importance that this game has for everyone at the football club, for us, for the manager, for the fans, for everyone who really loves this football club,” the goalkeeper told SPURSPLAY after training on the artificial surface at Aspmyra Stadion on Wednesday night.

“The feelings are okay, it’s a different pitch, we knew that before coming here but we’ve trained on it, we adapted quickly, we know how the ball bounces and we are ready for the battle.

“It’s about trying to have the right mindset. We know we’re going to face a tough opponent, especially at home, so it’s about how we can set the game up in our favour, trying to be aggressive to win the duels everywhere on the pitch, to give them no chances and to score goals that can lead us to a good result.

“They are more used to playing on this kind of surface, we know that, we know the record that they have here at home but it doesn’t matter for us. We just need to be focused on what we have to do, how we have to play and what we have to deliver. It will be a big team performance that is needed, we have to stay close to each other and we can make history at this football club.”

Watch | Vicario speaks to SPURSPLAY after training in Norway

Bodø/Glimt vs Spurs, UEFA Europa League | Talking Tactics, with Rob Daly  Tottenham Hotspur

It’s the huge second leg of our UEFA Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt in Norway tonight (Thursday 8 May).

We’re leading 3-1 from the first meeting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last week, with a spot in the final in Bilbao awaiting the winners.

Here’s all the key info you need to know...

What time is kick-off against Bodo/Glimt?

Tonight’s match gets underway at 9pm local time in Norway, which equates to 8pm in the UK.

How can I watch the game?

The match will be televised live in the UK on TNT Sports 2.

You can also follow all the action via the Spurs Official app and here on tottenhamhotspur.com, as our Match Centre brings you live text and audio commentary plus stats, pictures and more.

What is the team news?

James Maddison has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury picked up in the first leg last week, while Heung-Min Son isn’t yet ready to return from a foot problem.

Dominic Solanke is fit after being forced off last Thursday, though.

Lucas Bergvall and Radu Dragusin are also out for the season, the latter ineligible for the knockout stages of the Europa League anyway alongside Fraser Forster, Antonin Kinsky, Sergio Reguilon and Timo Werner.

Bodo/Glimt captain Patrick Berg, Hakon Evjen and Andreas Helmersen are all back in the frame after missing the first leg through suspension, but Daniel Bassi is sidelined with a leg injury.

Who is the referee?

Tonight’s match officials are from Italy. Maurizio Mariani will referee the game, assisted by Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni.

The fourth official is Matteo Marchetti.

VAR duties will be handled by Marco Di Bello and assistant Michael Fabbri.

Six years ago today, Lucas Moura gave Spurs fans across the world a moment in time they will never forget - not just a Champions League semi-final hat-trick, but the most dramatic of late winners against Ajax to send us to the final in Madrid.

Now, on the same date, 8 May, we’re one step from a major European final again, this time taking a 3-1 advantage into the second leg of our UEFA Europa League semi-final against Norwegian champions, Bodo/Glimt.

Ahead of this evening’s huge encounter at the Aspmyra Stadion, we just had to catch up with the man himself, now back home in Sao Paolo, Brazil – and he still gets emotional when talking about that night!

You joined us from PSG in January 2018, how did that move come about?

Lucas: “In my last six months at PSG I was not playing, I wasn’t even selected for the games, so I was just going to training and then coming back home. It was a difficult moment for me so when the opportunity came to play for Spurs, I was very happy. It all happened on the last day of the transfer window, so it was a bit difficult, but at the end everything was good, and I was very excited to play for Spurs, for a Premier League team and to play in the Champions League with Spurs. The Club was in a good moment and there was also the incredible training ground and new stadium, so I was happy to join.”

What do you remember about your debut and the 2-2 draw against Juventus in February 2018?

Lucas: “I remember that game very well, it was a difficult game played in a great atmosphere. We played very well and then I came on as a substitute, just playing the last few minutes, but the feeling was very good. We couldn’t win that game, but it was the start of a good adventure at Spurs.”

What memories do you have of your first start and first goal for the club against Rochdale in the FA Cup?

Lucas: “It was a good moment for me. It wasn’t an easy away game, but I remember every time I touched the ball, I wanted to dribble because I was excited to show the fans and the club that they did well to buy me, so I was very motivated for that game. The feeling when I scored was amazing, I remembered the bad moments in Paris when I wasn’t selected and here I was playing and scoring for Spurs.”

One of your undoubted highlights in a Spurs shirt must have been your brace in a 3-0 win at Manchester United in August 2018. What was that night like for you?

Lucas: “Of course, that night against United was incredible. The game before I scored my first Premier League goal against Fulham and then we travelled to Manchester to play United. It was a big game, and I was very happy to start. It was tough but we began very well, Harry Kane scored the first goal and then I scored two goals, I remember celebrating with the fans at the end and it was amazing. To score two goals away against United is not easy so the feeling was incredible. Our performance was really good so, of course, it was one of the best nights for me in a Spurs shirt.”

We obviously had a magical run in the Champions League in 2018/19. What memories do you have of the group stage of that competition, particularly your vital goal away to Barcelona?

Lucas: “The group was tough. I remember the first game against Inter away, we were playing well and took the lead, then conceded two goals and lost the game. Then away to PSV when I scored but we conceded at the end to draw. The last game was away against Barcelona. When I scored it was a good feeling but at the same time we didn’t know if we could celebrate because to qualify depended on the other game between Inter and PSV. So, it was strange when we finished the match but then we saw the fans celebrating and we knew it was okay and we had qualified!”

What memories do you have of the knockout round victories against Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City?

Lucas: “We played really well in the two games against Borussia Dortmund. We had that incredible 3-0 win at home, and I remember Jan Vertonghen scored and did his amazing celebration, then we beat them away 1-0, playing very well again. Against City, it was a crazy game. The second leg was incredible, it was a test for our hearts! I remember at the beginning, we conceded then scored twice in five minutes. Near the end of the game, I was subbed off, so I was on the bench and when they scored I started to cry, I just thought ‘no, it’s no possible’. I was looking down and crying, then I looked at the TV and saw that it was offside, I kept crying but this time because I was happy! After that game I was sure we would qualify for the final.”

What were your feelings after our 0-1 defeat to Ajax in the first leg of the semi-final?

Lucas: “The feeling was bad because the expectation was so high after the City game, then we lost at home to Ajax. Even so, I was confident and motivated, I was sure we would qualify. After the game I came over to the fans and I said, ‘come on, let’s go, we will qualify still’.”

We were 0-3 down on aggregate in the second leg. When you scored your first goal in Amsterdam that evening, did you sense a comeback could be on the cards?

Lucas: “We started the second leg well, only to concede two quick goals and it was very difficult at that stage. I remember at half-time, Mauricio Pochettino said, ‘come on, we just need to score one goal, if we score once we are back in the game’ and that was the same feeling I had. At the start of the second half, our pressure was high and they couldn’t play as they were used to. About 10 minutes in, I scored the first goal and then scored the second five minutes later. We were playing well, and I thought, ‘it’s our night, tonight we will qualify, we will score again’. We had done the most difficult part, now we had 30 minutes to score one more goal. The game became a bit confused, we were conceding counter-attacks and so were they, then we hit the crossbar through Jan and the game started to be crazy. Towards the end of the game, I felt that if I got a chance again, I will just shoot, so when the ball came to me, I just shot with my left foot and when I saw the ball hit the net, I didn’t know what to do or how to celebrate. It was a mixture of feelings - incredible, magic.”

In terms of your hat-trick goal... can you describe it?

Lucas: “Like I said before, I felt that if I stayed close to the goal then I would shoot whenever the ball came to me. Dele made a good pass, I don’t know if he saw me or not, but it was a great assist. I hit the ball, and it went exactly where it had to go. It’s impossible to describe the feeling when I saw the ball hit the back of the net. It was amazing. Everyone, even the players on the bench, came and jumped on me and celebrated with me, amazing! It was a very good performance from the team, of course I scored the three goals, but no-one can do anything alone, it was a great team performance and, of course, the most magical moment in my career. I will never forget that moment, I will keep it in my heart forever.”

In your final season as a Spurs player, Harry Kane became our all-time, top goalscorer. How much did you enjoy playing in the same team as Harry?

Lucas: “I loved playing with Harry, first of all he’s a great guy and an amazing player. I always said I was his biggest fan, for me he is one of the best in the world. It was easy playing with him because he was very clever and I understood the way he liked to play, to receive the ball. He’s the kind of player that, when he was on the pitch, the feeling was that we could beat any team. The way that he plays is incredible and I enjoyed playing alongside him.”

From a personal perspective, how much did you enjoy your final Spurs appearance - scoring in a 4-1 win at Leeds?

Lucas: “That game was strange. It was a mix of feelings because I was happy for what I had achieved at Spurs and what I learnt in my five-and-a-half years at the club, but I was also sad because it was the end of a great adventure. But we know football is like this – there is the beginning, the middle and the end - and the most important thing is to enjoy every day, and I certainly did that at Spurs. Each training session, each game, each moment I enjoyed, and I gave my best at all times. When I look back, I can just say thank you to God because it was a great opportunity and a great gift to play for Spurs as long as I did.”

How much are you enjoying yourself at São Paulo currently?

Lucas: “I am enjoying it a lot at the moment, I’ve come back to my country, my city and my club, the club that I love, that gave me the opportunity to live my dream, where everything started. I’m really enjoying this adventure in Sao Paolo, close to my family and friends and I’m very happy here.”

Finally, what have you made of Spurs this season and how much are you hoping we’re able to get through to the Europa League Final and win the competition?

Lucas: “I will always support Spurs, it doesn’t matter where I am, they are in my heart. Sometimes it is difficult to watch all the games because of the time zones but I always follow them. This season, I know that in the Premier League they are not in such a good moment, but the Europa League is different. I am sure they can qualify for the final and then win the final and lift the trophy. I am rooting for them; they are capable if they play like they have done in some games this season. I am sure they can win this competition. Come on you Spurs!”