Angie Postecoglou (60), the Tottenham manager with no room left to retreat, is placing hope in the leadership group, including Son Heung-min (33).

Tottenham, led by Postecoglou, will face AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) Round of 16 on the 14th at 5 a.m. (Korean time) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.

Tottenham, who lost 0-1 in the first leg played away in the Netherlands on the 7th, faces elimination. They must win this match to reach the quarterfinals. In contrast, Alkmaar could advance to the quarterfinals even if they just draw, putting Tottenham at a significant disadvantage.

The Europa League is Tottenham's last remaining hope. They have sunk to 13th in the league (34 points), with their chances of winning the title gone. They now trail 13 points behind sixth-place Newcastle United (47 points), which is the threshold for European competitions.

The same goes for cup competitions. While they reached the semifinals of the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup), they were eliminated by Liverpool, losing 4-1 on aggregate. In the FA Cup, they also failed to get past Aston Villa in the round of 32.

Winning the Europa League is the only way to offset all this disappointment. If Tottenham lifts the trophy in the Europa League, they will not only secure a spot in next season's Champions League but also end a trophy drought that has lasted since the 2008 EFL Cup.

According to global ESPN, Postecoglou expressed hope in returning key players from injury and leaders like Son Heung-min during a press conference ahead of the match against Alkmaar.

Tottenham has struggled with injuries throughout the season. At one point, they were worried about relegation. However, as more injured players return, they are beginning to field a normal squad.

The most anticipated aspect of the match against Alkmaar is the defensive duo of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. Romero played 60 minutes in the Bournemouth match, while van de Ven was substituted on in the 30th minute of the second half. Both are likely to start against Alkmaar.

Postecoglou emphasized, "Both completed their matches well. Romero had no issues, and it was really nice to see van de Ven back on the pitch. Both are available for selection."

Postecoglou also remarked, "I hope the experienced players perform well in such matches. We have relied heavily on young players, and they have really developed well."

He continued, "Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, and Son Heung-min are the four key leaders of our team," adding, "Having all four play together will be a great help for us."

This match is particularly important for Postecoglou. It is an opportunity to divert attention from concerns regarding his performance amid significant pressure.

Moreover, Postecoglou showed confidence before the season, stating that he has always won a trophy in his second season. In fact, he lifted trophies in his second seasons with Brisbane Roar (Australia), Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan), and Celtic (Scotland).

When asked if he regrets his comments about winning a trophy in his second season, Postecoglou said, "I didn't fabricate anything. I just answered the question. But people interpreted it arbitrarily, making it seem like I made a bold claim."

He added, "If I don't win this time, I won't be able to say that next year, will I?" indicating a nonchalant attitude toward the possibility that his statements could be viewed as boasting if he fails.

Regarding the Alkmaar match, Postecoglou stated, "There’s no additional pressure. We were clearly disappointed with our performance in the first leg, but the important thing is that we did not make it so difficult that we could not turn the game around," expressing optimism that "it’s still a very tight situation."

He emphasized, "The opponent is one goal ahead, but since we are playing at home, if we can play with the intensity and tempo we showed against Bournemouth in the 2-2 draw, I believe we will have a chance to move on to the next stage."

He also said, "If we advance to the next round, another significant challenge awaits," adding, "What we need to focus on now is showing strong performance tomorrow night."

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