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Tottenham will face AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands) on the 14th (Korean time) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, for the second leg of the Round of 16 in the 2024-2025 season Europa League. After losing the first leg 0-1, Tottenham has no more places to go if they lose the second leg as well.
Under the management of Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham was eliminated in both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup last month. In the English Premier League (EPL), Tottenham had a three-match winning streak but has recently recorded 1 draw and 1 loss in the last two games. They currently sit in 13th place. The defeat in the first leg of the Europa League was also shocking.
In the match against Bournemouth, Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou rested Son Heung-min and James Maddison for the second leg against Alkmaar. However, with a 0-1 deficit, Son Heung-min was substituted in at the start of the second half. Nonetheless, Tottenham conceded another goal, but Pape Sarr scored in the 67th minute to reduce the deficit.
In the 39th minute of the second half, with a score of 1-2, Son Heung-min emerged as the savior. He converted a penalty he earned into the equalizer. This was Son Heung-min's 7th goal, breaking a six-match scoring drought since January 15 against Arsenal. Including cup competitions, this was only in 10 matches.
With this goal, Son Heung-min has recorded 7 goals and 9 assists in the Premier League this season, and 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions. However, the draw was incredibly disappointing. Struggling to secure a draw at home against Bournemouth was itself an embarrassment for Tottenham.
Son Heung-min noted through the streaming platform "SpursPlay" operated by Tottenham, "We start sluggishly and fall back, and there are too many games where we are chased by opponents," adding, "In the first half, the opponents created good chances, but thanks to the incredible saves by Guglielmo Vicario, we were able to continue the game."
He continued, "Still, a 2-2 draw is really disappointing. We should earn 3 points at home. We need to reflect on ourselves," stating, "No one can help us in the stadium. Those playing on the field need to feel more responsibility. We must become stronger and move forward. We cannot remain on the same step forever. Now it’s March; we need to keep making progress."
As much as the players, the tactics of manager Postecoglou are also a concern. Jamie Redknapp, son of former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, noted, "Bournemouth is the team with the strongest pressing in the league. It’s insane to go head-to-head with such a team," adding, "Liverpool doesn’t play that way against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)."
In fact, the position of manager Postecoglou was increasingly precarious. There was speculation that if he lost against Alkmaar, he could be dismissed early. However, Tottenham correspondent Peter O'Rourke provided internal news from the club.
Peter O'Rourke said, "Even if Tottenham is eliminated from the UEFA Europa League (UEL), the likelihood of dismissing manager Postecoglou is low," noting, "The match against Alkmaar is significant for Postecoglou's future. However, for now, a defeat does not seem to directly lead to his dismissal."
Ultimately, Tottenham holds the position that there will be no early dismissal. Peter O'Rourke explained, "The plan is to review the 2024-2025 season after the season ends, and the number of injuries to key players will likely be a factor that protects manager Postecoglou."
He added, "Tottenham fans have shown frustration over the results in recent weeks, and Postecoglou's style of football is coming under scrutiny. Club executives are optimistic that as key players begin to return from prolonged injuries, they can achieve significant success in competition."
In short, the club still seems determined to retain manager Postecoglou, whom they selected. Peter O'Rourke stated, "Internally, the club continues to support manager Postecoglou, unlike the fans," adding, "They will likely use injuries as an excuse to keep him."
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