Ange Postecoglou wants Tottenham to beat Bournemouth before concentrating on the Europa League last-16 return leg against AZ Alkmaar
Thursday night was not the first time this season that Tottenham Hotspur put in a tepid display.
Spurs find themselves 13th in the Premier League table after 27 games, having lost 14 times. So, losing football games is nothing new for them. After eight days of rest and preparation for the first-leg of the Europa League last-16 against AZ Alkmaar, Ange Postecoglou’s side looked fatigued, devoid of energy and ideas.
A first-half Lucas Bergvall own goal proved the difference, but it could have been worse had Guglielmo Vicario not made some vital saves to keep the tie alive. Skipper Son Heung-min also expressed his disappointment after the team’s defeat to the Eredivisie side.
Before the return leg against AZ Alkmaar next week, the Lilywhites host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday. As there is not a lot to play for in the Premier League given the team’s current position, the focus and expectation now is for Tottenham to put up a strong display to overcome AZ Alkmaar next week and advance to the last eight of the competition.
Big Ange was disappointed with his team’s performance in the 1-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar
However, Ange Postecoglou insists his team has to perform well and win against Bournemouth on Sunday before concentrating on AZ Alkmaar. When asked in the presser how important could the result against the Cherries be for next Thursday’s Europa League last-16 return leg, the Spurs gaffer told Football London:
“Yeah, it’s important and the result is the ultimate ambition for the weekend but the performance is important. It’s fair to say that it’s our inconsistency. Our best and our worst this year has had too much of a gap.
“We’ve been really good at times but like last night we’ve been poor at times this year and we’ve paid the price for that. We need to rectify that and try to get more consistency in performance which will then reflect more on the results.
“We need both a good performance and a good result at the weekend. Like I said, the Alkmaar game, as poor as it was, the reality is that its 1-0 and we have got them at home next week. We can focus on that after the Bournemouth game but right now that has to be our priority.”
Tottenham Hotspur face a fight on their hands to land Eberechi Eze.
Ange Postecoglou has called on his players to focus on the Bournemouth game
Tottenham were on a three-game winning run in the Premier League before Manchester City arrived in North London last month and snapped their momentum. Then a defeat at AZ Alkmaar followed and Big Ange’s boys will now be raring to avoid a third defeat in a row on Sunday.
Bournemouth are a very good side with high-pressing, intense and attacking style of play that will certainly test the Lilywhites. We have to play very well to beat Andoni Iraola’s side, and if our team does that, Tottenham will go into next week’s biggest game of the season in high spirits and confidence.
Regardless of where we lie in the league table, playing well and beating Bournemouth could have a direct impact on how we approach the AZ game.