Tottenham Hotspur

More from Ange Postecoglou on relying on having the 'leadership group' back available: "I think so but we haven't had them that long, that includes Vicario as well. I think Vic was enormous for us in the first leg and on the weekend as well so yeah you want your experienced players to perform in these kinds of games for sure.

"We relied a lot on our younger players who have progressed really well. The likes of [Christian] Romero, Vicario, [James] Maddison and Sonny [Son Heung-min] out there, they are our four leaders, having all four out there will be beneficial."

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on if he feels any extra pressure to win the Europa League following his comments that he always wins a trophy in his second season with a club: "No, no extra pressure. We were obviously disappointed with our performance in the first leg. The important thing is we didn't make the tie impossible for us to get back into, it's still very tight.

"They've got the goal advantage but playing at home, if we can play with the intensity and tempo that we did in the weekend then I think we will have an opportunity to progress.

"Should we progress we will have another big challenge in the next round. The focus is to put in a strong performance tomorrow night."

Tottenham Hotspur

Ange Postecoglou on whether his time as Tottenham boss might come to an end if they were knocked out of the Europa League by AZ Alkmaar:"There aren't many professions where you have to come in and answer questions like that, is there?

"I'll be polite and say look we are focused on winning the game tomorrow night. We need to put in a better performance than last Thursday. That wasn't near the standard we want to play. We did some good things on the weekend, some not so good things. If we can play with the intensity and tempo we played on the weekend, we will give ourselves a good chance to progress."

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou on Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero: "They got through the game well, obviously, Romero no issues. It was great to get Micky out there. They're both available."

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed Kevin Danso would not be available for Thursday's game at home to AZ Alkmaar, but said that he would be assessed before confirming how long he would be out for.

The Spurs manager added that Wales defender Ben Davies would return while the rest of the squad that featured against Bournemouth at the weekend would be available for selection.

That means key defenders Christian Romero and Micky van de Ven would be considered for selection.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso will miss the Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar because of a hamstring injury.

The Austria international has made seven starts for Spurs since joining the club from Lens in January transfer window.

A timeline has not been confirmed for his return and so he could also miss Tottenham's Premier League match against Fulham on Sunday.

Right, we have a few more European news conferences coming up over the next hour, starting with Tottenham from around 14:30 GMT.

Ange Postecoglou's side host AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

They need to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg in the Netherlands.

The winners will face either Ajax or Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.

What do you think Manchester United fans? Is it fair to say that Casemiro has been underperforming this season?

Get in touch via:

• X using #bbcfootball
• WhatsApp on 03301231826
• Text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

And please remember to include your name.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said in his interview on Monday with the BBC's Sports editor Dan Roan that some of the club's players were overpaid and some were underperforming.

Ratcliffe didn't single anyone out but was responding to a question in which Antony, Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana, amongst others, were mentioned.

Today was the first opportunity to talk about the comments with United head coach Ruben Amorim.

I didn't mention any of the players by name.

Amorim did.

"If we are being honest in this moment, everybody, me, all the players, we are underperforming this season," said the former Sporting boss.

"We can always change that and I include myself in that part of the underperforming.

"You are talking about players like Casemiro, for example, that won everything and we know these kind of players can play so much better."

The former Real Madrid great is known to be the highest paid current United player and still has another year left on his contract.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United

Manchester United's recent signing, Patrick Dorgu, also faced the media in today's news conference.

The 20-year-old Denmark full-back was asked about why he joined the club from Italian side Lecce: "It is a very attacking system [at Manchester United] and I like to get in the box and score goals, but also defend."

On whether he prefers to play on the left or right side of defence: "I am comfortable playing on both sides."

On his red card against Ipswich: "It was not nice to get the red card. I need to learn from it and improve my game. Training has been going well and I am getting on well with the team."

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada is adamant the club will have funds to spend on transfers this summer, even if they fail to qualify for Europe by winning the Europa League.

"There's no doubt that if we qualify to the Champions League, we will have more revenues and have more capacity to invest in the team," he said.

"But we are putting in place various financial measures to allow us to go and invest at the summer, even if we're outside of Europe.

"Ultimately, we want to be more efficient in our investment into the squad. So just because we'll have more revenues to invest if we're in the Champions League, it doesn't mean we're going to go and over-invest.

"We need to be cautious and try to make as many good decisions as we can in recruitment. And also when it comes to sales, we will do it purely on the basis of whether it helps improve the team or not, not for financial reasons."

Just a reminder that the Europa League winners will qualify for next season's Champions League.

Winning the competition represents Manchester United's only realistic route into Europe next season.

Ruben Amorim's side are out of the EFL Cup, the FA Cup and are 14th in the Premier League.

Manchester United

More from today's news conference.

This is Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim on plans for next season: "We have a clear plan to address next season. We can still reach Champions League, so you never know. It can change the preparation for next season.

"We have a plan and know what to do. In terms of what type of players to bring in.

"This competition [Europa League] could change things [selling players] so we are focused on this game."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Amid all the words that been spoken about Manchester United from various senior figures over the last couple of days, one thing has come across loud and clear; head coach Ruben Amorim is going nowhere.

With United teetering on the brink of their worst season since the 1973-74 relegation campaign and, by his own admission, Amorim has found it difficult to get his ideas across, there had been suggestions the former Sporting coach might be in trouble.

My understanding is that is not the case.

Privately, United officials say they want to get out of the cycle of recruiting managers that last a couple of years and then run out of ideas.

Amorim is here to stay.

"I think it's riskier if you have a coach that doesn't have a clear idea of how he wants to play," said chief executive Omar Berrada. "With Ruben we don't see that risk.

"When it comes to our recruitment strategy, without commenting too much, the idea we have is to be able to bring in versatile players that can be adaptable to multiple systems.

"Ruben himself has said it's not about the 3-4-3 tactical formation, it's about an idea, a concept of how he wants to see the team playing.

"He wants to see the team playing more on the front foot, more of a possession, attacking-based style of football. So for that, you need players that can play in multiple positions that can adapt to that vision that Ruben has.

"And this is what we're going try to do over the next years in our recruitment."

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim on his relationship with Sir Jim Ratcliffe: "It has been really good since day one. We are honest with each other. We have simple, clear and honest conversations.

"To give me support publicly is really good for a coach. Since day one I have felt the support of everybody."

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's comments that some of the squad were overpaid and underperforming: "Everyone is underperforming. Myself and the players. We can always change that, I include myself in that part of underperforming.

"You are talking about players like Casemiro that have won everything. We know these players can play so much better, that is the focus. He was honest on that. The focus is to change his mind.

"A lot of people will say you are not good enough for the club, but my feeling is you can change that with results.

"In training I feel they want this really bad."

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim on the new stadium plans: "It is an amazing stadium. It is in the future, five years from now, so we have to focus on the present. I am focused on winning things at Old Trafford."

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

It has been hard not to feel sorry for Mason Mount since he joined Manchester United.

The England man has had four separate injury issues, the latest, a hamstring problem that has kept him out since 15 December.

In theory, Mount is one of the existing United squad men who most fit Ruben Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 formation, either in a deeper role or one of the inside forward slots.

Tomorrow's match has come too early for the 26-year-old, however, Amorim would really benefit from a Mount in top form.