Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham overturned a 1-0 deficit to beat AZ Alkmaar and progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday, but they lacked that fighting spirit when returning to Premier League action at Fulham.

With Tottenham languishing in 13th place in the top flight, Ange Postecoglou could be excused for prioritising Europe, however, fans will still want to see more desire and hunger from their players during the remaining nine games.

Thursday's exploits against AZ may have influenced the performance at Craven Cottage with energy and ingenuity severely lacking.

Dominic Solanke, starting his second successive Premier League game after long-term injury, looked the most likely to score but he spurned three opportunities, including one at an open goal from five yards.

Postecoglou introduced Son Heung-Min at half-time against Bournemouth last Sunday and the South Korean scored a late equaliser, but he was unable to repeat that feat in west London after once again being thrown on at the break.

It is now thee games without a win in the league for Spurs as they look increasingly more likely to finish outside of the top 10 for the first time in 17 years.

Their lowest Premier League finish remains 15th in 1994 under manager Ossie Ardiles.

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "It was a tight game, it always is when you play here. I thought for the most part we were pretty comfortable. We had a big chance to go ahead and then we conceded a really soft goal and the game got away from us.

"Both goals were pretty soft. At the very least you want to stay in the game. I thought in the second half we were the better team and had the best chances up to that point. So to concede is very disappointing.

"It's been a difficult campaign for sure. But I feel we've lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games.

"It's another international break we go into off a loss and you feel that. We just need to make sure we're ready for when we come back."

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Tottenham Hotspur forward Jamie Donley is set to be called up to the Northern Ireland senior squad for the first time.

The 20-year-old will be drafted into Michael O'Neill's squad for friendlies against Switzerland at home on Friday and against Sweden away on Tuesday, 25 March.

Donley was born in Antrim and has previously played for NI and England at youth level, captaining England Under-19s.

The process for his international transfer from England to Northern Ireland is under way with Fifa, but he can make his debut in these games as they are friendlies.

Donley is currently on loan at League One side Leyton Orient where he has scored seven goals in 30 games, while his stunning long-range effort against Manchester City in the FA Cup led to an own goal.

He made his Premier League debut in December 2023 for Spurs against City and has made three further appearances for the club.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Fulham's performance

What did you make of Tottenham's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Tottenham have got a few players back from injury but how much will Thursday's Europa League tie against AZ Alkmaar have taken out of them?

Fulham have been very up and down at home, but I really fancy them here.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Fulham (13:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Postecoglou said his squad is looking "pretty good" before the trip to Craven Cottage and everyone who played in Thursday's Europa League win over AZ Alkmaar "got through it well".

• Rodrigo Bentancur is available for selection after being suspended on Thursday, while Fraser Forster, Antonin Kinsky, Sergio Reguilon and Timo Werner are also all back after being ineligible in Europe.

• Kevin Danso, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison remain sidelined by injury.

• Postecoglou said he thinks his side are returning to playing in the style he wants: "That's coincided with a couple of significant things. One is getting some players back and also the ability to rotate the team and keep the team fresh. We're getting our good ball players on the ball and looking sharp in the final third. Those things help us play the football we want to play and hopefully we can do it more consistently now."

• On Lucas Bergvall's improved discipline: "He's had to work on that. It's fair to say, when he first got here, the coaches spent a lot of time with him, working on his tactical awareness and being disciplined. At the start it took him a little bit of time. He tended to run too much. He's simplified his game and the coaches have given him feedback and he's taken that on board."

• Postecoglou praised James Maddison and Djed Spence after they were not included in the England squad: "Madders, in a really challenging season for us, has grinded his way through and his quality has really come through in the last few weeks - especially when we have been able to give him a spell of rest every now and then."

• On Spence: "Djed has been super this year. I always feel with these things, particularly with national team selection, it's never a kind of thing where you just draw a line through it. I have no doubt if Djed keeps performing how he is and Madders keeps working hard, Thomas [Tuchel] will be looking."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra commentary of Fulham v Tottenham at 13:30 on Sunday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Tottenham have the best conversion rate of "big chances" in the Premier League this season (44.9%), while only Nottingham Forest have overperformed their xG more than Spurs (55 goals from 47.2 xG).

Tottenham and Manchester United both reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League with vital home victories in the last 16 on Thursday.

Spurs host Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals, with the winner of that playing either Lazio or Bodo/Glimt of Norway in the final four.

On the other side of the draw, United will face French side Lyon with the second leg taking place at Old Trafford. If they progress, they will play the winners of Athletic Bilbao or Rangers, the latter who they beat in the group stages.

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We asked for your thoughts after Tottenham progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa League with victory over AZ Alkmaar.

Here are some of your comments:

Catherine: We played a lot better than we have been playing recently. It shows what happens when our main defenders are in the side and it was nice to see Wilson Odobert get a few goals.

Dave: Brilliant in patches. Shocking at times. Summed up the season. Unfortunately, the result is a reprieve for Ange Postecoglou. Find a quality partner for Micky van der Ven, build the team around Lucas Bergvall (terrific) and James Maddison - and hire a manager who is not delusional and we might be in business next season.

Paul: A much improved showing with some excellent play leading to the goals. Still a little lax in defence but good to see they put bodies on the line when needed. Really pleased that Odobert is in such good form.

Silvia: Really pleased with the result and even more pleased with the performance. Lots of Angeball, lots of passion and lots of energy! Where has this Spurs been hiding?

Gary: We looked like a team that had their two main centre-backs returning for the first time in months but were still lacking match fitness. Like a team in their first year of playing together and at the start of a rebuild that's been held together by their youth team. Ultimately, like a team that believes in the project they're part of… Bergvall as man of the match! Good to see big Ange smile again!

Andy: At last, a performance to be proud of with some great link-up play thanks mainly to our midfield lynchpin Maddison who yet again combined well with Son. Odobert, Solanke and Spence were top class. As was VDV. But Ange then decides that it's all going too smoothly, so makes sure we to try and throw it all away by taking our best defender, creator and goalscorer off with a full half an hour to go! Then followed a goal by AZ and another two clearcut chances by them that should have been goals. Another Spurs rollercoaster!

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Former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast:

"Players returning makes a massive difference. You see James Maddison being interviewed and talking about leaders, senior players in the dressing room who when he looks around he knows have his back. That's important for every player to feel you have that strength in depth.

"Ange Postecoglou will be really pleased. He's got a long way to go but overall, to get through and get the goals is a really big result. It's something to go at.

"Over the next few weeks, we can start to judge them a bit more.

"Really really positive. It looks a lot better but we still have to be cautious. There is a long way to go. They did the job but they are still a little bit fragile."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, speaking to TNT Sports: "We've progressed which is the main thing, played pretty well as well. I thought we were really in control of the game, we're our own worst enemy at times. When we were in control, we let them back in the game and it was nervy at end but we thoroughly deserved to win.

"We scored a great goal from the press and started the second half really well, really should've put the tie away in the first 15/20 minutes but super pleased for the boys."

On players returning to fitness: "It's why they're here, they're quality players. [Cristian] Romero and Micky [Van de Ven] make such a big difference to us and you saw Wilson [Odobert], we've hardly had him this year, what a super talent he is."

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Tottenham midfielder James Maddison, speaking to TNT Sports: "The next stage is what we set out to do at the start of the two legs. There was a lot of talk after last week's performance, we were honest with ourselves it wasn't good enough.

"I know what we're capable of here and we got the job done. We haven't achieved anything yet, we're in the quarter-final and we kick on and we look forward to it.

"Over the last few months when we've spoken about injuries and missing key players, then tonight, we're stood in the tunnel and you look at the team and it's a group of men. When you have the spine of players who are experienced and have played at this level for a long time it makes a difference.

"Micky [Van de Ven] and Cuti [Romero], solid at the back and it was a solid performance and we're deservedly through.

"Wilson Odobert will grab the headlines tonight and rightly so, two goals and he was a threat, and I thought he was absolutely fantastic. I'm going to go give him a big pat on the back."

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

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Tottenham had plenty to celebrate - as well as a few trademark shaky moments - as they won a game of huge consequence.

It gives boss Ange Postecoglou some breathing space for another month, with their games against Frankfurt on 10 and 17 April.

Spurs showed a good attitude in the second leg and scored from their first chance. Son blocked a clearance and Solanke squared unselfishly for Odobert to net his first goal since his £25m move from Burnley in the summer.

Solanke immediately grabbed the ball off the goalkeeper and ran it back to the halfway line as he looked to get things going again immediately.

Captain Son looked bright with a few runs at the AZ defence and shots.

They led the tie when they won the ball in their own half, and Maddison netted after a give-and-go with Son.

But just as things were looking comfortable, they let AZ back into the tie out of nowhere. Odobert let the ball run for Bergvall, who kicked the ball off his team-mate to let Koopmeiners in to score.

However it was then back to the good side of Tottenham as they scored a good 'Ange-ball' goal. Maddison ran forward with the ball and Djed Spence's cross was flicked on by Solanke for Odobert to score into an empty net from four yards out.

But Spurs are unable to sit back and see a game out comfortably. They left AZ striker Parrott, a former Spurs youngster, free in the box twice for late opportunities.

The first saw the Irishman and De Wit denied - and then Mexx Meerdink headed over instead of leaving the ball run for Parrott, who may have been better placed.

Tottenham are through, though, and in another boost first-choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were able to start together for the first time since December.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

Come back to this page on Friday to find a selection of your replies

Eight matches make up Thursday's Europa League action, and we will bring you every moment.

Kick-off 17:45 GMT

• Athletic Club v Roma (Agg 1-2)

• Eintracht Frankfurt v Ajax (Agg 2-1)

• Lazio v Viktoria Plzen (Agg 2-1)

• Olympiakos Piraeus v Bodo/Glimt (Agg 0-3)

Kick-off 20:00 GMT

• Manchester United v Real Sociedad (Agg 1-1) - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

• Lyon v FCSB (Agg 3-1)

• Rangers v Fenerbahce (Agg 3-1)

• Tottenham v AZ (Agg 0-1)

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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We asked you to tell us one thing that no-one is talking about at Tottenham at the moment.

Here are some of your comments:

Matty: Son, who is usually the happiest man in football, doesn't smile anymore. The pressures of captaining a poorly-managed, rudderless side with no plan B has broken the usually effervescent South Korean. Ange has made some big mistakes during his tenure but surely the dismantling of the bubbliest character at the club is his worst crime.

Alex: Son hasn't been the same since Harry Kane departed and he shouldn't be captain - Vicario or Kulu should help rally the team!

Kyle: Vicario. He is making incredible saves and is a stable force in the net, especially in the first 20 seconds against Bournemouth when Romero made a blunder. We missed him so much for those months while he was out. I don't think Spurs fans totally appreciated him until he came back. I admit that I did not.

Colin: When will those responsible at Spurs realise that there is something seriously wrong with either their training, style of play or both to be continually picking up so many hamstring or muscular injuries, especially to our defenders? I see that Kevin Danso is the latest to join the long list of injuries Spurs have had pretty much ever since Ange Postecoglou arrived. It's about time it was established why this is happening and addressed. I don't believe it is just coincidence or bad luck as Spurs haven't had a history of this level of injuries under previous regimes.

Lindsay: We seriously need to sign a holding midfielder in the summer as a matter of urgency. Someone in the mould of Claude Makelele.

Everton are monitoring the progress of 25-year-old Tottenham midfielder Manor Solomon, who is on loan at Leeds United. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario says Spurs are ready to shoulder the pressure that comes with a key night in their season as they bid to overturn a one-goal deficit in their Europa League last-16 second leg on Thursday.

Spurs trail AZ Alkmaar 1-0 after the first leg but Vicario is confident the Spurs players know what they have to do.

"We know exactly what the game means tomorrow night and we just want to win this game," he said. "We know that when you have two legs, the game is split in two halves. Maybe we lost the first half and now we have a big opportunity to overturn the result in our favour tomorrow.

"The pressure is on us [but] we are used to dealing with pressure day-by-day.

"We know the importance for everyone at the football club, for the fans especially. We are looking forward to it."

The Europa League is Spurs' last remaining opportunity for silverware this season. Vicario hopes Postecoglou's side can find consistency in the final games of the season - and that can start with a positive performance on Thursday.

"If we don't win tomorrow, we will be out of the competition," he said. "It will be tough for us and we have to embrace it and the good Spurs tomorrow will be the winning Spurs. We have to show our best qualities.

"We are very, very committed to doing that and we prove that when we are 100 per cent in the brain and committed to that, we have proved what we can do."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Tottenham Hotspur say there will be "no increase" in ticket prices next season.

A price freeze for season and match tickets extends to both the women's and men's team and includes the creation of new senior concession ticketing.

In a statement on the club website, external, the club said it "appreciates the loyalty and commitment of supporters from all generations" and quotes the Fan Advisory Board as "pleased" with the price freeze.

However, it is worth saying this ticket announcement has been made during a period of intense scrutiny on the football and non-footballing parts of the club.

Of course, a key catalyst for this is anger about Spurs' results in a season where they are 13th in the Premier League and out of both domestic cups.

Yet, a perceived obsession with profit has also been part of a protest movement led by fringe fan group Change for Tottenham, which ultimately is calling for chairman Daniel Levy to leave the club.

This, therefore, is a decision made while under pressure from an angry fanbase, but it should at least show the club is listening after consultation with fan groups.

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says the discipline shown by Djed Spence and Pape Sarr through Ramadan is a "testament" to both players, as they fast during daylight hours and continue to perform at the highest level for his team.

"It's a testament to him [Sarr], all the other players who have their faith and have those strong beliefs, that they are able to do both [play and fast during daylight hours]," he said. "I think Djed [Spence] is observing it as well.

"With all these things, you have to respect people's beliefs and our role is to support and do what we can to provide for them.

"Pape is coming back to the levels we've seen earlier in the season. He's important to us."

Ramadan is the Muslim tradition of fasting during daylight hours, observed from Friday, 28 February to Sunday 30 March this year.