Tottenham Hotspur

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Former Tottenham defender Kyle Walker says former midfielders Victor Wanyama and Moussa Dembele were always going to be effective at Spurs given how they performed in training.

The full-back played alongside the duo who formed a dynamic partnership in the middle of Mauricio Pochettino's side.

"I remember at Tottenham when Wanyama and Dembele were there and in training you used to hear that sound of the legs just smashing against each other," he told The Kyle Walker Podcast.

"They were two big, big lads , and you half winced when they went into a challenge there because you know that they both fully committed to it.

"They didn't want to hurt each other - obviously they were playing for the same team - but it showed their desire. They wanted to be the best in training and I think that just shows why they both had such fantastic careers."

Walker has also spotted a Premier League rival that plays like his former team-mate Danny Rose.

Speaking on The Kyle Walker podcast, he highlighted Arsenal full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly: "He is physical. He reminds me of a little bit of a guest that we had on the first season - Danny Rose.

"It's how he plays. He uses his body well and he's got a good left foot on him and a good football brain."

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Tottenham's Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt will not be the first time boss Ange Postecoglou has come up against the Norwegian side.

His Celtic team were comprehensively beaten in the Conference League in 2021-22, losing 3-1 at home and 2-0 away to exit 5-1 on aggregate.

The Bodo/Glimt manager from that time Kjetil Knutsen remains in charge and is looking forward to facing Postecoglou again.

"I know the coach, but it is a totally different game," he said.

"We need to play with a perfect defence on Thursday because they have a lot of rotations and really good individuals. [They will create] a lot of situations in our box. We have played good games against them, but I think Tottenham is a better team than Celtic.

"I really hope the players are not thinking about the occasion and are able to play the game, but it is not easy. We have a journey where we want to find our identity in every game, home and away - even against good teams.

"That is part of the plan on Thursday."

Full commentary of Tottenham v Bodo/Glimt on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra from 20:00 BST on Thursday

Tottenham fan Ali Speechly is "confident Spurs can win at home" in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt but that "for Ange, whether he wins it or not, he's gone at the end of the season".

Speaking on The Football News Show, Speechly said: "I do feel a little bit nervy about the opposition because if anyone can find a banana skin it's us.

"Hopefully for Ange's sake, he can leave with the trophy that he always wins in his second season, and us Spurs fans can finally have something to cheer about."

Watch the full episode of The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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James Maddison has accepted that this season has been a "balancing act" as Tottenham prepare for their Europa League semi-final first leg against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.

Spurs' form between the Premier League and Europe has fluctuated, and Maddison admitted the mood was low after Sunday's 5-1 defeat at Liverpool.

"You want to feel the hurt and embarrassment," said the 28-year-old.

"My job as a senior player is to accept the fact we were poor and understand we can't go forward like that, because the league is what gives you the momentum to take in to Europe."

Despite their struggles domestically, Thursday represents a chance to take one step towards reaching a major final.

"It's huge," Maddison added. "When you get to the end of your career and you look back, there are not many times as a player when you've been in a major European semi-final.

"It's been a poor season, but we still have the chance to do something special and we've earned that."

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg at home to Bodo/Glimt (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Postecoglou confirmed Son Heung-min "won't play tomorrow night" and is "out training separate from the group".

• On the impact of the fans: "It's going to be hugely important for us. Our fans in Frankfurt were outstanding and they have been in all the European games this year. We are going to need it [support] tomorrow night."

• Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League but Postecoglou wants his side to "concentrate on an unbelievable opportunity" and not let their league form detract from the chance to give the fans a "special moment".

• On the possibility of building a lead in the first leg: "Playing at home in Europe has its advantages for every team. What is really important is that we put in a really dominant performance but I don't think we can go into it thinking we are just going to kill off the tie."

• After an injury-hit season, Postecoglou feels Spurs are in a "good place physically" but stressed "they will need to be" against a side like Bodo.

• On Bodo/Glimt: "They've been consistent over the past few years. Obviously, they've got the same manager and a core group of players with a distinct style of football. You [the media] would love us to say that Bodo are a small club, but they are here on merit. I don't underestimate anyone and they've earned the right to be here."

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We asked for your views on midfielder Lucas Bergvall signing a new deal until 2031.

Here are some of your comments:

Kev: Great news that Lucas Bergvall has signed on a long-term deal. He's exactly the type of player that the team can be built around. Great attitude, on and off the pitch. Now, time to offload some overpaid deadwood over the summer, starting with Cristian Romero.

Steve: Class player - build a team around him and Archie Gray.

Dougie: Definitely a great prospect for the club for sure. But choosing to invest in young quality players sourced and driven by data analytics rather than investing in seasoned experienced pros seems to be the new Spurs blueprint. So we might start winning trophies in several years!

Gary: Bergvall is a great young player, plenty still to learn but is getting there, no doubt about it. Something positive from a very poor season.

Clare: I think it's great that Bergvall has signed this contract, although a little surprised that anyone would want to stick with us the way we've been and with the running of the club as a whole. Maybe he's seen something that inspires him to stay on. If the board at Tottenham have a long-term plan that we all need to stick to (i.e not changing manager every 18 months), then they should be honest and upfront with the fans so that we can be assured where we're heading.

Tom: Exactly the statement of intent the club needs, but also from the player that he feels on the right place as well. A vote of confidence from both parties.

Spinner: Great signing - need more like him . Why are we not playing all our very talented youngsters in the league, which has been a lost cause for weeks?

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Fans and managers will not want to hear it, but I think for players you can definitely raise yourself for a cup competition despite awful form in the league.

In terms of performances through the season, Spurs have been dreadful. There has been a lot of noise around injuries, Ange Postecoglou, the ownership and the future, but all of that goes away when there is the chance for a trophy.

They were absolutely battered at Anfield at the weekend and the manner of the loss will be hard to take.

But, when I look at the Tottenham team and some of the players they have got - like a goalscorer in Dominic Solanke, a World Cup winner in Cristian Romero, quality in James Maddison - they actually have players in their team that are winners.

And as much as people may not want to hear it, there is silverware to play for in Europe and these players can switch it on in one-off games. They can pull off a performance and results - like we saw in the last round in Frankfurt - and now there is absolutely nothing to play for in the league, they can focus everything on Europe.

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It is not nice to hear when you are a supporter who pays their money to follow Spurs home and away, but the players will be hanging onto the fact they feel like they are in a good position in terms of the draw and have a squad that can get over the line in big European nights.

It is easy to raise yourself for a semi-final with the prize in sight, and in that sense defeat at Anfield and the awful Premier League form will not make much of an impact.

Spurs do not have that consistency in this group of players to thrive in the league, but they have more than enough to progress to the Europa League final.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

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Midfielder Lucas Bergvall has signed a new contract with Tottenham, stating he feels he is at "a club with great ambitions".

The 19 year-old, signed from Swedish side Djurgarden for £8.5m in the summer, has now committed his future to Spurs until 2031.

"I worked really hard for this and, with help from my team-mates and the staff, I've developed a lot this season," he told SpursPlay., external

"If you compare to the beginning of the season, I came from the Swedish league, I had a lot to learn and needed to settle down a little bit.

"But I think around Christmas and before that, I started to get more time [on the pitch] and I started to develop.

"It's a club with great ambitions. We've had a tough season but we've learned a lot but we still have a lot to do."

Bergvall said the short-term focus is on the Europa League, with Tottenham facing Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals, but added: "The goal is to win everything."

What do you make of this news? How highly do you rate Bergvall and how important is it for Spurs to tie players like him down to long-term deals? Let us know here

Tottenham and Manchester United are both interested in signing French attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki, 21, from Lyon. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Ali Speechly
Fan writer

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The less said about Sunday's performance against Liverpool, the better.

Having clearly given up on making any kind of effort in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou and his players have instead turned their attention to Thursday's must-win semi-final against FK Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.

Based on our current form in the domestic league, our chances of winning silverware in Europe this season seem slim, but anything can happen in tournament football.

There is something of a banana skin about facing opposition like FK Bodo/Glimt though, isn't there? The sort of game where everyone else expects you to win – which is exactly the worst type of game for Tottenham Hotspur.

Any true Spurs fan knows better than to assume victory but, at the same time, defeat to this Norwegian team seems too disappointing to contemplate, especially given what we have already had to endure this season.

It is looking increasingly like these will be the final games for Ange as Spurs manager – whether we win this trophy or not – so in all honesty I just want him and his players to make themselves proud on Thursday evening and, most importantly, to give us Spurs fans something to celebrate.

It is essential not only that we win this first leg, but that we do so with a healthy goal difference. That way, even if we struggle away from home in the second leg, hopefully we will already be so far out in front that even we cannot mess it up.

As I have expressed in previous weeks, I am dubious as to how we go from woeful in the Premier League to wonderful in the Europa League, but I would be more than happy for Ange and the team to show me how it is done.

Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external

Everton have made Tottenham forward Richarlison their first-choice attacking target this summer. (Givemesport), external

Spurs will have to sell players to make funds available for new signings this summer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has warned Tottenham "not to underestimate" Thursday's Europa League semi final opponents Bodo/Glimt because they have been one of the standout teams in this campaign.

Spurs players' will have to recover - and fast - following Sunday's thumping at Liverpool.

"The performance was not good enough," said Reo-Coker on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "The mental side of it for these players, who are going into two legs of a game that can book them a place in a European final, will be interesting.

"I don't think you would want to lose in that manner before such a big game - even if it is to Liverpool.

"No one really expected Tottenham to win because they made eight changes but Ange Postecoglou has now probably dug himself an even deeper hole because how are you going to get these players up again for such a big game?

"I would warn Spurs now not to underestimate Bodo/Glimt. They have been one of the fantastic teams in this Europa League. I have covered them in this competition and they are a sensational footballing side. Whether that be on their artificial pitch at home or grass away.

"They are going to cause Tottenham some serious problems."

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Tottenham, which saw Ange Postecoglou's side fall to a dismal 5-1 defeat.

Here are some of your replies:

Dave: Men vs boys. Same old 'Ange-ball' nonsense. Time to go. You can succeed in Scotland, where there are mostly two teams, but you can't in the Premier League. We probably won't win the Europa league either - we are simply not good enough. Massive clearout required in the close season, including the management because this season has been an embarrassment.

Chester: Not a decent tackler in midfield, awful distribution from the back, every challenge across the pitch lost and one header won in the whole game. Can we win a trophy? If you think you can change all of that in four days, you would be regarded as delusional.

Doug: We are a disgrace. All this focus on Europa League, but we can't beat the likes of Wolves and Ipswich - and we get humiliated by Liverpool three times in a season. We can't defend, we can't pass and I've got no idea what is going on in training. Ange needs to go regardless of whether we win the Europa League or not.

George: This was expected - we shouldn't make it out like it wasn't. Ange should be given the chance to win us the Europa League. If we manage to win it, give him next season to prove himself under normal conditions. We are in bad form in the league, just like any other team has been in the past, and it is a mindset issue not a management issue. A fresh start next season with a potential European trophy under our belts sounds a lot more promising.

Dan: It's gone way past the time for Ange to go. Honestly, how long do we have to put up with this for? The players don't seem to care or show any fight. The attitude is coming from the manager!

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 1-1 Manchester United

• Liverpool 5-1 Tottenham

Atletico Madrid have made Tottenham defender Cristian Romero one of their top targets this summer. (Marca - in Spanish, external)

Tottenham, Newcastle United, Manchester United, West Ham, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all interested in signing Canada striker Jonathan David, 25, when his Lille contract expires in the summer - but Marseille are hoping to persuade the player to stay in France. (RMC Sport, via Get Football News France, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, speaking to Sky Sports: "Credit to Liverpool. They're worthy champions – they've been outstanding all year. It was really hard for us. They proved to be too good.

"We were going to face a highly motivated team and so it proved. We started the game OK and tried to make it as hard as possible. We're making a lot of changes to our team on a weekly basis. It's affecting our fluency and consistency, and we're paying the price for that.

"In the first half, what was really disappointing was the manner in which we conceded the goals. I thought we were actually well in the game and had our moments going forward. Once they went in front it was really difficult, with the crowd behind them, to get back into the game.

"In the games we've been blown away by Liverpool, we've been fairly depleted. We've obviously rested a few, which I think we needed. The lads who played have come through OK, which is what we needed."

On the Europa League semi-final on Thursday: "There's a massive opportunity. We'll put all our energies, efforts and focus into that and try to push on to a European final."

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Tottenham Hotspur have lost their 19th game of the season, their joint-most defeats in a Premier League campaign along with the 1993-94 and 2003-04 seasons.

This defeat by Liverpool was the joint-heaviest Spurs have suffered in the league under Ange Postecoglou and guarantees that they will finish a top-flight season in the bottom half for the first time since 2007-08 (11th).

So, how are you feeling after that, Tottenham fans?

What's your verdict on the performance? And are you now worried about Thursday's huge Europa League semi-final?

Let us know

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