Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against AZ Alkmaar (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Kevin Danso has a hamstring injury but fellow defender Ben Davies is back in contention for Thursday's game: "Kevin got a hamstring injury in the last game so he's out. Ben is back in. So that's the only change from the weekend. Everyone else got through the game without issues."

• Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have came through the weekend unscathed and are available for the match against AZ Alkmaar: "They got through the game well, obviously, Romero no issues. It was great to get Micky out there. They're both available."

• Postecoglou doesn't regret his statement that he always wins something in his second season, stating: "My view has always been when you're asked something, you answer it. People have used it for their own purposes to make out I was making a bold claim. I was just stating a fact [about the past]. If we do win a trophy this season, then some people might say 'oh isn't it nice that he did that after making such a bold claim'. It wasn't. People will just use it the way they want to, whatever the circumstances."

• Postecoglou answered questions about his future: "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."

• The Spurs boss is backing his side to overturn the one-goal deficit they have after the 1-0 first-leg defeat by AZ Alkmaar last week: "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."

• He is happy to have senior players available to him, after spending much of this season fielding a team of youngsters: "I think Vicario was enormous for us in the first leg and on the weekend as well so yes, 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 Romero, Vicario, Maddison and Sonny [Son Heung-min] out there, they are our four leaders. Having all four out there will be beneficial."

Follow all of Wednesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso is set to miss the Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar with a hamstring injury.

The Austria international has been a regular for Spurs since his arrival from Lens in the January transfer window – making seven starts for the club.

But Danso is now facing a spell on the sidelines with an injury that is expected to rule him out of Thursday's game, where Spurs face a 1-0 aggregate deficit.

Danso is also at risk of missing the Premier League game against Fulham on Sunday, while the Austria national team have made checks on his availability for their Uefa Nations League double against versus Serbia.

Tottenham are 13th in the Premier League and eight points away from the top half of the table. Barring a miraculous late-season run, their hopes of qualifying for European competition next season seem to rest on winning the Europa League.

And there is no doubt plenty more going on that you know far more about than we do.

So tell us, what's one thing - good or bad - that no-one is talking about at Tottenham but really should be?

Let us know here

Tottenham have opened talks with Angel Gomes over a free transfer move when the 24-year-old England midfielder's Lille contract expires this summer. (Football Transfers), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Ali Speechly
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

One player who epitomises Spurs this season is Lucas Bergvall.

If we want to get the negatives out of the way, he can be impetuous and this is evidenced by some of his reckless tackles.

He can be a frustrating ball hog, trying to weave his way out of situations and conceding possession by running into opposition players when a simple pass to a team-mate five yards away would suffice.

He can also be a touch unlucky, as his own goal in the Europa League last week proved.

However, his reaction to that own goal and his performance for the rest of the AZ Alkmaar game - arguably the best from anyone in a Spurs shirt on a disappointing night overall - tells us everything we need to know about this promising young player.

The young Sweden international is determined, creative, combative and productive.

Perhaps more importantly for Spurs this season, he is relentless. His head never drops. His feet never stop. He keeps running, pressing, tackling and trying.

In fact, more often than not this season, Bergvall has galvanised this team in a way that our older and more experienced players have struggled to do so.

After the game against Bournemouth on Sunday, Ange Postecoglou spoke about a sense of nervousness among certain players. Maybe the weight of expectation is too heavy a burden for some of the more seasoned professionals in the team?

Perhaps the reason Bergvall and his peers, such as Archie Gray, Djed Spence and Brennan Johnson, are offering better performances is because no-one expected them to save the day in the first place.

As key players return from injury to boost our chances in Europe, they should be thanking players like Bergvall for ensuring there is still something left for them to play for.

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

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Super Sunday wasn't fabulously super this week. The Chelsea v Leicester match was less than astounding - other than Cole Palmer finally missing a penalty. The first half of Manchester United v Arsenal was predictable and uninspired, well until the 44th minute wonder strike by Bruno Fernandes. It livened up as a spectacle in the second half but the only relevant headline is that absolutely no one gives Arsenal a chance of catching Liverpool now.

Thank goodness for the mayhem of Spurs v Bournemouth. There are so many live games on TV every weekend, you sometimes have to decide which game to watch in full and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tempted me above the others, yes even the initially sexier sounding Manchester United v Arsenal game.

It was always going to have plenty of energy because these are two teams whose philosophy is to develop controlled chaos in order to open out the game. They are risk-takers who encourage expansive football, compared to the over-technical, over-passing, which is beginning to look a bit passe.‌

I hope that this style, which is designed to entertain even the neutrals, will in time be the dominant force in the Premier League once again but it needs success. Sadly, that still seems a long way away for Spurs, but it was fun to watch.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Image source, Getty Images

Son Heung-Min thinks Tottenham Hotspur's "sloppy" starts have to be cut out if the club are to progress.

Spurs came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth on Sunday, but face a huge game in midweek in the Europa League against AZ Alkmaar.

Speaking to SpursPlay after Sunday's game, Son said: "Everybody has to look at ourselves. Nobody will help us except on the pitch.

"I think those guys who are playing need to take more responsibility as I always say and look, it's been many, many times we have been sloppy, we start sloppy, get behind and then chase the game. It's not ideal.

"We have to be very strong and make a step forward. You can't always stay on the same stairs, you have to try to make a step forward as we move on.

"It is already past the game, so we have to look forward, be positive and take some tough moments because Thursday is another big game at home."

Ange Postecoglou's side have to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second-leg against the Dutch side to progress in the club's only hope of cup success left this season, and Son believes the entire club have to be together on Thursday.

"We need everyone. From the supporters, players, staff, from the club, we need everybody with that game to turn it around," he said.

"Look, quality doesn't bring the wins. The games always need a mentality and the care and the performance. Hard work always matters.

"We need to be focused, take it seriously, respect our opponent and do everything we can to turn it around, especially at home."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Bournemouth.

Here are some of your comments:

Tottenham fans

Kelly: Another lacklustre performance. Some serious errors when in possession should have seen Bournemouth out of sight by half time! Perform like this on Thursday night and our season is over.

Robert: Very poor performance, so fortunate to get a draw. The story of our season is sloppy passing.

Roger: A flattering result for one of the worst organised Spurs teams for years. It's the same problem every week with us giving chances away because players are trying to play in a way and do things that they are not good enough to do against good sides. Not sure what on earth the coaching staff are doing - the system may work against the reserves in training but it has to change because our attack is not good enough to get three or four goals every game to compensate.

Alex: Really poor performance. No energy, no desire. Lucas Bergvall made a difference in the second half, but everything is so static. Every throw in, goal kick and free kick, players are just standing around. Eight-year-old's know how to look for space, why can't we?

Terry: If you have players on the bench that means they are fit to play. So why didn't the manager pick them? I always thought that you pick your strongest available team, if you want to win football matches. I'm starting to think now that if that was the best team he could start with, then I have my doubts if he could pick his own nose. We could have been two goals down in four minutes and could have lost by four or five goals. The Spurs supporters deserve better than this.

Bournemouth fans

Tim: Bournemouth play magnificent football but keep throwing points away. Dreadful decision making by Kepa [Arrizabalaga] to concede the penalty.

Steve: Iraola is spot on, Bournemouth have been one of the most improved and entertaining sides this season but haven't got the knack of killing games off or gaining those scrappy 1-0 wins that the top teams seem to manage. However, they are a joy to watch at times so that's a definite plus.

Andrew: Get out of jail card played by Spurs today. Cherries should have finished them off before half time. It's an interesting world when you're disappointed to be held by Spurs!

Bernard: Always happy with a point away from home. However, Bournemouth were much the better side and unlucky not to be 2-0 up after 15 minutes. A rush of blood by the keeper cost us all three points today, so it feels like a loss. Onwards and upwards hopefully.

Former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast about Tottenham:

"It's the Forrest Gump line - Tottenham are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.

"One thing I notice that I think Tottenham are missing massively is they need a leader - or a few leaders. Right now, that is one of the biggest problems at that football club. They have no leaders. There's not one real captain at that club.

"I do worry for the great youngsters they've got coming through. Some of these youngsters have got a bright future but without having a senior player as a real leader to guide this team, you worry about those youngsters really developing with the situation at Tottenham and how it keeps going on like that."

Listen on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's three 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:

• Chelsea 1-0 Leicester City

• Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Positivity has been in scarce supply at Tottenham this season but a come-from-behind win and the return of three senior figures provided a moment of relief against Bournemouth.

Ange Postecoglou named Dominic Solanke and Cristian Romero a Premier League starting lineup for the first time since early January, while Micky van de Ven, who has also been sidelined for the past two months was among the substitutes.

But their encounter with Bournemouth starting in familiar fashion as Bournemouth took the lead via Marcus Tavernier following a swift counter-attack.

Evanilson doubled Bournemouth's advantage after half-time as Spurs looked down and out.

However, two minutes later a shade of luck, as Pape Sarr's cross nestled into the far corner, dragged Spurs back into the clash.

Substitute Son Heung-min proved to be the matchwinner from the penalty spot late in the game after the South Korean had been fouled by goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The draw hasn't done anything to bump Tottenham up the standings, keeping them in 13th, but it will offer a much-needed morale boost as they look to keep fighting in Europe.

Spurs return to the Europa League on Thursday chasing a 1-0 deficit against AZ Alkmaar in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham's Pape Sarr has scored two Premier League goals in his last four appearances, as many goals as he managed in his previous 39 in the competition.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, speaking to Sky Sports: "At 2-0 we had a bit of a mountain to climb. It was a chaotic game and the boys showed a real mentality. It would have been really easy at 2-0, with the atmosphere in the stadium, to let it slip away from us but they fought hard and got themselves back in the game.

"It was a different kind of struggle for us today. Bournemouth pressed really well and we were really sloppy with the ball at times which allowed them to pin us back. It wasn't anything like Thursday, but we hung in there.

"There is definitely a sense of nervousness there. We are getting players back who have been out quite a while. We've been keen to get [Cristian] Romero back and his first pass shows he's not played for three months. Some of it is just anxiety and nervousness which we need to get under control.

"I think Micky van de Ven, Dominic [Solanke] and Romero are quality players and we've hardly had them all year. It gives the team a bit of a boost to see them out there. It would have been a fairly deflating feeling had we not [got back into it].

"It gives us and the players some understanding that when we stay strong and we can overcome whatever kind of struggle we have.

"I don't preach from the altar. People are allowed to feel the way they do. Playing away at AZ they certainly helped their team and we'd like to think on Thursday we will make it just as hostile for the opposition."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Bournemouth's display?

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

There are three Premier League matches on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Tottenham v Bournemouth - Listen and follow the action here

• Chelsea v Leicester City - Listen and follow the action here

• Manchester United v Arsenal (16:30) - Listen and follow the action here

Kick-off times 14:00 GMT unless stated

There has been talk about Tottenham wanting Andoni Iraola as their next manager if they sack Ange Postecoglou. His stock is very high at the moment, but the Bournemouth boss will just be focused on trying to secure a top-five finish.

Spurs' season is really all about how they do in the Europa League now rather than their league position.

They do have some of their big-hitters like Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero coming back from injury, but the question is how match-sharp will they be, and also how much Thursday's tie with AZ Alkmaar has taken out of them.

Bournemouth have already beaten Spurs once this season, winning 1-0 on the south coast in December.

The Cherries play forward quickly and I am expecting them to cause Spurs more problems this time. There will definitely be goals in this, but I reckon Tottenham will score a couple too.

Sutton's prediction: 2-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Spurs fan Chris Cowlin spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast after his side fell to defeat against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.

"A very, very disappointing night for Spurs against AZ Alkmaar," Cowlin told listeners.

"We're sitting 13th in the Premier League table which is simply not good enough. We're out of both domestic cup competitions - the FA Cup, the League Cup - this is our only hope to win a trophy. Of course, we've gone without a trophy for 17 years. The trophy drought at Tottenham is ridiculous right now.

"All I would say to these players right now is do you want to be heroes or do you want to finish this season disappointed again and not qualify for Europe next season?

"Last night, we were not in the game at any point and Ange [Postecoglou] is blaming the pitch. Son [Heung-min] had said that this is a big wake-up call and [Guglielmo] Vicario at the end was telling the fans to be louder and more passionate - and these fans are spending hundreds of pounds on this club. I don't think the fans can do anymore."

On whether he thinks Postecoglou can turn things around he said: "The only positive is that it was only 1-0 last night because it could have been more. Hopefully, when Spurs are back in London next week, we can go through.

"The next round is going to be very difficult if we get there against Ajax or Frankfurt but you've got to be on your game, you cannot be using excuses about their injuries, because the team that was out there last night to face Alkmaar should have had more than enough quality to win that game."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League home game against Bournemouth (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• "There is a chance" defender Ben Davies could return as he "has progressed and he's training".

• Postecoglou said he chose not to risk Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero after looking at AZ Alkmaar pitch's, but after "a couple of extra days training they will both be in line to feature".

• He said it is "too early to tell" if Dominic Solanke will be available, but he added: "It is a knock so hopefully it will settle down pretty quickly."

• On the defeat by AZ: "We didn't perform and we are disappointed. The tie isn't over and we have them at home next week so we can focus on it after the weekend's game, which is my priority right now."

• He denied there was a "lack of leaders", adding: "It wasn't about individuals, as a collective we were nowhere near the level we need to be."

• On Guglielmo Vicario, who has received some criticism for his gesture to Spurs fans at full-time: "Vic is very, very passionate about this football club and what we are trying to do here. He wants to win and he wants everyone on board with that. If people think there's a bad bone in his body then they don't know him like I do. He is one of the purest human beings you can come across and he wants what is best for this team because he cares."

• He said "last night was a reflection of where we are" but "inconsistency has come from not having a consistent line-up".

• More on improving performances: "It's about consistency and performance - not about raising our worst level. There are different ways of tackling those challenges and making sure that, at the bare minimum, we compete and get the baseline performances up."

• On opponents Bournemouth: "They've been really good, and they were last year. Aggressive with and without the ball. They have some really good players who are developing. We have a clear objective that we need to play well if we want to get a result."

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

Image source, Getty Images

Following their 1-0 win at Vitality Stadium in December, Bournemouth are looking to complete their first league double over Tottenham.

Spurs have lost seven Premier League home games this season - their joint-most in a 38-game season in the competition (level with 1996-97). Only in 1993-94, when seasons featured 42 games, have they lost more (nine).

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Europa League game between AZ Alkmaar and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Kevin: It doesn't really matter if we do actually manage to win next week because, having watched the first half of the Ajax v Frankfurt game, there is no way that we could ever beat either of those in the next round based on the performance we displayed. Shocking.

David: Very ordinary night for Spurs. We were outfought and outplayed, and very fortunate to end up only 1-0 down. We have to be a lot better at home if we are going to progress further. I think Vicario was man of the match, which pretty much underlines how poor we were.

Joe: Think Spurs badly missed Kulusevski. Attack doesn't seem to click when he's not on the field, just as the midfield lacks creativity when Maddison isn't there. Not great given Kulusevski may be out a few weeks it seems.

Tommo: Yet another lacklustre display against a poor side. Ange really doesn't seem to have a clue at the top level and his lack of enthusiasm on the sidelines seems to transfer itself on to the players who apart from the youngsters stroll around seemingly happy with yet another defeat. Thankfully I was lucky enough to see a proper Spurs side in Europe, unlike these frauds to the shirt.

Ronnie: Dreadful. How can Postecoglou still have a job? Keeps promising they'll get better, but they only get worse.

Steve: Bergvall was unfortunate. Being totally inept until the 88th minute was ridiculous. What we're getting from the players is all the defensive frailty with none of the attacking and pressing intensity. Whose fault is that? I don't know whether the players are unable or unwilling to play his way or if he's unable to get it across to the players. Ultimately, though, I think the responsibility lies at Ange's door. Whatever the reason, it can't go on.

Steve: I thought Spurs wanted to win the Europa League? This was just another terrified, guileless performance. This was Spurs under Mourinho, Conte etc - no confidence and no idea.

Dave: Toothless without Kulusevski in attack. Son. Maddison and Tel diabolical. Free-kick between Son and Maddison one of the most embarrassing things I've ever seen. When it matters, we fall well short again and again.

Tottenham, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all interested in Bournemouth's Spain Under-21 defender Dean Huijsen, who would cost £50m. (Mail - subscription required), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport