Tottenham are gearing up for their biggest game of the season against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League
Tottenham Hotspur have one of their biggest games of the season coming up on Thursday evening as they prepare for the return leg against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.
The North Londoners need a turnaround against the Eredivisie side if they are to progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League, having lost 1-0 last week in the Netherlands after Lucas Bergvall’s unfortunate own goal. They head into the game without Kevin Danso, who sustained a hamstring injury during the closing stages of a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.
Spurs were not up to the mark against Bournemouth, although they showed great fight and spirit to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and pinch a point at home. If Ange Postecoglou’s side intend to advance to the next round in the Europa League, a significant improvement on Thursday night is necessary.
With the second leg set to happen at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham No.1 Guglielmo Vicario has made it clear what he expects from AZ Alkmaar. He feels the key ingredient to beat their Dutch counterparts in midweek would be “togetherness with the team on the pitch and the fans on the stands”.
“We have to deliver. We know exactly what we are going to face. I think tomorrow the best version of Spurs is with togetherness, with us on the pitch and the fans in the stands,” Guglielmo Vicario delivered a strong message in the pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon (h/t Football London).
Vicario had a brilliant game in between the sticks last week, making some key saves to keep the scoreline to just a 1-0 defeat in the AFAS Stadium. After the game, the Italian seemed to be implying he wanted the fans to get behind the team with his gestures towards the away end. It is safe to say it caused a bit of controversy, with the travelling fans feeling the goalkeeper’s actions were inappropriate after a poor display.
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The 28-year-old and his teammates will be raring to right the wrongs of last week and put in a much better display this time around. Well, they have to as Tottenham’s entire season hinges on Thursday’s continental fixture. Overcoming a single-goal margin is not an uphill task, but considering the Dutch side’s record in European knockout ties, the threat of a shock looms large.
The pressure is on Postecoglou’s boys to deliver as progressing in the Europa League offers them a chance to silence the doubters, salvage something from an otherwise torrid season and qualify for the Champions League next term.
