Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has labeled their recent 1-0 defeat by AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League as a "wake-up call" ahead of what he considers their "biggest game of the season." The narrow loss in the Netherlands leaves Spurs with a challenging task for the upcoming second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Despite creating few clear-cut chances during the match, the team remains hopeful of overturning the one-goal deficit next Thursday.
The performance against AZ Alkmaar was lackluster, with Spurs failing to create significant opportunities in the first half. Acknowledging their shortcomings, former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou stated, "It wasn't great from us tonight, pretty much all facets of the game. We didn't really get to grips with any part of the game. We struggled to gain any momentum with the ball, we weren't as aggressive as we needed to be without the ball."
Spurs currently sit 13th in the Premier League and have been eliminated from both domestic cups this season. The recent defeat has put their sole chance of securing silverware in jeopardy, emphasizing the significance of next week's clash. Postecoglou emphasized the need for improvement, saying, "There are no excuses, we were not good enough. It's just 1-0, it's still not finished, and next week we have to be much better."
Adding to their woes, striker Dominic Solanke suffered an injury late in the game after returning to action following a seven-week absence due to a knee problem. Postecoglou commented on Solanke's condition, stating, "It looks like a knock, but I haven't really seen it – hopefully nothing too bad."
The defeat in Alkmaar was marked by Lucas Bergvall's own goal, further compounding Tottenham's struggles in European competition. Postecoglou highlighted the team's need for a change in mindset when tackling away fixtures in Europe. He remarked, "It was nowhere near the level it needed to be," reflecting on their performance.
Tottenham's season now hinges on their ability to rebound in the second leg. With Postecoglou's track record of winning trophies in his second season at clubs, there remains hope for Spurs fans. However, the team must rise to the occasion and deliver a performance worthy of their ambitions.
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