Tottenham Hotspur left the top eight of the Europa League standings after holding off Hoffenheim to win 3-2 away from home.
Hanger Postecoglou’s side slumped to ninth on Thursday but are now poised to avoid a two-legged play-off to reach the last 16.
Tottenham Hotspur play their final league game on January 30 with a one-point advantage over the teams in what the Mail claimed was a “great position”.
“It gives us a great chance to get one of those top-eight spots, which will give us a week-to-week, it’s almost as good as going through,” he said. TNT sportsA series
“It is a big position for us. We want to finish in the top eight because it gives us an extra week off the schedule we have.
“We should probably need it then, so it’s a great boost.”
James Maddion’s stunning effort in the third minute and Heung-Min Behone’s deflected shot after 20 minutes gave Tottenham control of the fixtures, but it was a tale of two halves after the restart.
The note looked set to pay off after Brandon Austin was adjudged to have gone close to the penalty area in the penalty area, only for var, but the lead arrived just seconds later.
Anton Stach locked the ball into the back of the net with hopes of high returns before it quickly met his son, curling the far corner of the evening.
However, in traditional Tottenham fashion, there has been more drama than late.
David Mokwa keeps Ntusu’s headers after coming off the bench, with Germany’s Tottalan injured as hosts, pushing Tottenham, who replaced them with youngsters, to the finish line.
Tottenham held the best margin and are now three games in a row without a win in Europe, but their sheltering defense, which included the archy gray of the left.
Postecoglou. Winning in Europe is not easy – ask Man City.
Tottenham boss Ange Postcoglou Speaking TNT sports:
“It is not easy to leave the victories in Europe. I watched the Champions League last night and there was only one away win, so it’s tough.
“Credit to the boys. I thought it was a really good first half.
“We had the schoolboys there at the end and that was a big win.”
Postecoglou wants to block the “noise”
Tottenham boss Ange Postcoglou:
“I’ve been doing it for a long time and the important thing is that you have a really strong belief in what you’re doing and it doesn’t affect where you are.
“For me, that was always the most important thing. I definitely believe in what we do. I definitely believe that others are for me.
“It doesn’t affect my decision-making or my interactions with the club and particularly the players and staff.
“They are in the center of my attention, and I have to make sure that they have faith. If they still have faith, then I know that we can succeed.
“It’s not easy to be fair because there’s a lot of noise. There’s the most noise in the Premier League, so you have to deal with that, but in the end it’s just noise.”
Who would Tottenham play currently?
Tottenham Currently occupied A sixth place finish and a win against Elfsborg in their final game will guarantee them a top eight finish straight into the round of 16.
Had Spurs stayed in their current position, they would have faced the winners of the play-off between the teams involved. 11th, 12th, 21st and 22nd.
Currently, those positions are engaged in the final stage of the league stage Viktoria Plzen (11th), Olympiacos (12th), Roma (21st) and Ferencvaros (22nd).
Senior stars fuel hopes of big break
Sky Sports’ Ali Stafford.
When you’ve got 14 players injured and your star striker is on the sidelines for the next six weeks, any chance to reduce your fixture schedule is welcome.
A return to the Europa League had boosted Tottenham’s chances of a top-eight exit that would leave them with a two-legged knockout stage play-off, but the win confirms a last 16 berth in their hands.
Hangi Postecoglou praised how his senior players “stood up” to support an inexperienced side with a vital three points as he opened the scoring with a valuable brace at Ames Madison.
The fatigue was visible in the second half and was twice suggested to the Hoffenheim side, who should have been well beaten by now, but “Tottenham” held their nerve in all contests.
The three points against Elfsborg next Thursday ensure they have two extra games in February, and a win gives Postecoglou’s string squad going into Lecery Sever on Sunday.
When is the Europa League knockout stage?
Knockout playoffs. On February 13 and 20, 2025
16th round. March 6 and March 13, 2025
Quarter finals. April 10 and 1725
Semi-manufactures. From May 1, 2025 May 1
Final: May 21, 2025