Tottenham Hotspur endured a disappointing night in the Europa League, falling 1-0 to AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash.
The decisive moment came early in the match when Lucas Bergvall unintentionally turned the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a cross, gifting the Dutch side a crucial lead.
Despite their efforts to find an equalizer, Spurs struggled to break through AZ’s disciplined defence, failing to create many meaningful scoring chances.
Following the match, Ange Postecoglou acknowledged that his team underperformed, admitting they never truly took control of the game. He pointed out that Spurs were far too passive both with and without the ball, lacking the aggression and urgency needed to dictate play.
The Australian manager also noted the challenging pitch conditions but emphasized that the team’s struggles were more about their overall lack of intensity. He stressed that rather than blaming individual errors, the focus needed to be on addressing the team’s collective shortcomings.
To make matters worse, Rodrigo Bentancur picked up a suspension for the return leg after accumulating too many yellow cards, meaning Spurs will be without a key presence in midfield. On the injury front, Postecoglou provided reassurance that Dominic Solanke’s issue appears to be a knock rather than anything serious.
Despite the setback, the Spurs boss remains optimistic about their chances in the second leg, pointing to their attacking strength at home.
Postecoglou stated (as quoted by BBC Sport):
“Not a great night for us. Obviously, it’s a disappointing result but a really disappointing performance.
“We never got a grip on the game, never really got control at any stage. We were always struggling both on and off the ball. It wasn’t a great night, but it’s only halfway and we’re still in the tie.
“It was a tricky pitch and we didn’t really handle it really well. Aside from that, we just weren’t aggressive enough and we were way too passive in terms of the way we pressed.
“Too many times we were just circulating the ball without any real intent to hurt them. No fault for the goal, it happens. It’s more about the collective tonight rather than the individuals.
“Collectively, we were nowhere near the level we needed to be and that’s the thing we need to address.
“Absolutely, at home we’re capable of scoring goals and putting pressure on the opponent.”
With Tottenham enduring a difficult domestic campaign, sitting 13th in the Premier League and already knocked out of both domestic cups, the Europa League remains their only real chance at securing Champions League qualification.
Winning the competition would not only end the club’s 17-year wait for silverware but could also be vital in retaining key players ahead of the summer transfer window.
The return leg in North London now becomes a must-win encounter for the Lilywhites to keep their European dreams alive.
