Veteran players such as Postecoglou coach Son Heung-min against Alkmaar will be key
Mar 13, 2025
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Tottenham will play AZ Alkmaar in the second round of the Europa League (UEL) round of 16 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on the afternoon of the 13th (local time). For Tottenham, we have to win. They lost the away game of the first leg 0–1.
Postecoglou valued the veteran's experience. "Players like Son Heung-min, Romero, Madison, and Vicario will be the key to tomorrow's same game," he said. "They rarely or very rarely played together throughout the season. It would be a great help."
◇Q&A with Director Enzi Postecoglou
-What is the status of the team at the moment? What about Kevin Forger? And can Romero and Van der Ben start?
▶Yes, you included all the questions! Kevin suffered a hamstring injury in the last game and cannot play. Ben Davies is back, and that's the only change compared to the weekend game. The rest of the players played without any special problems.
-Are Van der Ben and Romero ready to start?
▶Both played well. Romero didn't have any particular problems, and it was nice to get Mickey (Van der Ben) back in the game. Both players are available.
-What do you think this game is being evaluated as a 'winn't win' in Tottenham's season and the coach's project?
▶Honestly, how many jobs in the world should be asked like this? There's hardly any. But I'll answer politely. I'm focused on winning tomorrow's game, and I need to perform better than last Thursday's game. The game was far from what we wanted. There were some good things about the weekend game, and there were some regrets, but if we play with the tempo and intensity that we showed in the weekend game, we will have a good chance.
-This tournament was considered a favorite from the beginning, and the coach always said 'I'm winning in my second year. Is there an additional burden?
▶No, there is no particular burden. As I said earlier, it is true that the performance in Game 1 was disappointing. But at least it didn't make the game completely impossible. Although it is still equal, and the opponent is one goal ahead, if you play at home, you will have enough opportunities if you play with the tempo and intensity shown in the weekend game. If we advance to the next round, there will be another big challenge ahead, but our core goal now is to show a strong performance at home tomorrow.
-There has been a lot of talk about young players, but experience will be an important factor in tomorrow's game. Shouldn't players like Romero, Madison, and Son Heung-min play important roles?
▶That's right, and I think we should include Vicario. Vicario played a huge part in the first leg and also played an important role in the weekend games. Experienced players have to play in these games. I've relied a lot on young players, and they're growing really well, but in the same game tomorrow, players like Romero, Madison, Vicario, and Son Heung-min will be key. In fact, the four of them rarely or very rarely played together throughout the season. It would be a great help for all leadership groups to play together.
-Do you regret making the comment that you said 'I win all the time in year 2'?
▶I'm always the type to answer questions honestly. I was just asked, and I actually answered the question. But people use it to suit their interpretation. It's as if I made a bold claim. But I was simply telling the truth. If you don't win this year, the next time you're asked the same question, you can't say that anymore.
How should I have answered that? 'I always win in my second year. But should I have said, 'Maybe not here.' Is that what people want to hear?
I don't care about these things. People can distort words as they want. If we really win, we'll say 'He made a bold claim, and he made it in the end. These words are interpreted on a situation-by-situation basis, and I'm just going to answer them in the way I want to. I'm proud of the fact that I've won everywhere, and I wouldn't be here otherwise. Time will tell you if you're going to win here in your second year.
-How serious is Kevin Forger's injury?
▶It's still difficult to say exactly. I felt pain at the end of the game. Fortunately, we have an international break, so we have time to recover. Kevin is a good player who is good at self-management, so he will give you as much opportunity as possible. But we have to wait and see the progress for now.
-Hishalisson was seen running on the turf, how's his rehab status now?
▶I think I can return after the A match. It depends on his progress, but it was positive to see him training on the turf. I'm training hard for my return. After the break, you are likely to participate.
-It's impressive that Pape Matar Sarr keeps Ramadan in good performance. What do you think about this?
▶This is not only for Sarr, but for all players of the same belief. Jed Spence is also guarding Ramadan. We have to respect the players' beliefs, and it is our role to support them to perform at their best. Sarr is regaining a similar level of performance early in the season and last year, and he is an important player in our team right now. In tomorrow's game, we will need Sarr's energy as Rodrigo (Bentancourt) is suspended.
-Why did the team's mindset go wrong in the last AZ match?
▶It was clear that we didn't play as intense as usual. There may be a number of reasons, but we have analyzed and re-examined them. We had some difficulties in the weekend game, but especially in the second half, we were able to regain our original performance. Our performance is not gone. We need to bring that level back up in tomorrow's game.
-Tomorrow's game is a big burden, how do you communicate it to the players?
▶ It's a game that's always burdened. But even if we succeed in tomorrow's game, we will have the same burden in the next round. In European matches or cup tournaments, every game means a lot, and if you lose, you're done, so players have to accept it and focus on it. Fortunately, it will be a good challenge as much as we play at home.
-I think the role of the fans is important, too?
▶Yes, it's very important. Just as AZ fans strongly supported the team in Game 1, our fans should create a good atmosphere tomorrow. I hope the home fans can give the team a boost, just like against Manchester City or Liverpool.
-I'm one goal behind, should I be active from the beginning? Or should I consider 120 minutes?
▶You just have to play as usual. We have to win anyway, and if we win, it's a tie. The way the game itself will not change much. We have to play as usual, take the lead, and produce the results we want.
-How do you rate Troy Parrott's performance this season?
▶Lending in the Netherlands helped him greatly. There are times when it is beneficial for players to leave England and experience a different style of football. We've made good progress, and I hope we'll be quiet in tomorrow's game.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
