Ange Postecoglou has Tottenham Hotspur to embrace the opportunity ahead of them as they prepare to host FK Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final on Thursday night.
The manager confirmed that captain Heung-min Son will not feature as he is still recovering from a foot injury. He is training individually and edging closer to a return.
Despite the absence of their skipper, Postecoglou remains focused on the significance of the occasion.
He dismissed talk of next season, insisting the chance to reach a European final is too rare to be distracted by long-term speculation.
“This is the now,” he said. “You do not get many chances like this, no matter how big your club is. Our job is to give ourselves the best shot.”
The Australian has first-hand experience of Bodo/Glimt from his time at Celtic and praised their consistency, style and resilience. He warned that their reputation as underdogs belies their quality.
“They’ve beaten Roma, Lazio, Olympiacos – they are here on merit,” he added. “I do not underestimate them. It is a credit to their stability, identity and mentality.”
He highlighted the importance of Tottenham’s home advantage, stressing that a strong display would be vital before next week’s second leg in Norway.
Although the away goals rule no longer applies, Postecoglou noted that European semi-finals are rarely straightforward.
“They work hard, they are intense, and they are not going to be fazed,” he said. “We need to be ready for a real battle.”
Tottenham have worked with supporters group THFC Flags to organise a pre-match tifo, with Postecoglou calling fan engagement ‘hugely important’ to the team’s energy.
Lucas Bergvall’s new long-term contract was another positive topic. Postecoglou emphasised the value of building around young players who seize their chances.
He also played down talk of superstition, joking that he no longer believes in ‘lucky socks’, and brushed off symbolic links to past European campaigns.
His focus is firmly on Thursday night. “This is a brilliant opportunity,” he said. “Champions League football, a trophy, a special moment for our supporters – this is what we are playing for.”
And as for Bodo/Glimt’s rise from a small Arctic town?
“That’s the beauty of football,” he said. “It is not about where you come from – it’s about what you believe you can achieve.”
