Tottenham announcement ‘to provide Bodø/Glimt with increased motivation’
Ange Postecoglou faces perhaps the biggest game of his career when Tottenham host Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final.
Tottenham suffered their 19th Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday (27 April) as Liverpool clinched their 20th English league title by thrashing Postecoglou’s side 5-1 at Anfield.
Despite the disappointing nature of the loss, it is clear that Postecoglou is fully focused on the Europa League after the Australian did something no Tottenham manager has ever done ahead of kick-off.
Spurs will welcome Bodø/Glimt to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday (1 May) for the first leg of the Europa League semi-final. However, ahead of the clash, the Lilywhites have made an announcement which is expected to have provided their opponents with some increased motivation.
Tottenham request to move Premier League fixture v Aston Villa
Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Postecoglou is expected to be sacked by Tottenham.
However, the 59-year-old still has a chance to end his near two-year stay in North London on the highest of highs by winning the Europa League.
| Fixture | Date | Venue |
| Tottenham v Bodø/Glimt | 1 May | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium |
| Bodø/Glimt v Tottenham | 8 May | Aspmyra Stadion |
With that in mind, Tottenham announced on Sunday (27 April) that they were in discussions with the Premier League about moving their Premier League fixture with Aston Villa, scheduled for Sunday, 18 May, which is three days before the Europa League final on Wednesday, 21 May.
This request has since been rebuffed by Aston Villa.
And ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – thinks Spurs’ attempts to move their fixture will provide Bodø/Glimt with an added incentive.
“How much difference could this really make for Tottenham?” King said.
“We’re talking about professional footballers here. It is not as if they’re are many games between now and the end of the season anyway. However, they are looking for every advantage they can get.
“I expect Tottenham to reach the final. However, requests like this being made before the semi-final has even been played don’t always bode well. Imagine how Bodø/Glimt will be feeling?
“For this to come out publicly, I’m not sure that was a good idea. This will motivate Bodø/Glimt and give them an added incentive to beat Tottenham. They’ll be saying among themselves, ‘Our opponents want a game moved because they think they’re already in the final’.”
Postecoglou needs to win the Europa League with Tottenham
Even if Postecoglou is going to leave Tottenham at the end of the season, the 59-year-old still needs to win the Europa League.
Should he leave Spurs off the back of an abysmal Premier League campaign and European semi-final defeat to Bodø/Glimt, it will seriously harm his stock as he looks for another job.
However, if Postecoglou walks away as the man who ended Spurs’ 17-year trophy drought, that could transform his career prospects.