Glenn Hoddle makes bizarre Tottenham statement after defeat v AZ Alkmaar
Tottenham were beaten 1-0 by AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday, but Glenn Hoddle somehow believes that they will feel positive.
The Lilywhites were not at the races at the AFAS Stadion (6 March) and will have to turn the round of 16 tie around in the return leg next week.
The competition represents Spurs’ only chance of success after a dismal Premier League campaign and exits from both domestic cups.
However, an own goal from Lucas Bergvall has made their task even harder with only 90 minutes left to salvage their season.
Hoddle sees the positives despite Tottenham defeat
Despite the disastrous result in the Netherlands, the Spurs legend thinks that his former side will not be too down.
Speaking on TNT Sports (6 March, 20:02), he said: “They were lacklustre in their performance. But that’s a better result for Tottenham than it is for AZ.
“To play so mediocre and come home with just a one-goal deficit, they’ll be happy with that. Not the performance, but the result.”
Ange Postecoglou needs a result to save Tottenham season
If Spurs cannot get a result in the return leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, their season will be over with absolutely no chance of European qualification from their league position and no other cups to win after embarrassing exits.
Ange Postecoglou desperately needs his side to turn the tie around in North London, otherwise his reputation of winning a trophy in the second season and the chance of ending the Lilywhites’ 17-year trophy drought will be in tatters.
| Stats | AZ | Tottenham |
| Possession | 39% | 61% |
| Shots | 12 | 7 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 1 |
| Big chances | 4 | 1 |
More importantly, his job status may come under severe pressure once again if Spurs are eliminated against a team that they should have the quality to beat and Daniel Levy may decide that he has had enough of the poor performances and wield the axe on the former Celtic man.
Postecoglou’s decision to keep the likes of Micky van de Ven, Cristiano Romero, and Dominic Solanke out of the starting XI will be looked back on as a poor one after another dismal result, even if they have only just come back from long-term injuries.
Even that got worse for him though, as Solanke came off the bench only to pick up another injury.
There are no excuses, the season depends on the fixture next week, Tottenham need to ensure that they win it comfortably and progress to the quarter-finals.
If they fail to do so, serious questions will need to be asked of the manager, the squad and the ownership.