Amsterdam (AFP) – Ange Postecoglou believes the Europa League presents Tottenham Hotspur with a “great opportunity” to revive their faltering campaign. With key players set to return, Spurs will face AZ Alkmaar in the last-16 first-leg tie on Thursday.

A Chance to Bounce Back

Postecoglou emphasized the significance of the competition, stating:

“Yeah, I think it is fair to say the boys really understand there is a great opportunity for us.”

“It’s a competition we obviously want to do well in. We’ve got ourselves in a good position. We’re in the round of 16, we’ve got two tough games against AZ, and that’s the first thing to overcome.”

Spurs’ Recent Struggles in Europe

Postecoglou acknowledged Tottenham’s underwhelming record in recent Europa League campaigns but remains optimistic:

“The club hasn’t in recent years done well in this competition, but it’s a major European competition. We’re in the last 16, and for us, there’s an opportunity there. We’ll see how far we can go in it.”

Focus on Controlling the Game

With key players like Van de Ven, Romero, and Solanke in question for the starting lineup, Postecoglou stressed the importance of managing the game:

“With us tomorrow night, we’ve got to make sure whatever happens at the end of the game, we’ve still got an opportunity to go back to Tottenham and win the tie.”

Recalling his experience with Celtic in the Europa League, he highlighted AZ’s home advantage but insisted Spurs must impose their style:

“We understand with the home support – I’ve been here with Celtic in a Europa game, so I know the experience of it and they’re a good side – but we’ve got to make sure we play our football and dictate the tempo of the game to take a result back to Tottenham.”

Can Spurs Capitalize on This Opportunity?

With a crucial tie ahead, Tottenham will look to turn their European campaign into a success story. Will they rise to the challenge?