Ange Postecoglou will be without Tottenham’s Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski for Thursday’s Europa League clash with AZ Alkmaar.
Ange Postecoglou faces a crucial midfield selection dilemma as Tottenham prepare for their Europa League second-leg clash against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Spurs must overturn the deficit at home to keep their silverware hopes alive.
Spurs were fortunate to escape the first leg with just a one-goal deficit after AZ missed several key chances. Adding to the challenge, Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended after picking up his third booking of the tournament, while Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined with injury.
With two key midfielders missing, Postecoglou is expected to turn to Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison, leaving one remaining spot up for grabs. Pape Matar Sarr is the leading candidate after his impressive display and goal in the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth. However, Yves Bissouma is also in contention despite struggling in his recent outings.
Another intriguing option is 18-year-old Archie Gray, who has spent much of his time at right-back and centre-back this season due to Spurs’ defensive injuries. With Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven now fully fit, Gray could finally get his chance to play in his natural midfield role.
Postecoglou has previously joked about the delay in deploying Gray in midfield, but he has also praised the teenager’s adaptability and maturity. With Tottenham lacking a true No.6 and Bissouma failing to make the position his own, this could be the perfect opportunity to test Gray in the middle.
Bergvall has shown promise in a holding role, which could allow Sarr and Maddison to push forward. However, if Postecoglou wants to take a bold approach, giving Gray his first midfield start could provide the spark Spurs need to take control of the tie and keep their Europa League dreams alive.
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