Tottenham Hotspur face a critical test in their Europa League semi-final second leg against Bodø/Glimt, a match that could have significant ramifications for manager Ange Postecoglou’s future at the club. Despite a difficult Premier League campaign, Tottenham have found some relief in Europe, with their gritty win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals showing a more measured approach than the free-flowing style Postecoglou initially promoted. However, the stakes are high as Spurs travel to Norway, where the artificial pitch at the Aspmyra Stadium and the frigid Arctic conditions present a daunting challenge.
Postecoglou, who has been under pressure this season, knows that failure to progress could see him out of a job. Spurs, who took a 3-1 advantage from the first leg at home, will be missing key players, most notably James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall. Maddison, who has been a key figure in their European campaign, will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury, leaving a significant gap in their midfield. Bergvall had already been ruled out of the first leg due to an ankle injury, and without these two influential players, Tottenham’s ability to control the game and maintain possession will be heavily tested.
Despite the absences, Spurs have shown resilience. In the first leg, they adapted well to losing Bergvall, with Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur providing a solid defensive midfield pairing. However, their performance dipped after Maddison and Dominic Solanke were forced off with injuries, with Solanke now recovered. The challenge for Postecoglou is to find a way to continue building from the midfield without Maddison’s creativity and Bergvall’s dynamic ball-carrying abilities. If Spurs fail to retain possession, the pressure from Bodø/Glimt, who are known for their counter-attacking threat, could overwhelm them.
Bodø/Glimt, meanwhile, will be confident heading into the second leg. Their belief is bolstered by their impressive home record this season, having defeated teams like Lazio and Olympiakos at Aspmyra. They will also be boosted by the return of key players from suspension. Despite Tottenham’s strong showing in the first leg, Bodø/Glimt’s late goal has kept the tie alive, and they will be eager to make the most of the artificial pitch and challenging conditions that Spurs struggled with earlier this season in their FA Cup tie against Tamworth.
Postecoglou has already responded to criticism from Bodø/Glimt’s players, with Kjetil Knutsen’s criticism of Fredrik Sjøvold, who claimed it was easy to play through Tottenham’s press, adding another layer of intrigue to the match. Postecoglou, unbothered by the comments, remains focused on the task at hand, aware that this is the moment for his team to show they can rise to the occasion.
For Spurs, a key figure will be Dejan Kulusevski. The Swedish forward, once a standout performer for Tottenham, has struggled since returning from a foot injury but will need to rediscover his form in this high-stakes encounter. With Son Heung-min also missing from the attack, the pressure will be on Kulusevski to step up and provide the creative spark needed to break down a stubborn Bodø/Glimt defense.
This is a moment of truth for Postecoglou and Tottenham. With the pressure mounting and the season on the line, they must prove they can overcome the challenges posed by an aggressive and confident Bodø/Glimt side, who will be eager to capitalize on any weakness. For Tottenham, this Europa League tie represents their best chance of silverware since 2008, and failing to seize this opportunity could lead to even more questions about their mentality and future direction.
