Thu 24 October 2024, 23:25
Tottenham HotspurAnge Postecoglou reeled off the positives after we made it three wins in three in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League with a 1-0 victory against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday evening.
Richarlison marked his first start since May with his first goal since May to secure victory, calmly clipping a penalty down the middle of the goal in front of the South Stand after 53 minutes of MD3 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Lucas Bergvall was upended by Maxim Dekker.
Richy and Lucas were two of nine changes from Ange from the team that started our 4-1 win against West Ham on Saturday. That included Fraser Forster in goal - and he made three fine saves when called upon - and youngsters Lucas, Archie and Mikey Moore, who produced an electric spell at the start of the second half to really take the game to our Dutch opponents. Wilson Odobert also returned from injury off the bench in the second half.
Speaking to our Review Show, Ange summed up: "I thought it was positive. Look, it’s not easy when I’ve made nine or 10 changes, it’s going to affect the rhythm and flow of our football. For the most part, I thought we controlled the game really well, created some good opportunities, lacked a little composure in the front third at times, then, when we had to defend, I thought we did well, Fraser pulled off a couple of good saves, we got some match minutes into the players, our young players continue to develop and a another win in Europe, so, yes, positive."
With those changes in mind, Ange was asked if he was starting to see less of a change in tempo when he's rotating the squad across the competitions.
"We’re getting there," he added. "he key is to balance that with not letting it affect our flow and our form. The guys who, for the most part, have been part of our European campaign so far have grown in confidence and belief themselves, and with the games programme we have, it’s important on nights like tonight that they don't just play, but make an impact, and I thought they did."