Ange’s verdict | Hoffenheim 2-3 Spurs

Ange Postecoglou lauded the team’s endeavours and his leaders as we edged out TSG Hoffenheim 3-2 on Thursday night.

Eager to claim victory against the German outfit and improve our position in the UEFA Europa League group phase rankings, we made a lightning-quick start at the PreZero Arena as James Maddison snuck through to open the scoring within three minutes. Heung-Min Son then doublde our lead soon after to put us in a very healthy position.

The visitors hit back though as, after a sustained spell of pressure, they found their way through 22 minutes from time via Anton Stach, however a trademark Sonny finish nine minutes later secured all three points in Sinsheim. The final few minutes in west Germany were made nervy when David Mokwa headed home, but we held on for a valuable three points

We were certainly made to work for victory on the continent. Having headed into the game with so many injuries affecting the squad as well as a number of players ineligible for the game, it required incredibly strong leadership and youthful exuberance to claim the the three points on European soil. Something which Ange was unmistakably proud of.

“It was outstanding by the boys, just unbelievable effort,” he began. “Winning away in Europe is never easy and credit to them.

“We played really well in the first half, created some good opportunities, scored a couple of good goals, could have had a couple more. In the second half, we just had to work hard to keep them out. There was a bit of fatigue in there, but we did that okay for the most part, kept them away from our goal. Obviously, they scored (to make it 2-1) but then a great reaction, leadership from Sonny to get that third goal and get us the victory.”

And Ange was keen to stress that the leadership in the group extends far further than just the armband-donning Sonny and his vice captain Maddison with Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur both receiving praise.

Meanwhile Brandon Austin, who was making his senior European debut and made a number of impressive saves to boot, and all of our teenagers who played their part also received plaudits for their maturity in the circumstances.

Reflecting on how Sonny and Madders led from the front, delivering with goals, Ange said: “They did, and I thought Ben (Davies) was outstanding as well. Rodrigo (Bentancur) getting back in was brilliant as well.

“We needed our experienced players to stand up tonight because we had such a young team, such an inexperienced team - it was Brandon’s first game in Europe, two 18-year-olds in there and at the end, we had five or six teenagers out there. Credit to the senior boys, but credit to all the lads; they should enjoy tonight because they put in a massive effort. “

Ange also acknowledged how important the three points could be in the context of our European campaign.

Victory in Germany moves us back into the top eight places in the league phase – positions which secure automatic qualification for the round of 16 in March – and we shall remain there heading into our final match of this round against Elsfborg on Thursday, which crucially means qualification is in our hands.

“Yes, it’s brilliant,” Ange responded. “We want to finish in the top eight (of the UEL league phase), that gives us a week respite from fixtures and puts us in a strong position.

“Look, I think we’ve a strong chance in this competition. When you think about when the knockout rounds come around (March), we’ll get some of our players back and, home and away against anyone, we’ll back ourselves.”