Les Ferdinand says there’s something he wishes Ange Postecoglou hadn’t done after Tottenham loss at AZ Alkmaar

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a disappointing loss in their Europa League last-16 first leg match against AZ Alkmaar, which took place at the AFAS Stadium on Thursday night. The result leaves Spurs with a significant task ahead of them in the return leg at home. The match ended in a 1-0 defeat for Tottenham, a setback that came courtesy of a rather unfortunate own goal scored by Lucas Bergvall in the 18th minute of the game. For Tottenham, this early mistake proved costly, and despite having a considerable amount of time to recover, they struggled throughout the match to make an impact on the game.

The own goal, though an unfortunate event, was just the start of a game in which Tottenham failed to get going. AZ Alkmaar took the lead early on and continued to control the pace of the game. After the own goal, Tottenham did not show much fight or urgency to come back into the match. While they had the ball for extended periods of time, they found it difficult to break down AZ Alkmaar’s defense and create meaningful chances. Tottenham’s attack was lackluster, and they were only able to register a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes. This stark contrast to their usual attacking prowess left fans and pundits alike frustrated.

Les Ferdinand, the former professional footballer and pundit, weighed in on Tottenham’s disappointing display during a post-match analysis on TNT Sports. He addressed some of the comments made by Tottenham’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, regarding the conditions at the AFAS Stadium. Postecoglou, speaking to the media after the match, acknowledged that the pitch conditions in Alkmaar posed a challenge for his team. He mentioned that Tottenham struggled with the surface, describing it as “tricky,” which he believed contributed to his side’s poor performance. While Postecoglou admitted that there were “a combination of things” that led to the defeat, including his team not being “really at the races,” he still placed some blame on the pitch itself.

However, Ferdinand was quick to disagree with Postecoglou’s assessment of the pitch. He made it clear that, in his opinion, the pitch was not the primary reason for Tottenham’s shortcomings. Ferdinand noted that AZ Alkmaar seemed to handle the pitch just fine, playing their game without any noticeable issues. For Ferdinand, the larger concern was the lack of aggression from Tottenham. Before the game, Postecoglou had stressed the importance of being aggressive and getting in the faces of the opposition, but those qualities were noticeably absent from Tottenham’s performance. Ferdinand pointed out that there was little to no sign of the aggression and intensity that Postecoglou had called for before the match. Instead, Tottenham appeared passive, lacking in sharpness and energy, and this contributed to their struggles throughout the game. Ferdinand also suggested that the blame for the defeat could not simply be placed on the pitch conditions; Tottenham’s performance on the field was a bigger issue.

The loss at AZ Alkmaar is a disappointing setback for Postecoglou’s side, but it also adds pressure ahead of the second leg of the Europa League tie. Tottenham now faces the challenge of overturning the 1-0 deficit in the return fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It will be a difficult task, and they will need to play significantly better if they hope to progress to the next round. Postecoglou will likely have to make tactical adjustments to ensure his team performs at a much higher level in the second leg.

Adding to the woes for Tottenham, striker Dominic Solanke was forced to come off late in the game due to an injury. Solanke had been one of the few bright spots for Tottenham during the match, offering some movement and attacking threat, but his injury only served to compound the team’s problems. Postecoglou later provided an update on Solanke’s condition, stating that it did not appear to be a serious injury, but the team will be hoping for his quick recovery as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures.

After the match, Tottenham’s captain, Son Heung-min, offered a brutally honest assessment of his team’s performance. Son, who has been one of the standout players for Tottenham this season, did not shy away from expressing his disappointment in both his own performance and that of the team as a whole. He said that the performance was “nowhere near where we should perform” and called it “very disappointing.” Son admitted that the entire team was guilty of being below their usual standards and expressed frustration with the team’s sloppiness throughout the match. He also noted that the defeat was a “big wake-up call” for the squad, particularly with the second leg of the Europa League tie coming up the following week.

For Son, the result was a clear indication that Tottenham needed to improve drastically. He stressed that there were “no excuses” for the performance and that the team had to be much better in the return leg. In his usual leadership style, Son took responsibility for his own performance, acknowledging that he, too, had been part of the problem. However, he also emphasized that the whole squad shared responsibility for the loss and that it was important for everyone to take accountability. Son’s comments reflected the frustration and disappointment felt by the entire team after what was, by all accounts, a disappointing evening for Tottenham.

The loss at AZ Alkmaar will certainly sting, but it is not the end of the road for Tottenham in the Europa League. The second leg at home gives them the opportunity to bounce back, but they will need to show significant improvement in all areas of the game. Spurs will need to be more aggressive, more focused, and much sharper in attack if they hope to overcome the deficit and advance to the next round. With a passionate home crowd behind them, Tottenham will hope to recover from the disappointment and perform at a much higher level in the second leg.

Before their Europa League tie against AZ Alkmaar, Tottenham has a crucial Premier League match to play. They will host Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, 9 March, with the game set to kick off at 2 pm. This match presents an opportunity for Tottenham to regain some confidence and momentum in the league after a difficult result in Europe. A win against Bournemouth would be important for the team, as they aim to maintain their position in the Premier League standings and stay in the race for European qualification next season. The match will be another test for Postecoglou and his squad, as they aim to bounce back from their recent setback.

After the Premier League match against Bournemouth, all attention will turn back to the Europa League. Tottenham’s second-leg clash against AZ Alkmaar will take place on Thursday, 13 March, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 8 pm kick-off will be a crucial match for Spurs, who will need to overcome the 1-0 deficit from the first leg. The team will be hoping for a much-improved performance, with Postecoglou likely to make tactical adjustments to ensure that Tottenham is more competitive and more clinical in the final third.

The Europa League remains an important competition for Tottenham this season, and they will need to respond to the challenge with determination and intensity if they want to progress to the next round. With a strong squad and the backing of their fans, Tottenham will be looking to make amends for their disappointing first-leg performance and fight for a place in the quarter-finals.

The situation at Tottenham right now is one of both disappointment and opportunity. The loss to AZ Alkmaar was a setback, but it is not the end of their Europa League journey. The team has the chance to make up for the result in the second leg and prove that they can rise to the occasion. However, to do so, they must improve their overall performance, show more aggression and focus, and ensure that they take their chances in front of goal. It will be a difficult task, but Tottenham has the quality to turn things around.

As the team prepares for the second leg and their upcoming Premier League fixtures, they will need to come together and use the loss as motivation. The next few weeks will be crucial for Tottenham, and how they respond to the challenges ahead will define their season. The defeat against AZ Alkmaar may have been a setback, but Tottenham’s resolve and character will be tested in the games to come.