Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou reveals Spurs injury boost after vital Frankfurt win keeps season alive | OneFootball

Spurs boss offers new fitness update after impressive victory in Germany seals Europa League semi-final berth

All smiles: Ange Postecoglou eased pressure on his position as Tottenham beat Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League

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Ange Postecoglou has issued an injury update on James Maddison after Tottenham’s vital victory against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Spurs produced one of their best performances of a hugely difficult season away in Germany on Thursday evening, with Dominic Solanke’s first-half penalty following a foul on Maddison by goalkeeper Kaua Santos securing a 1-0 victory on the night and 2-1 success on aggregate that took them into the last four, kept their campaign alive and eased the significant pressure on manager Postecoglou.

The only negative on an otherwise memorable night for Tottenham at Deutsche Bank Park was the sight of Maddison eventually having to go off just before half-time after he initially tried to play on after receiving treatment on the pitch following the challenge by Santos that was not originally awarded as a penalty by Italian referee Davide Massa, who then changed his decision after being sent by VAR to consult the pitchside monitor.

He was given a warm embrace by Postecoglou as he made his way off, replaced by a player who has only just returned from his own injury layoff in Dejan Kulusevski.

However, the Spurs boss has now allayed any fears that Maddison could be facing his own spell on the sidelines.

“He is fine,” Postecoglou said afterwards. “Unbelievable courage in that moment to put his body on the line knowing full well that he was going to get a pretty severe knock and I was surprised it wasn’t a red card.

“Super courageous from him. He is sore but I’m sure that has all been numbed knowing that he has helped us progress to the semi.”

Asked if he was pleased that VAR intervened in the penalty call or rather annoyed that they did not recommend a red card for Santos, Postecoglou replied: “We can be facetious about that but I thought it was a clear penalty.

“I’m not sure why it needed VAR. When a player wins the ball and gets cleaned out, if that was a defender it definitely would probably have been a red card.

“It’s definitely a penalty. I don’t think it needed a review. Again, I think we got what we deserved.”

Tottenham’s reward for overcoming a tough test in Frankfurt is a two-legged semi-final clash with reigning Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, who overcame Lazio 3-2 on penalties in Rome on Thursday after a 3-1 defeat on the night that levelled their tie at 3-3 on aggregate.

Those games will take place on May 1 and May 8 respectively, with either Manchester United or Athletic Club awaiting the winners in the final in Bilbao on May 21 after their respective wins over Lyon and Rangers.

Spurs host high-flying Nottingham Forest next in the Premier League on Monday night, with a trip to champions-elect Liverpool after that and an away London derby against West Ham sandwiched in between those semi-final matches.

They also play Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Brighton before the end of the top-flight season.