Tottenham: The key issues Ange Postecoglou must address before Eintracht Frankfurt showdown | OneFootball

Postecoglou facing some big decisions ahead of Europa League quarter-final

Postecoglou’s Spurs face Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on April 10

Getty Images

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick

Sign up

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Sunday's defeat to Fulham left Tottenham on course for one of the worst domestic seasons in the club's modern history, but Ange Postecoglou's side could still make this an historic or even transformative campaign by winning the Europa League.

There are still three weeks until the first leg against Frankfurt in north London but Spurs have just two games in that time - a daunting visit to Chelsea and an altogether less daunting home game against rock bottom Southampton.

Tottenham suffered another defeat as they lost 2-0 against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday

Getty Images

For Postecoglou, those fixtures will be as much about results as working out his best and most in-form team for Frankfurt and, again, ensuring certain players are up to speed.

So what are the decisions facing Postecoglou ahead of a tie which could also have a significant bearing on his own future?

Defence

Micky van de Ven was rested at Craven Cottage after coming through his first start in three months against AZ, while Cristian Romero was withdrawn on 68 minutes - shortly before the first of Fulham's two late goals.

Plainly, Postecoglou needs to manage Van de Ven and Romero carefully to ensure they do not break down again but are fully up to speed for Europe, although that task has been made more difficult by injuries to Radu Dragusin, who is out for the season, and Kevin Danso. Ben Davies and/or Archie Gray are likely to play at least some part at centre-half against Chelsea and Saints.

Managing Micky van de Ven’s fitness could be key for Postecoglou

Getty Images

At full-back, the Australian faces a positive headache, with Pedro Porro, Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie vying for two spots.

Porro's progressive passing is hugely important to Spurs' approach, while Spence has been outstanding since breaking into the side in December, leaving them as the likeliest picks as it stands, particularly as Udogie has struggled for rhythm since returning from injury.

Midfield

Here, there are a host of big questions for Postecoglou.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, who should be fit again after the international break, are both crucial to Spurs at their best but, most pertinently, can Postecoglou play them both as twin No8s (as he has done previously) against Frankfurt?

It would be a bold move, particularly as teenager Lucas Bergvall would presumably have to play the third midfield role in that scenario.

Kulusevski, of course, can also play in the front three, though Wilson Odobert was the match-winner from the right wing against AZ (more on that below).

James Maddison has struggled with consistency for Spurs this season

Getty Images

Pape Matar Sarr, Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur offer less creativity than Maddison and Kulusevski but are more traditional central midfielders and offer running power.

In the No6 role, Yves Bissouma has been hooked at half-time in three of his last five league games and is unlikely to be trusted in Europe, while Bentancur has started 12 of the last 13 games (missing the AZ decider through suspension) but rarely looked like the answer in the deeper role.

Then there is Gray, who started for the first time in his preferred position at Fulham and now offers Postecoglou another midfield option.

Postecoglou's recent picks suggest Bentancur, Bergvall and one of Maddison or Kulusevski will likely make up his three against Frankfurt but that could easily change over the next few weeks.

Attack

Odobert underlined his importance with two goals in the AZ decider, cementing himself ahead of Brennan Johnson, who has been hooked at half-time of two straight league games, as Postecoglou's preferred option from the right.

Wilson Odobert has impressed since returning from a long injury lay-off

AFP via Getty Images

The young Frenchman is set to face renewed competition from Kulusevski for his spot after the international break, however, with the Swede offering less penetration at the back post but more willingness to track back and drop into midfield.

The other two attacking spots will surely be filled by Spurs captain Heung-min Son and Dominic Solanke, leaving Johnson, Mathys Tel and Mikey Moore to squabble for minutes from the bench.

Timo Werner has not been included in the Europa League squad and might have already played his final game for Spurs.