Tottenham v Elfsborg LIVE: Team news as Van de Ven starts for Spurs in Europa League | OneFootball

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Tottenham can 'achieve something special' says Postecoglou, as Kulusevski states he is the 'right man' for the job

Tottenham face Swedish side Elfsborg tonight as Ange Postecoglou’s side aim to secure a spot in the last 16 of the Europa League.

Spurs come into the final night of the group phase in sixth position, and victory here would guarantee them a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the knockout rounds. But a draw or defeat could see them knocked down from one of the top eight spots and sent into the play-offs, meaning an extra two fixtures for an injury-ravaged squad to navigate in order to reach the last 16.

Elfsborg are currently in their off-season after finishing seventh in the 2024 Swedish top flight. They have plenty to play for too, lying 20th as they aim to finish in the top 24 and qualify for the play-offs.

What Spurs need to qualify for last 16

Tottenham come into the final game of the group phase in a good position, sixth in the table, and well placed to qualify as one of the eight automatic clubs through to the last 16.

Victory will guarantee their place but a draw may well be enough if results go their way. But defeat will almost certainly mean dropping outside the top eight and into the play-offs.

Pos Team Pld GD Pts

1 SS Lazio 7 13 19

2 E Frankfurt 7 6 16

3 Ath Bilbao 7 6 16

4 Man United 7 5 15

5 Lyonnais 7 8 14

6 Tottenham 7 5 14

7 Anderlecht 7 3 14

8 Steaua Buc 7 3 14

9 Galatasaray 7 4 13

10 Bodø/Glimt 7 3 13

11 Vik Plzeň 7 3 12

12 Olympiacos 7 3 12

13 Rangers 7 5 11

14 AZ Alkmaar 7 1 11

15 Union St-G 7 1 11

Lawrence Ostlere30 January 2025 19:43

Van de Ven set to make comeback from injury

Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven is set to make his comeback from the bench tonight.

Van de Ven has not featured for Spurs since a 4-3 loss to Chelsea on December 8, which was his first appearance in five weeks following a hamstring strain.

The absence of the Dutch defender to another hamstring issue alongside a number of other key players for Ange Postecoglou over the last two months has seen the club slip to 15th in the Premier League, but stay in contention for success in the Carabao Cup, Europa League and FA Cup.

"Micky is good. He is good to go and we will try to get him some match minutes tomorrow," Postecoglou revealed.

"We've done everything in our power and we did last time too. Last time he probably played more than he should have in that first game (against Chelsea) but again hindsight and the circumstances around that game without rewriting history were pretty challenging anyway.

"But he's ticked every box, worked awfully hard and been given clearance by the medical team. Invariably when you've had one injury it means you are always going to take a conservative approach, which we have and at some stage he has to play.

"What we've got to make sure is to just manage his minutes now to give him every chance to grow into it, but he's enormous for us because A, he is a fantastic player, and B with a lot of these guys who will come back, they are just champing at the bit to help."

Tottenham v Elfsborg – Europa League

The teamsheets will be dropping very shortly...

Lawrence Ostlere30 January 2025 18:43

Kulusevski backs Postecoglou to turn Spurs' season

When Kulusevski provided a defence of Postecoglou's credentials, he referenced impressive away wins at Manchester United and Manchester City earlier in the campaign before the squad became depleted.

The Sweden attacker, who has arguably been the club's most consistent performer this season with nine goals and eight assists, has helped Spurs reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals and be on the verge of the last 16 in the Europa League.

Asked why Postecoglou is the right man, Kulusevski insisted: "Because we had games when we showed perfect football - football that not many teams can play in the world.

"We played beautiful games against United, against City 4-0, so I think he is the right man. We play for him. We want to win for him and to be honest we have similar ideas.

"I am very positive as a guy and I always want to play the football he wants. I have to fight for him because I believe in that football too. Yes, I think he's the right man.

"The league (position) is very bad and the game on Sunday was tough to lose but you have to stay clear-minded and focus on the goals. We have done mistakes, don't get me wrong.

"We have done a lot of mistakes. We are 10 to 11 fit players in four competitions and that's not OK and that's why the team is paying that price in the league especially.

"You can look at the manager and the players but it's bigger than that, it's everything involved.

"We play three games a week with nine or ten players. That's all I need to say, it's nothing more than that.

"I think everybody has got to watch the picture and ask themselves how we came this far. That's it."