TOTTENHAM 3-1 BODO/GLIMT: Ange Postecoglou’s side are in control of their Europa League semi-final tie and will take a two-goal lead to Norway next week
Ange Postecoglou insisted Tottenham will finish the job and reach the Europa League final. Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke were on target for Spurs before a late consolation gave the Norwegian minnows hope for next week’s semi-final second leg.
Postecoglou insisted his team deserved to win by a bigger margin and had late injury scares for Solanke and Maddison which took some of the gloss off an impressive performance.
But Spurs boss Postecoglou said: “They scored the goal late which doesn’t reflect our dominance but if we repeat that performance next week then we will go through.
“But when you perform like this tonight and against Eintracht Frankfurt in the last round it gives you confidence that you can go away and win.
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“You get belief. Bodo away is difficult, so is Frankfurt and we had to go there and win but we’ve been really good at managing games in Europe. We showed composure and all those experiences make me believe we can go there and get the job done.”
Postecoglou paid tribute to the Spurs fans who produced an unforgettable atmosphere while he also said Bodo/Glimt’s plastic pitch in the Arctic Circle will hold no fears.
Postecoglou added: “The fans were magnificent. As soon as the boys walked out, there was a buzz and the fans played a massive role.
“I’ve been there, I’ve played there with Celtic and irrespective of the surface, if we’re as disciplined and controlled as were tonight, the surface should not matter.”
But Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen insisted his side can still overturn the first leg defeat and says Ulrik Saltnes’ late goal could be crucial.
Knutsen said: “I think our goal was really important. I think we can take the energy from this game and we are very strong at home. It will be a different game.”
Postecoglou is also hopeful that neither Solanke or Maddison suffered serious injuries after they limped off but could be without Lucas Bergvall for the rest of the campaign after he was injured in training in the build-up to the game.
Postecoglou said: “Madders felt a tweak in his knee, Dom was similar but it doesn’t sound as if it was too significant. It’s too early to tell on Lucas but it’s just the way our season has gone. It was just a small thing to his ankle but it’s a blow for us.”
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