For England’s biggest clubs, Thursday nights have historically represented more of a burden than an opportunity. Europa League football has not been regarded as particularly glamorous over the years, especially when compared to the bright lights and flowing riches of the Champions League, and it usually has negative side-effects on a club’s domestic form.
There is a reason, after all, that rival fans have so often laughed at teams who fall into the Thursday trap. Not so long ago, the chant of “Thursday nights, Channel 5” was one of the most popular in English football. The Europa League is broadcast on TNT Sports these days but, in the minds of many supporters, the point still stands: Thursday football is to be sneered at.
In the case of Tottenham Hotspur, though, the Europa League is no longer an unwanted distraction. For Spurs, and for Ange Postecoglou in particular, Thursday nights have suddenly become their everything. The Europa League is their last hope for this season and also, perhaps, a determining factor in Postecoglou’s long-term job prospects.
With Spurs locked in mid-table in the Premier League and out of both domestic cups, the length and success of the Postecoglou era could now depend on their progress in Europe in the coming weeks. Win this competition, and Postecoglou will become a Spurs legend who backed up his claim that he “always” lifts trophies in his second year.
Fail to win, however, and he becomes the man who could not walk the walk after so memorably talking the talk. The man who, as it stands, has overseen a league campaign in which Spurs have lost more than half of their matches.
Would an inability to win the entire competition cost Postecoglou his job? It is probably not quite so straightforward. He has remained in his position because of the club’s understanding of the first-team injury crisis, and also because Europa League success is still possible. An upturn in league form and a run to, say, the semi-finals might still be enough to keep the Postecoglou train on the tracks.
Confident of progressing
But there will be no hiding from the ugly reality if Spurs do not progress beyond Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the round of 16. Not least because they are currently 13th in the Premier League, 10 points behind eighth-placed Brighton, with no real hope of qualifying for European competition next season.
For all their difficulties this season, Spurs should feel confident of progressing: AZ are sixth in the Eredivisie, were beaten by Heerenveen on Sunday and lost at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season.
The loss of Dejan Kulusevski to a foot problem will not help their cause but, the Sweden playmaker aside, there is also a sense that Postecoglou’s side are now through the worst of their winter injury crisis. After fielding a patched-up team for so much of the past few months, Postecoglou finally has options at his disposal again.
For this trip to the Netherlands, Spurs have Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke back in their squad. Romero has not played since early December, while Van de Ven has played only once in 2025. Solanke, meanwhile, has been injured since mid-January.
“There is a platform there for us to hopefully get back to playing our football and seeing how far we can progress,” said Postecoglou. “I think it is fair to say the boys really understand there is a great opportunity for us.”
To hear Postecoglou speak in Alkmaar on Wednesday was to hear from a manager who seems to feel that his luck might be about to turn. He said that Spurs, having enjoyed a much-needed relaxing of their schedule in recent weeks, are now in a “good place” ahead of Thursday’s game.
‘A month back we were struggling’
“A combination of things: significant players coming back for us, but also just having the opportunity to train with the whole group has been really valuable to us,” Postecoglou said. “It means we’re in a good place to tackle things ahead.
“Probably a month back we were really struggling, with no players and no recovery. So from our perspective the past few weeks have really been good for training, recovery and just the level of intensity we can put into preparing for games.”
It remains to be seen whether Romero, Van de Ven and Solanke are ready to start either of the two legs against AZ, but Postecoglou made it clear that they have been training at full intensity in recent days. The signs, clearly, are positive.
At full strength, Spurs are more than good enough to save their campaign by going all the way in the Europa League. There is a difference between knowing that, though, and actually doing it. Now is the time to show they are through the darkness.
