BBC pundit Chris Sutton believes the midweek Eintracht Frankfurt victory will make the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium buzz against Nottingham Forest. The Lilywhites beat Frankfurt 0-1 in the second leg Europa League quarter-finals tie at the Deutsche Bank Park to progress.
The Europa League remains the only source of salvation for Spurs and Ange Postecoglou after enduring a disastrous overall season. Spurs are currently 15th in the Premier League table after suffering 17 losses in the competition this season under Postecoglou.
While Spurs could use an injury crisis as a mitigating factor, there is no denying that they have immensely underperformed. The Lilywhites’ defensive fragility remains one of the most talked-about points in the media, as their attacking department remains inconsistent.
Nevertheless, Spurs need to maintain their momentum from here on and prioritise the Europa League over the Premier League competition. The Lilywhites are at a position where they are safe from relegation, but also are not fighting for anything tangible.
The potential Europa League triumph would not just end their trophy drought but also give them next season’s Champions League. Postecoglou could use the Premier League to provide opportunities to the youngsters in the game around the Europa League fixtures.
While providing his matchday prediction to the BBC, Sutton claimed that the victory against Frankfurt would make Tottenham fans buzz against Nottingham in the upcoming game. He said:
“Tottenham getting past Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League to reach the semi-finals means their stadium will be absolutely buzzing with relief and jubilation. But Nottingham Forest are the counter-attack kings and they have the tools to get another win like the one they got over Spurs at the City Ground in December, where they had 30% of possession and still won 1-0.”
Nottingham are fighting for a top-five finish to qualify for the next season’s Champions League despite their recent losses. Meanwhile, Spurs could rest their players, as many have recently returned from injury and need to remain available.
However, a positive environment in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium should act as a positive boost for the senior team. The Lilywhites might not have anything to play for in the Premier League, but they should still compete to win in every game.
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