Glenn Hoddle says that while there is a lot to be concerned about with Tottenham’s Europa League performance at AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, the North London club will be happy to take a 1-0 deficit into the second leg.
Tottenham fans would have expected their side to come out with energy and take the game to Alkmaar in the first leg in the Netherlands, given that the players had more than a full week of rest since their last game against Manchester City.
However, the Eredivisie side, who had played two full games since Spurs last took to the field, looked the much sharper team, managing to keep Tottenham’s attacks at bay and looking threatening on the counter-attack.
The home side deservedly emerged 1-0 winners and it could have been worse for Ange Postecoglou’s side had Alkmaar been more clinical in front of goal.
Glenn Hoddle on why Spurs will be pleased with 1-0 loss
Hoddle admitted that the Lilywhites delivered a ‘lacklustre’ display at the AFAS Stadium but insisted that the Premier League side will be much the happier of the two sides with the result.
The Spurs legend suggested that his former club will fancy their chances of turning the tie around in the second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next week.
Hoddle said on TNT Sports at 20:02: “They were lacklustre in their performance. But that’s a better result for Tottenham than it is for AZ. To play so mediocre and come home with just a one-goal deficit, they’ll be happy with that. Not the performance, but the result.”
Tottenham’s struggles away from home continue
The one thing that has been a constant at Tottenham through Postecoglou’s spell is the team’s struggles to get going away from home.
Even if Spurs are able to overcome Alkmaar in the second leg, their struggles away from home do not bode well for the Lilywhites’ hopes of going far in the Europa League.
It is especially an issue in the next round where Tottenham will play the second leg away from home against one of Bayer Leverkusen or Ajax, who are both better sides than Alkmaar.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou on why his Tottenham players underperformed against AZ Alkmaar