Tottenham Hotspur have secured their place in the Europa League quarter-finals after a 3-2 aggregate win over AZ Alkmaar. However, James Maddison has made it clear that the job is far from done, urging his teammates to remain focused as they prepare for the next stage of the competition.
Spurs came into the second leg with a point to prove. Having lost the first leg in the Netherlands, they needed a response—and they delivered.
A 3-1 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ensured their passage into the quarter-finals. Now, their attention turns to Eintracht Frankfurt.
The German side made light work of Ajax in their round of 16 tie, brushing them aside with a dominant 6-2 aggregate win.
Spurs will host the first leg in north London before travelling to Germany for the return fixture next month. The challenge ahead is clear, and Maddison’s message is just as direct: there is still plenty of work to do.
James Maddison says Tottenham haven’t achieved anything yet
Speaking after the match, James Maddison was in no mood to celebrate prematurely. Instead, he highlighted the squad’s determination to push forward and not dwell on this victory.
“It is what we set out to do at the start of the two legs,” he told TNT Sports. “There was a lot of talk after last week’s performance. We were honest with ourselves—it was not good enough.
“In Holland, when we lost the first leg and we went over to applaud the away fans, I was trying to get a message across to stay calm.
“Listen, we know that we were not good enough, but they still had to come to our place. I know what we are capable of here. And we got the job done.”
Spurs must sharpen up if they are to go all the way
When asked about the mood in the camp, Maddison did not hold back: “Listen, we have not achieved anything yet. We are in the quarter-finals, now we kick on and we are looking forward to it.”
This was a must-win tie for Ange Postecoglou’s men, and they responded in the best possible way. But if Spurs are to make a deep run in the competition, improvements are needed.
Their performances away from home remain a concern. Against AZ, they could have been in serious trouble had their opponents been more clinical in front of goal.
With Frankfurt up next, Tottenham Hotspur cannot afford another sluggish away-leg display. They have proven they can rise to the occasion at home, but the real test will be delivering a complete performance over both legs.