James Maddison has revealed what the messaging has been by Ange Postecoglou inside the dressing room as the Lilywhites look to salvage their campaign by progressing deep into the Europa League.
There is no denying that this season has been a disastrous one for Tottenham so far, with the club finding themselves in 13th place in the Premier League table.
The club’s injury crisis has undoubtedly been a mitigating factor, but Spurs now face the very real prospect of having nothing to play for over the next couple of months if they are to be knocked out of the Europa League.
However, it turns out that Postecoglou is putting a positive spin on things to his players as they prepare to overcome the 1-0 deficit against AZ Alkmaar.
Ange Postecoglou believes Spurs can win the Europa League
Maddison has explained that even though many things have gone horribly wrong for Spurs this season, Postecoglou keeps reiterating the point that they can still turn this into a memorable campaign by doing something special in the Europa League.
The 28-year-old insisted that every single person at the club believes that they are capable of turning things around Alkmaar and going far in the competition.
When asked about Tottenham’s chances of making this an amazing season by ending the club’s trophy drought, Maddison told Sky Sports: “The manager always speaks about how it can still be special for us if we win that, and we’re in a good position to do that.
“Listen, we’ve got work to do in the second leg but we know we’re capable of that and we can turn it around, there’s no one in there doubting the fact that we can do that. But we have to go and do it, talk is one thing, we have to go and win the game and turn over the defeat of the first leg.
“You win that and you pick up a bit of momentum, you’re in the quarter-final and then it can still be a special season for us. That’s what we’re hoping for and that’s what we’re striving for.”
Could history repeat itself for Tottenham?
Interestingly, the last time that Tottenham won a trophy back in the 2007-08 season, they finished in the bottom half of the table. History could potentially repeat itself if Spurs lift the Europa League in Bilbao in May.
If Spurs do get their hands on the trophy, all of their struggles in the Premier League will be forgotten and Postecoglou will instantly become a hero for ending the club’s 17-year silverware drought.
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