Ange Postecoglou hands a gift to Tottenham squad ahead of AZ Alkmaar clash

Ahead of Tottenham’s crunch Europa League tie against AZ Alkmaar, Ange Postecoglou has given a ‘gift’ to his Tottenham squad, Alasdair Gold has revealed.

Tottenham had to deal with a double-whammy of an injury crisis and an extremely congested fixture schedule for the past few months. This meant that Postecoglou had no choice but to run the 13 or 14 fit players he had into the ground.

However, the club’s injury crisis has now significantly eased off, and every Spurs player except Radu Dragusin is expected to return to action within the next two matches.

Additionally, the fixture list has got much less crowded over recent weeks as a result of Tottenham being eliminated from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and sealing direct qualification to the round of 16 stage of the Europa League.

Ange Postecoglou gives Tottenham squad more days off

Football.London’s Alasdair Gold explains that Ange Postecoglou has handed his Spurs players a few short breaks over the last two weeks to help them recharge their batteries after a difficult few months.

The Australian has done the same again ahead of the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie against AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion on Thursday night.

Gold reveals that the Tottenham players have been given both Sunday and Monday off to rest and recuperate, with the squad set to return to Hotspur Way on Tuesday to prepare for the big game.

Only the players who are rehabilitating from injuries made their way to the training ground on Monday, with the majority of the squad spending time with their families.

Tottenham have a big advantage over Alkmaar

Not only do Spurs have the advantage of playing the second leg at home, but they also have a full week’s rest ahead of the first leg at the Netherlands on Thursday.

In stark contrast, Alkmaar needed extra time and penalties to overcome Heracles in the KNVB Cup semifinal last Friday and then had a tough away trip to Heerenveen in the Eredivisie on Sunday, which they lost 3-1.

Tottenham will thus go into the game on Thursday the much fresher side, with Postecoglou’s men having no excuses to not put up a good showing.

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