Joe Hart: Tottenham have to salvage their season by winning the Europa League
Tottenham Hotspur endured another chastening evening as they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa on Sunday.
The Villans defeated Spurs 2-1 on the evening thanks to goals from Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers. Mathys Tel pulled one back for his side in stoppage time but it was not enough to keep Spurs alive in the competition.
It was back-to-back heartbreaks for the fans after witnessing the Ange Postecoglou-managed side getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup competition in a humiliating fashion at the hands of Liverpool last Thursday. With the Lilywhites’ Premier League campaign already in tatters, they will hope for Europa League success as a source to salvage the 2024/25 season.
Former England and Spurs goalkeeper Joe Hart believes winning the Europa League has now become extremely vital for Ange Postecoglou’s side. When asked about the Europa League’s importance to Tottenham after being eliminated from two domestic cups last week, Hart told BBC One:
“100%. No getting away from it now. That has got to be the narrative of the season. That’s where the focus of Tottenham has to come to light and unite. It looks like they will bodge their way through the Premier League season.
“The Premier League smells Tottenham – they know how to play against Tottenham. The Europa League is a different animal. That’s where you can create those special nights.”
The latest defeat means Tottenham’s chances of securing a trophy in Postecoglou’s second season in North London have dropped substantially, leaving them with the Europa League as the only shot at silverware. He remains hopeful about his team’s chances of winning the Europa League.
Spurs booked their ticket straight into the last 16 of the Europa League after finishing fourth in the 36-team league phase last month. They collected 17 points from a possible 24 to finish behind Lazio, Athletic Bilbao and Manchester United. By doing so, the North Londoners avoid a two-legged playoff.
Big Ange’s side are set to face one of Galatasaray, Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar or FC Midtjylland in the next stage. The Round of 16 draws are set to happen later this month with matches to follow in March. All the potential opponents are difficult for Spurs and we have to be at our best to qualify for the quarter-finals.
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Looking at the way we are playing, it is very difficult to see us go all the way in the European competition. However, the only glimmer of hope is that when the last 16 round starts in March, Spurs will have a lot of their key players back from injury. That being said, whether Big Ange manages to keep hold of his job until then is a different question altogether. And if he does, the Australian will be expected to go deeper into the competition and perhaps even clinch the title for us.
