TTLB OPINION: 3 Tottenham stars who need an Europa League final audition vs Aston Villa

The North Londoners are set for a trip to Birmingham this weekend, where they face Aston Villa in a fixture that would seem like a dead rubber to the majority of Tottenham Hotspur supporters, but then for a few players in the current roster, this game is anything but meaningless. Given the fact that the big game against Manchester United in Bilbao is only days away, this is an opportunity for Ange Postecoglou to fine-tune his tactics and starting lineup for the game, and then for some, this is their final opportunity to earn their place in the biggest match of the North Londoners’ season.

And below we will take a look at three players who will need a statement performance against Aston Villa this Friday to force themselves into the conversation for Europa League finals and for Bilbao.

3 Tottenham players who need an audition this weekend

Heung-Min Son

Okay, there is no doubt about the South Korean legacy, his pedigree or his leadership, but let’s face it – his injuries, complemented by his last few performances, have raised some genuine concerns around his sharpness and physical readiness for a high-intensity game. We have seen him miss games, and while we know that he needs just one moment of brilliance to change games. We need to see whether he does have that capacity to physically compete and sustain intensity over 90 minutes (which will be crucial against United). For Ange, he would want to see whether the South Korean has that explosiveness to penetrate against United’s defensive line and whether he can provide the wide-to-narrow threat which can end up taking out United and their defensive structure.

When it comes to Son and his outing against Villa, it would be his movements alongside his finishing capabilities that would be under the microscope. And the game against the Villans must show Ange that Son can still fit into his high-intensity structure where he can press and carry as well as be on the receiving end of defensive transitions (because if he has not been able to do that, maybe Tottenham are better placed to use him as a late-game substitute against United in Bilbao rather than a starter.)

Dejan Kulusevski

With James Maddison serving the sidelines, Ange Postecoglou suddenly finds himself scrapping to find makeshift solutions to the creative outlet role. And the Australian head coach suddenly has to turn back to the Swedish national who he used quite a bit in the central role at the start of the season. Kulu’s versatility comes as a blessing for Ange given that the former Juve man can play as a central 10, a wide right creator, or even drop into the double pivot in the second phase of buildup. But given his injury problems of late, his output has been a bit erratic as well, and the Villa game will be a chance to prove he can deliver that needed tempo and clarity against United.

If we are talking about this more from Ange’s point of view, then from Kulusevski, he won’t really be looking at just dribbles or assists, but the former Celtic man would instead be more interested in decision-making under pressure, positional discipline, and the ability to rotate zones while maintaining structure.

Kulusevski needs to show that he can act as the creative bridge between midfield and number nine, especially when the ball is at his feet in pockets or more centrally.

More Tottenham Hotspur News:

• TTLB Opinion: Is Postecoglou the reason behind Maddison’s underwhelming season at Tottenham?
• TTLB Opinion: Tottenham target Branthwaite and Guehi – but who makes more sense?
• TTLB Opinion: Should Tottenham be worried about Van de Ven to Real Madrid or is it all agent talks?

Archie Gray

Now we come to Archie Gray; let’s understand the fact that there has been no bigger wild card in this Tottenham roster this season than Archie Gray. The teenager has been one of the few bright sparks in what has been a difficult domestic campaign, but then we are talking about a European final here, and it requires more than talent; it demands a sense of composure, discipline, and big-game intelligence. And this is where the Villa clash offers Ange the perfect test if he were to play the former Leeds man down the middle – can he handle the physicality and tempo of a top-six Premier League midfield under pressure? Because if he shows poise on the ball, covers ground intelligently, and links cleanly with Bissouma (or players around him), he could stake a real claim to start in Bilbao (especially if Postecoglou opts for a fluid three-man midfield to counter United’s pivot).