Tottenham Hotspur is facing the grim situation of injuries while trying to put the excitement of their victory in the semifinals behind them.
On 2nd, Tottenham officially explained the condition of Lucas Verival, James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke through the club's official website.
Tottenham defeated Norway's Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinals for the 2024-2025 season held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, UK, on 2nd.
With Son Heung-min absent due to injury, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke each scored goals, boosting the team's momentum.
Tottenham lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, and Brennan Johnson at the front, and James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Yves Bissouma in the midfield. Destiny Udogie, Mickey van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro formed the back four, while Guglielmo Vicario guarded the goal.
The opening goal came just one minute into the match. Johnson finished off Richarlison's cross with a header. Following this, Maddison's penetrating goal and Solanke's penalty made it 3-0.
Injuries disrupted Tottenham's flow. Maddison and Solanke were substituted in the second half, and during a lapse in concentration, they allowed a goal to Bodo/Glimt. The match ended with Tottenham winning 3-1.
Although they won, Tottenham cannot celebrate easily. Key midfielder Verival is likely out for the season.
Lucas Verival is likely out for the season. Tottenham stated, "Verival injured his ankle ligaments during training, and it seems unlikely he will be able to play for the remainder of the season." Manager Ange Postecoglou also acknowledged, "The ligament injury is quite serious. It is highly likely that he will miss the rest of the season."
Verival, who missed the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semifinals, was also reported to be in poor condition at that time. The club had focused on rehabilitation for two days prior, and ultimately, the worst-case scenario of being out for the season has become a reality.
Meanwhile, Maddison and Solanke, who scored in the first leg, were also substituted due to minor injuries. Maddison scored an additional goal in the 34th minute of the first half and was substituted due to knee pain in the 20th minute of the second half, while Solanke, who recorded the team's third goal from a penalty, felt thigh pain and was substituted in the 30th minute of the second half.
Manager Postecoglou explained at a pre-match press conference ahead of the Premier League match against West Ham United on 3rd, "Solanke has minor pain but it’s not serious. The match this weekend is uncertain, but it’s not a major injury." In contrast, regarding Maddison, he noted, "It is a knee injury, so we are more concerned. We have conducted a detailed examination and are waiting for the results."
Ultimately, Tottenham is facing an important turning point in terms of squad management ahead of the upcoming Premier League schedule and the second leg on the European stage. Especially with the goal of winning the Europa League, the condition of Maddison and Solanke will inevitably be a variable.
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