The contrast at AZ is great compared to the previous showdown with Tottenham Hotspur. The Alkmaarders meet the English again in the Europa League. This time AZ has much more confidence. “We can just be the better team. We need that conviction again.”
At the end of October, AZ Tottenham Hotspur already found in the group stage of the Europa League. The Alkmaarders were then in a lesser phase and remained seven duels without a win. Spurs won 1-0 thanks to a used penalty kick from Richarlison. Trainer Martens now sees a big difference. According to the Belgian coach has an ‘extra piece of conviction’.
Earlier AZ won convincingly in its own house against Fenerbahçe, AS Roma and Galatasaray. “An extra piece of conviction to go into the field against opponents of that caliber with the idea: we can be the better team. We need that conviction again tomorrow. Certainly at home,” says Martens.
“They may not be stable enough,” says Martens about Tottenham. The team of Ange Postecoglou is currently holding the thirteenth place in the Premier League. AZ is the current number six of the Eredivisie and is in full battle for place three and it is in the cup final. For Spurs, the Europa League is still the only chance of a main prize.
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At AZ, Ibrahim Sadiq is again one of the competition selection. Last week the offside player has been playing fifteen minutes and that will also be the expectation against Spurs. Sven Mijnans, Mexx Meerdink, Jayden Addai and Ruben van Bommel are still in the rag basket.
It is striking that Van Bommel is one of the pre -selection of the Dutch Juniors. “I haven’t heard that yet,” said Martens, who says that Van Bommel is not yet on the training field. Micky van de Ven is missing at Tottenham. The defender from Wormer is struggling with an injury.
The AZ – Tottenham Hotspur match starts tomorrow evening at 6.45 pm in Alkmaar. Next Thursday is the return in London. The deployment is a place in the quarterfinals of the Europa League.