After some delay, AZ settled in London for the game with Tottenham Hotspur. The Alkmaarders are after last week’s 1-0 win with one leg in the quarterfinals of the Europa League. “It will be a very important evening,” says trainer Maarten Martens.
The selection of AZ had a different run on the day before the competition. Where it normally trains in the stadium, the club chose to finish the last training in Wijdewormer. “We wanted to have less travel time between the stadium and the hotel. That was not entirely giving birth last time,” said Martens. AZ then had some delay by plane.
Syndrome
A total of 1,046 fans will support AZ in London. They hope that AZ will win another European away match for the first time since August 17, 2023. Then it beat Santa Coloma in the preliminary round of the Conference League and since then it remained nine matches without winning. “At home we are very meticulous and it feels safer,” says left back David Moller Wolfe. “We try to say that everything is the same. And we now know Tottenham well and know how the atmosphere feels here.” Earlier this season in the group stage, the Alkmaar team already took on Tottenham Hotspur (1-0) in London.
AZ can deal with annoying statistics in the English main position. The club never managed to win on the other side of the canal. All nine previous matches were lost.
Meerdink there
AZ again has access to Mexx Meerdink in London. The striker has recovered from his injury and starts on the couch tomorrow. “We can use it during the game,” says Martens. Mayckel Lahdo and Denso Kasius were injured in the game with Spurs last week and are not present. Ro-Zangelo Daal misses the competition because his wife is about to give birth. As a result, Wassim Bouziane is in the selection for the first time.
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At Tottenham Hotspur, Micky van de Ven is fit enough to make minutes again. Last week in Alkmaar the defender from Wormer remained on the couch. Kevin Danso has to miss the game due to an injury. Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin and Richarlison have been injured for some time and Rodrigo Bentancur has been suspended.
Shaky
The pressure is full at Spurs. Trainer Ange Postecoglou previously indicated that all his clubs will win a prize in the second season. Now he is working on his second year and the Europa League is the only tournament they are still in the race. “Maybe it will be different after tomorrow,” says the trainer at the press conference, who was often about his own position. “I think this is the only job in the world where you get those questions when things go a little less.”
The match between Tottenham Hotspur and AZ starts tomorrow at 9 p.m. The Alkmaarders defend a 1-0 lead and play for a place in the quarterfinals of the Europa League.