No Van de Ven or Udogie, The Tottenham team Postecoglou should pick to destroy Ferencvaros have been revealed
Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for their first away game in Europe this season, traveling to Hungary to face Ferencvaros in their second Europa League group phase fixture. Following a commanding 3-0 win against Qarabag last week, Ange Postecoglou’s side will be aiming to continue their strong start as they visit the Groupama Arena in Budapest. With confidence high, Spurs are widely regarded as the favorites to come out on top in this clash.
Ferencvaros, on the other hand, will be eager to bounce back after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Anderlecht last Thursday, where goals from Yari Verschaeren and Kasper Dolberg sealed their loss. Tottenham, with their superior squad depth and form, will be keen to capitalize on their opponent’s vulnerability.
Given that Spurs have a crucial Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion later in the week, Postecoglou will likely rotate his squad for this European fixture, giving some key players a much-needed rest while providing opportunities for fringe players to impress.
**Team News and Selection Dilemmas**
Tottenham are dealing with a few selection headaches due to injuries and suspensions, which means Postecoglou will need to get creative with his lineup. Captain Son Heung-min, along with Wilson Odobert and Richarlison, are potential absentees for this match. Additionally, Radu Dragusin is suspended, while left-back Destiny Udogie is nursing a sore quad muscle after being substituted at halftime during the recent match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Postecoglou has also expressed concern over Micky van de Ven’s workload, with the Dutch defender playing more minutes than anticipated in recent games. This could lead to versatile youngster Archie Gray being given a chance in central defense. Gray impressed during pre-season and might be called upon again for this match. Pedro Porro and Cristian Romero, who were rested in the Qarabag match, are likely to return to the starting XI in Budapest.
In midfield, Postecoglou has a wealth of options. Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr, and Yves Bissouma are all in contention to start, with the trio providing energy, creativity, and defensive stability in the middle of the park. Timo Werner, who featured last week, could retain his place in the attack, while highly-rated 17-year-old Mikey Moore may be handed his first full start for the senior team. This would be a significant moment for the young prospect, showcasing Postecoglou’s faith in the club’s youth.
Brennan Johnson, who has been a key player for Spurs so far this season, could be given a rest ahead of the weekend’s league fixture, with Will Lankshear potentially coming off the bench to give Dominic Solanke some time off as well. The rotation will allow the manager to manage his squad carefully as they juggle domestic and European commitments.
Fraser Forster, who has yet to play much this season, could also be given a chance in goal. The experienced keeper will be eager to get more minutes under his belt to stay sharp in case he is called upon in upcoming matches.
Predicted Lineup
Alasdair Gold, Tottenham Hotspur correspondent for *football.london*, predicts the following lineup for the match against Ferencvaros:
Forster; Porro, Romero, Gray, Davies; Sarr, Bissouma, Bergvall; Moore, Solanke, Werner.
This lineup reflects Postecoglou’s strategy of balancing squad rotation with the need to maintain momentum in Europe. Spurs will be looking to secure another victory in their Europa League campaign, while keeping their squad fresh for the challenges ahead in the Premier League.