Aston Villa Rejects ‘audacious’ Tottenham new request while Ange Postecoglou confirms fresh injury blow ahead of Bodo Clash
Aston Villa Rejects ‘audacious’ Tottenham new request while Ange Postecoglou confirms fresh injury blow ahead of Bodo Clash
Aston Villa have reportedly turned down a request from Tottenham Hotspur to reschedule their upcoming Premier League showdown in May, a move Spurs had hoped would help ease their schedule should they advance to the Europa League final.
In what many have described as a rather bold and premature request — considering that Ange Postecoglou’s men still need to get past Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals — Tottenham had asked for the match against Villa, currently scheduled for Sunday, May 18, to be brought forward by three days to Thursday, May 15.
The motivation behind Tottenham’s request stems from the proximity of the Europa League final, which is set to take place in Bilbao on Wednesday, May 21. With only three days between a high-stakes Premier League encounter at Villa Park and a potential European final, Spurs were eager to secure more preparation and recovery time.
In a statement released on Sunday, Tottenham confirmed they were in active discussions with the Premier League regarding the possibility of changing the fixture. “We should like to inform supporters that we are in discussions with the Premier League regarding a change in date to our away Premier League match against Aston Villa, currently scheduled for Sunday, 18 May,” the statement read.
However, according to a report from BBC Sport, Aston Villa have now formally objected to the proposed change. Sources close to the situation suggest that Villa’s decision was influenced by the lack of precedent for altering Premier League fixtures simply to accommodate a team’s European campaign.
The Midlands club also pointed out that they themselves have had to endure a hectic fixture list in recent months, playing matches every three to four days throughout April due to their commitments in the Champions League and FA Cup. Villa feel they have not received any special allowances, and thus see no reason to grant Spurs one.
Additionally, it is understood that Aston Villa had already arranged several pre-planned family-oriented events around what will be their final home game of the season. Disrupting these plans, especially so close to the date, would create logistical headaches for both the club and their supporters.
Meanwhile, Tottenham’s preparations for the semi-final clash against Bodo/Glimt have hit another potential stumbling block. Club captain and star forward Son Heung-min remains a major injury doubt ahead of Thursday’s crucial first leg.
Son has been sidelined with a persistent foot injury, missing Tottenham’s last three matches — including their Europa League triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt, and Premier League defeats to Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. His absence has been keenly felt, both in terms of leadership and attacking output.
Following Sunday’s defeat at Anfield — a match that saw Liverpool clinch the Premier League title — Ange Postecoglou provided an update on Son’s fitness. Speaking to reporters, he admitted: “It’ll be touch and go for Thursday. He’ll try hard. If he’s not ready for the first game, we think he’ll be ready for the second.”
Postecoglou had previously elaborated on the nature of Son’s injury earlier this month, explaining that it has been a long-standing issue rather than a sudden setback. “He’s been dealing with a foot problem for a while, so now is as good a time as any to give him the proper time to recover,” Postecoglou said. “He’ll definitely miss Monday. It’s something he’s been managing for a little while and unfortunately it started to deteriorate. Rest is going to be as important as any other treatment for this kind of injury. Sonny’s a guy who always wants to train and push himself, but for now, we’re putting him on ice for the next few days and monitoring his response.”
As Spurs juggle their European dreams with domestic commitments and injury concerns, the coming weeks promise to be a defining period for Ange Postecoglou’s tenure — one that could either end with silverware and a historic triumph or a bitter sense of missed opportunity.