Ange Postecoglou has called on his Tottenham players to embrace the atmosphere in their Europa League clash with Galatasaray on Thursday, despite missing several key names.
Spurs travel to Turkey having won all three of their matches in Europe this season, however, will be without a string of first-team players through injury.
The hosts are also yet to suffer defeat in the competition this term, with the game being billed as an intriguing encounter in front of what is typically ferocious home support at Rams Park.
Micky van de Ven, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison are all sidelined after suffering hamstring injuries, while Cristian Romero is also not fit for the game.
Attackers Timo Werner (groin) and Mikey Moore (illness) also join the growing list of Spurs absentees.
Out to train at RAMS Park! 👊 pic.twitter.com/C4pyzy5VyO
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 6, 2024
Despite the depleted squad, Postecoglou urged the younger players to enjoy the occasion.
“I’m sure that they’re all looking forward to it,” said Postecoglou.
“That’s why you play football. I kept saying, especially with this generation, a lot of them have experienced what football is like without supporters. You certainly don’t like that when we went through Covid.
“We’re looking forward to it. It’s a fantastic stadium, the supporters create an unbelievable atmosphere here, they love the big European nights.
“They’re a very, very good team. It’s exactly the kind of games you want to be involved in in Europe, whether you’re young, you’re old, irrespective of the role you have, you look forward to it.”
The Tottenham manager acknowledged the strength of opposition they will come up against: a Galatasaray team who currently top Turkey’s Super Lig and possess a forward line consisting of Mauro Icardi and Victor Osimhen.
Postecoglou added: “They are a very good team, with very good individual players but that’s what you expect when you play against a top European side.
“We play in the Premier League so we are playing top opponents every week so we understand what that is about and top individual players, but it’s a good test for us tomorrow. We’ve started well in the Europa League, our results have been good home and away and we want to continue that.
“They [Galatasaray] are a threat. I think they’re an attacking threat with the players they have, especially in the front third. So again we’re going to have to work hard defensively tomorrow at different times. I think you always do when you play away in Europe. We’ll be ready for that.”
Ange Postecoglou had an injury update on Richarlison after he was forced off in our win over Aston Villa on Sunday ℹ️
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 6, 2024
In light of the US Presidential election this week, the Spurs boss was also asked about the role sport plays in offering an escape from a time of tumultuous global politics.
“I could give you a cracking non-football answer but I’m not going to,” said Postecoglou.
“It’s where we are as a society at the moment. Sports always provide a constant in terms of escapism for people whether in the broader context of global political landscapes or people’s lives in general.
“We’ve all got things in our lives that sometimes aren’t in the greatest shape so I think sport, and football in particular because it’s the global sport, does. It provides some escapism, hopefully some joy, and some collective tribalism in a positive way.
“You feel part of something, connected to something on a weekly basis which is your team and you share that with other people. I’ve always felt sport and football, for me, has always been a great avenue for people to enjoy something in a community aspect and hopefully that continues.”
