Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham must be at their best to beat Europa League semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt as Jose Mourinho previously lost to them.
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Spurs to face Bodo/Glimt in UELNorwegian side have history with Postecoglou & MourinhoAustralian coach not taking challenge lightlyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
After eliminating Eintracht Frankfurt, Spurs will face Bodo/Glimt in the last four of this season's Europa League. The Lilywhites' opponents became the first Norwegian side to ever reach this stage of a major European competition with a penalty shootout victory at Italian giants Lazio.
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Postecoglou will do battle with Bodo/Glimt again having previously faced them as the manager of Celtic. During the 2021-22 Europa Conference League, the Bhoys were beaten 5-1 on aggregate in the knockout round play-offs. During that same run, Bodo/Glimt notably won 6-1 and drew 2-2 against Mourinho's Roma in the group stage, though were knocked out by the Giallorossi in the quarter-finals. Mourinho's side went on to win the competition in its inaugural season, ousting Arne Slot's Feyenoord in the final.
Getty ImagesWHAT POSTECOGLOU SAID
Though Spurs are heavy favourites to progress to the final, Postecoglou claimed his side should be wary of the threat Bodo/Glimt pose, particularly given their rapid rise over the last few years and prior experience of stepping up in Europe.
"I don't think [their progress] is surprising," Postecoglou said. "I obviously have history with Bodo, we played them when I was at Celtic and I scouted them pretty extensively for that game.
"I remember they beat Roma at home with Jose, and I remember Jose speaking about how difficult it was playing there. And I've followed them closely, and you've seen their growth. They are very difficult.
"They've got good talent ID. They’ve had players who moved on and done really well, very consistent, same manager, which always helps. And they've built real belief in their club. So I think they've earned the right to be in a semi-final, it’s not like they've had an easy sort of ride through it.
"They are a very, very difficult opponent away from home, absolutely. You just have to look at their record. But the balance of that is that Frankfurt had a pretty good home record as well, just as compelling. So I think you're in the semi-final, I don't think anyone would underestimate any opponent, but I certainly won't. I know them really well, and I know the challenge we're going to have to try and overcome them."
WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?
Tottenham will host the first leg of the semi-final on May 1 before heading to the Aspmyra Stadion – which has a capacity of only 8,270 and includes an artificial pitch – a week later. The winners of this tie will face either Athletic Club or Manchester United in the final in Bilbao.