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Tottenham Hotspur is approaching their upcoming Europa League match against AZ with momentum, looking to extend their winning streak in European competition to three games. Their European campaign has been notably strong, despite varying Premier League performances, with previous victories over Qarabag (3-0) and Ferencvaros (2-1). Their recent 4-1 victory over West Ham adds to their confidence going into the AZ fixture.
The most significant development comes from manager Ange Postecoglou’s pre-match conference, where he discussed Richarlison’s status. The £60 million striker, who has seen limited playing time this season (only 34 minutes across matches against Everton, Leicester, and West Ham), is reportedly set to start against AZ.
Postecoglou confirmed Richarlison’s availability, noting that he has completed nearly two weeks of training and performed well in his recent appearance against West Ham. The club appears to have multiple objectives regarding Richarlison’s return to the starting lineup:
– Improving his match fitness
– Enhancing his form to increase attacking options
– Creating competition for Dominic Solanke
– Potentially rebuilding his market value for a possible future transfer
There’s particular optimism about Richarlison’s current condition. After undergoing groin surgery earlier in the season, he’s reportedly in excellent physical shape, having used his recovery period as an opportunity for comprehensive fitness improvement. Postecoglou emphasized that they’ve approached his rehabilitation strategically, essentially treating it as an individualized pre-season to prevent future fitness issues.
The manager praised Richarlison’s dedication during this process, noting that he’s noticeably leaner and has maintained strong training performance, while expressing eagerness to return to regular play.
Alious
