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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has opened up after his side's 3-1 Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night.Spurs have one foot in the final of the competition with Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke all finding the net before Ulrik Saltnes pulled one back for the visitors.Postecoglou was pleased with his side's victory but admits that Tottenham can't get carried away ahead of the second leg in Norway next week.WATCH THE FULL PRESS CONFERENCE ABOVE.
Transcript
00:00Please wait
00:30And where do you think that result leaves your team in terms of making the second leg of the semi-final?
00:41Yeah, I think it puts us in a good position. I thought the players were outstanding today. I thought our performance was everything it needed to be.
00:51Really well organised and disciplined defensively. Really calm going forward and creating good opportunities for ourselves and maintaining pressure.
00:59Obviously, they scored the goal late, which doesn't reflect our dominance in the game.
01:06But if we repeat that performance next week, it will be enough for us to get through.
01:11So Richarlison not returned for the second half, Maddison, Solanke come off.
01:16Have you got an initial assessment of where those injuries are?
01:20Richarlison wasn't injured, it was just a tactical thing. He did a great job for us in the first half.
01:24Exactly what we needed him to do, but we thought the game would open up in the second half.
01:27We've got Matty on for that. Dom and Matt has felt a tweak in his knee, but it doesn't sound like it's anything serious.
01:36And Dom, similarly in his quad, but both of them sort of didn't feel it was anything too significant.
01:43But I thought it was wise just to take him off at that point.
01:46Hi, Andrew, it's Boris from Antenna 5. You must be pleased with the result and the fact that you've got a lead that you can protect or add to it in the second leg.
01:56Could you please comment on the crowd? It was so electric tonight.
02:01Everyone wants you to win this title, this competition. It's a European title. You must be pleased with the way things are going on this front.
02:11I thought that our supporters were outstanding tonight. From the moment we walked out and I think they added the energy to the team.
02:20I think, you know, even us scoring an early goal came from the fact that, you know, as soon as the boys walked out, there was a buzz in the stadium.
02:27And it's credit to our fans. We've obviously had a tough season, but the European Knights this year have still been pretty special.
02:33And, you know, they played their part tonight. A massive role in us, you know, performing in the way we needed to.
02:40You lost Lucas Boatville, obviously, on the eve of the match. We saw him in crutches and a protective boot.
02:46Do you think you've kind of lost him for the rest of the season?
02:48It's too early to assess. Yeah, just, you know, it's just the way our season's gone, unfortunately.
02:52It's just, yeah, hugely disappointing for Lucas. He was obviously really excited. You know, he had a big week.
02:59Obviously, re-signing with the club and he's had such a, you know, great year for us.
03:04Just, like I said, just the way our season's gone, where, you know, training, something innocuous like that ends up with him, you know, hurting his ankle.
03:13We'll just assess it over the next few days, let it settle down and we'll find the extent of it.
03:18Obviously, he gives an opportunity for someone else. He was soon to come in. What did you make of his performance tonight?
03:22Yeah, I thought Biss and Rodri were outstanding. They were really key for us today.
03:26You know, I mean, the beauty of Lucas is that, you know, he fills that sort of role really well from a defensive point of view.
03:33And, you know, the reason I put Biss in there today, I knew that we were going to need that from him.
03:38You know, the way Bodo's set up and, you know, their ability to sort of try and gain momentum as they build up their play.
03:45I thought him and Rodri were going to be key for us stemming that and that's how it proved.
03:49I thought Biss was brilliant. Look, he's had an up-and-down year like all of us.
03:53But I still got full belief in him and full confidence that on a day like today,
03:58he could do a really good job for us and I thought he was outstanding.
04:00How did you see the penalty?
04:04How did I see it? It was a good penalty. Scored.
04:08The decision by VAR?
04:10It was a decision, yeah. That's the referee's decision, yeah.
04:13How are you looking, how are you seeing the next game on artificial grass?
04:17Yeah, look, it's on artificial grass but it's still a game of football and, you know, I've been there.
04:24I've played there with Celtic. I know the experience.
04:26I think what's important for us is that we need to, you know, replicate what we did today.
04:31I think, excuse me, irrespective of the surface, if we're as disciplined and organised as we were today,
04:37with and without the ball, then, you know, it won't matter what the surface is.
04:41I think it'll make it really difficult for us, you know, to be stopped.
04:46And at 3-0, it felt like there were two or three really good chances to make it four.
04:51I mean, it's disappointing for you that that one goal for Bordeaux seems to give them a bit of belief.
04:56Yeah, look, I mean, look, I thought we were similarly dominant against Frankfurt, you know,
05:01and we ended up with one all there. So, you know, it's just...
05:04But I think when you perform like we did tonight and like we did against Frankfurt at home,
05:09it gives you that belief that you can go away and win there as well.
05:12So, I think that's the most important thing.
05:15We certainly, you know, I don't think the scoreline reflects our dominance in the game today.
05:20But, you know, we have to accept that.
05:23Obviously, we're still in a really good position and it's about now replicating what we did today on Thursday.
05:29And just on from that, you talked about how calm your attack was.
05:33Sporters might get a bit edgy after the late goal, but has the performance tonight made you feel pretty calm going into that?
05:40It's not about feeling calm. I just like I said, you get belief in minutes.
05:44As I said, you know, I get, you know, Bordeaux away is a difficult fixture, but so was Frankfurt away.
05:50And we went there knowing we had to win to get through.
05:53And I thought the lads handled it really well.
05:55I think in Europe this year, we've been really good at sort of managing whatever situation we've been in.
06:01And, you know, we've had some games where, you know, we lost away from home, but we had to come back and we showed real calm composure to win and get through here.
06:11So I think all those experiences, you know, give me the belief that we can go there and get the job done.
06:17Thank you very much.

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