‘One of the worst’: Les Ferdinand suggests £48M Spurs player did something bad late on in last night’s AZ loss
Tottenham Hotspur suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie. The decisive moment came early in the game when Lucas Bergvall inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 18th minute.
Despite having ample time to respond, Spurs failed to mount any significant offensive threat, managing just one shot on target throughout the match. Adding to their woes, Dominic Solanke was forced off late in the game with an apparent knock, leaving him visibly in discomfort.
Les Ferdinand shared his thoughts on Solanke’s unfortunate injury and did not hold back in his criticism of Brennan Johnson’s cross that led to the collision.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Ferdinand pointed out that Johnson’s delivery left Solanke vulnerable to being clattered by AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro.
He described the £48 million winger’s cross as one of the worst types for a center-forward to attack, as it forced Solanke to put himself in harm’s way without much hope of a clean connection.
Ferdinand mentioned that he had anticipated the collision as soon as the ball was played into the box, stating that it was impossible for Solanke to go for it without expecting a heavy challenge from the keeper.
Solanke’s return to the squad was a much-needed boost for Tottenham, as he had been sidelined for the past two months with a knee injury. He started on the bench and was introduced in the 72nd minute as Spurs searched for an equalizer.
However, his night took a turn for the worse when he attempted to meet Johnson’s cross in the box, only to be met by Owusu-Oduro mid-air. The impact sent Solanke crashing to the ground, where he immediately showed signs of distress, slapping the turf in either pain or frustration.
The sight of him being helped off the pitch was an unwelcome development for a Tottenham side already dealing with injury concerns.
Following the game, manager Ange Postecoglou provided an update on Solanke’s condition but remained optimistic about the severity of the knock.
He suggested that, while it was too early for a definitive assessment, the initial belief was that Solanke had suffered a minor knock rather than a serious injury.
Postecoglou reassured reporters that the striker was sore but did not appear to have sustained significant damage, indicating that further evaluations would determine his availability for upcoming matches.
Tottenham now shift their focus back to the Premier League, where they are set to host Bournemouth on Sunday in a crucial fixture. The match kicks off at 2 PM GMT, and with Spurs struggling for consistency, they will need to regroup quickly.
Following that, attention will return to the Europa League, with the second leg of their last-16 tie against AZ Alkmaar scheduled for Thursday, March 13, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With a one-goal deficit to overturn, Postecoglou’s side will need a much-improved attacking display to keep their European hopes alive.