Tottenham Hotspur is attempting to reschedule their upcoming Premier League match away at Aston Villa. This request is aimed at gaining a potential advantage should they reach the Europa League final later in the season.
Spurs are currently set to face Villa Park on Sunday, May 18th. This fixture is their second-to-last league game of the campaign.
Crucially, this date is just three days before the Europa League final, which is scheduled to take place in Bilbao, Spain. Ange Postecoglou`s team must first overcome Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals to even have a chance of reaching the final.
Sources within the club insist that these proactive discussions are not out of arrogance and that Tottenham is absolutely not taking Bodo/Glimt lightly. The North London club is currently engaged in talks with the Premier League.
The primary goal of these early discussions is to ensure that fans are given as much advance notice as possible to make travel and accommodation arrangements if the Aston Villa match date is ultimately changed.
While it remains uncertain what day the match would be moved to if an agreement is reached between all involved parties, it is understood that Friday, May 16th, would not be the alternative date.
Tottenham released a statement confirming the situation: “We wish to inform supporters that we are currently in discussions with the Premier League regarding a potential change to the date of our away Premier League fixture against Aston Villa, which is presently scheduled for Sunday, May 18th.”
The statement added, “Further information regarding this match will be communicated to supporters in due course.”
Tottenham`s prospects for the season heavily rely on their success in the Europa League, particularly after a poor performance in the Premier League that sees them positioned down in 16th place.
The future of manager Ange Postecoglou at the club may also depend on the European campaign. The Australian coach`s position could be under threat if the team does not manage to win the competition.
Bodo/Glimt have demonstrated their quality throughout the tournament, notably eliminating Lazio in the previous round and securing a comfortable victory against Olympiacos earlier in the season.
Spurs will host the Norwegian opponents for the first leg of the semi-final tie this Thursday, before travelling to the Arctic Circle for the return leg one week later.
The other semi-final match in the competition sees Manchester United face off against Athletic Bilbao.
Winning the Europa League would not only secure Tottenham`s first major trophy in 17 years but also guarantee them qualification for the prestigious Champions League competition next season.
