Maddison Reminds Tottenham They Have Not Achieved Anything Yet After AZ Fightback

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James Maddison has cautioned his Tottenham teammates that their journey is far from over, despite a comeback against AZ keeping their Europa League aspirations alive. After a poor first-leg showing left them trailing 1-0, Tottenham turned the tables in the second leg with goals from Wilson Odobert and Maddison. Peer Koopmeiners equalised the aggregate score, but Odobert's second goal secured their progression.

Currently, Tottenham are struggling in the Premier League, sitting 13th and eight points away from the top half. Despite these challenges, Ange Postecoglou's squad remains hopeful for European success. Maddison emphasises the importance of staying grounded, acknowledging that while they have reached the quarter-finals, they have not yet achieved anything significant.

Maddison expressed to TNT Sports: "There was a lot of talk after last week's performance, we were honest with ourselves—it wasn't good enough. I know what we're capable of here and we got the job done. We haven't achieved anything yet, we're in the quarter-finals and we kick on and we look forward to it."

This season has seen Spurs plagued by injuries, but Thursday's match saw them near full strength. Maddison highlighted the importance of having Cristian Romero and Micky van de Van back as central defenders. Their presence provided stability at the back, contributing to a solid team performance that ensured their deserved advancement.

Maddison remarked on the impact of experienced players: "Over the last few months when we've spoken about injuries and missing key players, then tonight, we're stood in the tunnel and you look at the team and it's a group of men. When you have the spine of players who are experienced and have played at this level for a long time it makes a difference."

Upcoming Matches

Spurs will face Eintracht Frankfurt in their next Europa League clash. The winner will meet either Lazio or Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Tottenham's domestic campaign continues with an upcoming match against Fulham on Sunday followed by another London derby against Chelsea after the international break.

Maddison praised Odobert's performance: "Wilson Odobert will grab the headlines tonight and rightly so, two goals and he was a threat, I thought he was absolutely fantastic. I'm going to go give him a big pat on the back."

The team remains focused on their objectives as they navigate both domestic league challenges and European ambitions. Maintaining momentum is crucial as they aim for success on multiple fronts this season.