Ange’s Spurs to rock MCG
Big guns will make Oz trip
Tottenham assistant coach and former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak is adamant “pretty much everyone” will be coming to give Ange Postecoglou a full-strength squad for his MCG homecoming clash with fellow English Premier League outfit Newcastle United in May.
The opening match of “Global Football Week” will take place on May 22, less than 72 hours after both clubs’ final game of the Premier League season.
But dispelling fears of a substandard squad being sent to Melbourne given the quick turnaround, and the 2024 Euros and Copa America being held in June, Jedinak said Spurs would bring their best players to Australia.
“Pretty much everyone will be coming to Melbourne, unless there are some unforeseen circumstances,” Jedinak said.
“Because it’s so close to the end of the season, the windows for the Euros and Copa America still won’t be open, so we’ll have all the boys here.”
It means that likes of English midfielder James Maddison, Argentine centre-back Cristian Romero, Dutch defender Micky van de Ven, Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski and Brazilian striker Richarlison should all be part of a travelling squad that will also include Spurs captain, South Korean star Son Heung-min.
“It’s right on the back of the last game of the season so the players will be in the mode and ready to go,” Jedinak said.
“Once they enter the MCG and see the support they’ll have, they’ll be wanting to put on a performance that we as a club expect.
“It’s not often that two teams from the most watched league in the world come out to our shores and play each other. It’s going to be unreal.”
Jedinak said it would also be a special night for Spurs manager, former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, in Melbourne.
“There would be an immense amount of pride for Ange. He’d be very excited to have this match in his hometown,” he said.
Jedinak said he was relishing the “cut and thrust” of being part of Postecoglou’s Tottenham coaching staff.
“For me, it has been nice to see him being able to experience it with this group, and help support him with that. It’s something that I’ve really enjoyed,” he said.
Tottenham’s hopes of finishing in the top four and securing a UEFA Champions League berth next season suffered a setback on Sunday morning (AEDT) with a 3-0 loss to Fulham.
However, with 10 matches remaining, there is plenty of time for the fifth-placed Tottenham to move up the ladder.
“There’s a lot to play for in those 10 games and we’re not going to put a ceiling on where we can finish,” Jedinak said.
“We take every game as comes.
“Our next game is against Luton (on Sunday week) and we’ll be preparing for that, and once we tick that one off, it will be on to the next one.” it