AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Spurs | Ange's verdict | OneFootball

Ange Postecoglou said we were ‘nowhere near the level we needed to be’ after a 1-0 loss in the first leg of our UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie against AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion on Thursday evening.

Ange added that the team ‘didn’t get to grips with the game’ as Lucas Bergvall inadvertently sliced Troy Parrott’s effort into his own net for the only goal on 18 minutes. Guglielmo Vicario produced big saves to deny the former Spur one-on-one in the first first half, and to turn away Ernest Poku’s drive after the break.

At the other end, we struggled to break the home side down, Wilson Odobert heading our best chance over from Pedro Porro’s cross deep into added time.

Despite the loss, it’s only half-time in the tie, and we meet again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next Thursday night (13 March, 8pm). “The result was probably the best thing out of it in that we’re still very much in the tie,” Ange told us afterwards.

Ange on a tough night...

“It wasn't good, not a great result... actually the result was probably the best thing out of it in that we’re still very much in the tie. We were nowhere near the level we needed to be, a disappointing night overall.”

Ange on the reasons why...

“It's hard to say at the moment, but we just didn't get to grips with the game, at all. We know it was a tricky surface, we knew that from (training) yesterday, but we just didn't handle it well, really struggled with any sort of intent. We weren't aggressive with the ball, weren't aggressive without the ball and we just allowed the opposition to play the game on their terms. Every away game in Europe is tricky, we understand that, we prepared the players for that, but it’s fair to say we didn't handle it.”

Ange on Dominic Solanke’s injury late in the game...

“I haven't seen him yet, but it looks like it was just a knock, so hopefully nothing too serious.”