Postecoglou Lauds Solanke’s Performance; Teases Richarlison’s Comeback Before Forest Showdown

Tottenham’s manager, Ange Postecoglou, has spoken highly of striker Dominic Solanke, while also indicating that Richarlison’s return to the squad could be on the horizon before their match against Nottingham Forest on Monday night.

Following a foul on James Maddison by Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Kaua Santos, Solanke stepped up to convert a penalty, securing a 1-0 victory against the Bundesliga club. This win has propelled Tottenham into the Europa League semi-finals, where they will face Bodo/Glimt next month.

This marked Solanke’s first goal in 12 matches, yet Postecoglou remains optimistic about the 27-year-old’s contributions as he gears up to find the back of the net again against Forest.

“I understand he’s a striker and when goals are sparse, people tend to notice that,” the Spurs head coach remarked ahead of the Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest. “However, he plays a crucial role in our overall game.”

“Our back line performed exceptionally well in Frankfurt, and our front three showed remarkable discipline in their defensive duties on Thursday. Dom, along with the two wingers, had significant responsibilities defensively.”

“We ask a lot of them physically, and they still need to deliver in attack when the opportunity arises.”

“In comparison to other teams, take Frankfurt for instance; they don’t impose the same demands on their forward, Hugo Ekitike. When he receives the ball, he’s fresh and ready to take on defenders.”

“Conversely, Dom typically gets the ball after completing numerous sprints to close defenders down, so that’s a factor to consider. But as a team, we believe this approach enhances our chances of success.”

Richarlison has recovered from a calf injury and is in contention to start on Monday for the first time since early February. Postecoglou hinted at the potential of the Brazilian forward making an impactful return.

“Richy is another player who is set to see some action in the coming matches as he’s been looking sharp in training. But Dom has been incredibly important.”