JOB’S NOT DONE YET
Despite healthy leads in Euro semis, Spurs and Blues still have jobs to do
VAT NIE KANSE: Dominic Solanke VAT NIE KANSE: Dominic Solanke
Image: EPA
TOTTENHAM Hotspur are looking to save what is a swak season by booking their spot in the Europa League final on Thursday.
Taking a healthy 3-1 lead into Thursday's 9pm semi-final second leg against Norwegian span Bodo/Glimt at Aspmyra Stadion, Dominic Solanke says their job is nog lank nie klaar nie.
Solanke was one of Spurs’ goal-scorers in that first leg, klapping alongside Brennan Johnson and James Madisson, while Ulrik Saltnes scored for the visitors.
With a place in the final up for grabs against either Manchester United or Atletic Bilbao, Spurs, who are down in 15th place in the Premier League, are not taking any kanse.
Solanke tells the Europa League website: “It’s nice to have that lead, but we still know it’s going to be a difficult game and the job's not done yet.”
BEING CAUTIOUS: Enzo Maresca BEING CAUTIOUS: Enzo Maresca
Image: AFP
In the third tier of European competitions, the Conference League, the Premier League are represented in the final by coach Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.
Pushing for a place in next season’s Champions League, the fifth-placed Blues tackle fourth-placed Newcastle in the league this weekend.
But even with a 4-1 first-leg lead over Swedish outfit Djurgarden ahead of Thursday's 9pm home leg, Maresca says in Wednesday's pre-match press conference: “‘It is a European competition that we are going to try to win. The next step is to reach the final, but first we must try to do our job [Thursday].”