Tottenham Hotspur have received a timely boost ahead of their must-win Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, with defender Kevin Danso returning to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury.
As exclusively revealed by Spurs Web, Danso is back in full training and will travel with the team to Germany. While he’s not expected to start — with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven still Ange Postecoglou’s first-choice pairing — the Austrian centre-back provides vital cover in a squad short on confidence and depth after Sunday’s 4-2 collapse at Wolves.
Danso’s German experience could prove crucial
Though he’s unlikely to feature from the off, Danso’s familiarity with the German game could be invaluable in Frankfurt. The 25-year-old previously played in the Bundesliga for Augsburg and Fortuna Dusseldorf, and knows full well the kind of intensity and atmosphere the Deutsche Bank Park can generate on a big European night.
Spurs’ scouts have warned of a hostile atmosphere awaiting them on Thursday, and Postecoglou’s squad will need all the help they can get — physically and mentally — if they’re to overcome a Frankfurt side that proved stubborn in the 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last week.
Tottenham season hanging by a thread
With Spurs languishing in 15th place in the Premier League and domestic hopes all but dead, this second leg has become the defining moment of the season — and perhaps of Postecoglou’s tenure.
Nothing short of victory will do. Failure to advance would not only mark another trophyless campaign but could spell the end for Postecoglou, whose job hangs by a thread. Reports suggest a defeat could lead to his immediate sacking, with speculation already swirling about potential successors.
The first leg saw Pedro Porro rescue a draw with a brilliant strike, but Spurs were second-best for large spells and were only spared defeat thanks to a standout performance from Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos. If that pattern repeats, it could be curtains for Tottenham’s European dream.
Selection calls and pressure points
Postecoglou is expected to restore key starters, with Son Heung-min and Van de Ven returning after being rested at Molineux. Kevin Danso’s return means there’s at least some added depth in defence — though whether the team has the resilience to stand up to the pressure remains to be seen.
Offensively, Spurs will need Richarlison, Brennan Johnson, and James Maddison to step up, with Mathys Tel also pushing for a starting role after finding the net last time out. But the real battle may be psychological — can Tottenham rise to the occasion, or will the weight of expectation crush them again?
When and where to watch
Fans in the UK can catch the action live on TNT Sports 3, with kick-off at 8pm BST on Thursday.
With everything on the line — a European semi-final, Postecoglou’s job, and a shot at salvaging a broken season — Tottenham must show up in Germany. For once, it’s not about building for the future. It’s about surviving the present.
