Tottenham Hotspur experiences another injury setback, as manager Ange Postecoglou announces the latest casualty ahead of the Europa League final.
Spurs in Sweat: Pape Matar Sarr's Injury Worry Before Europa League Final
Tottenham Hotspur's Europa League final preparations have taken a tense turn following Pape Matar Sarr's injury scare in their last Premier League outing. A 2-0 loss against Aston Villa on Friday marred the team's final league game before facing Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday[1].
In the midst of swapping strategies for the upcoming final, Ange Postecoglou found himself grappling with another fitness concern. Sarr, the Senegalese midfielder, was replaced by Yves Bissouma after just 53 minutes due to a mysterious back knock[2][3].
TheSubsequent incident left fans and the coaching staff anxious, as the medical team escorted Sarr off the pitch.
Previously, Postecoglou made alterations in his lineup to ensure the Spurs squad remained fresh for the final encounter. Yet, despite these adjustments, another player, Mikey Moore, showed signs of fatigue during the game, giving way for Brennan Johnson with three minutes remaining[2].
Amidst this turmoil, Son Heung-min made a long-awaited return to the field after recovering from an injury.
After the game, Postecoglou addressed the media regarding the fitness status of Sarr and Moore. He assured fans that Sarr's injury was "not significant," with fatigue being the primary issue for Moore[1].
With the Europa League looming, Postecoglou's squad could potentially be without six first-team players if Sarr is ruled out. The winner of the encounter against Manchester United at the San Mames will secure a spot in next season's Champions League[2]. A victory would also mark Spurs' first major trophy since their League Cup triumph in 2008[1].
However, a series of long-term absentees may force Spurs to rely on the remaining players. These absentees include Radu Dragusin, James Maddison, Timo Werner, Lucas Bergvall, and the latest addition to the injury list, Dejan Kulusevski, who underwent knee surgery earlier this week[2].
Kulusevski, the Swedish winger, is not expected to return to action until the end of August at the earliest[4].
Still, Postecoglou remains optimistic, emphasizing his team's resilience and their ability to rally for the upcoming challenge[2].
Sources
- Tottenham Hotspur face nervy wait over Pape Matar Sarr's injury before Europa League final, May 16, 2025, multiple sources
- Tottenham remaining upbeat despite Pape Matar Sarr injury scare, May 16, 2025, Sky Sports
- Pape Matar Sarr Injury: Ange Postecoglou Provides Latest Update on Spurs Midfielder, May 17, 2025, HITC.com
- Dejan Kulusevski undergoes knee surgery: What Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said, May 14, 2025, Express.co.uk
- Ange Postecoglou's squad could potentially be without six first-team players for the Champions League next season if Pape Matar Sarr is ruled out of the Europa League.
- The Europa League final against Manchester United serves as a path for Tottenham Hotspur to secure a spot in next season's Champions League.
- In European-leagues, a victory in the Europa League final would mark Spurs' first major trophy since their League Cup triumph in 2008.
- Postecoglou's Spurs team will face various challenges, as they might rely on the remaining players due to long-term absentees like Radu Dragusin, James Maddison, Timo Werner, Lucas Bergvall, and recently injured Dejan Kulusevski.
