Talk to those behind the scenes and they will explain the injuries have been the most relevant factor behind Tottenham’s difficult situation.
The son Heung -Min, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero, Micky Van de Ven, Richarlison and Guglielmo Vicario, among many, have spent prolonged spells on the touch this season – many of them with muscular problems.
James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Kulusvski were not unavailable to Bilbao. The son started on the bench because he was deemed unfit for only recently raised injury.
Indeed, several sources have told BBC Sport that the injury record paralyzing the club had been at the center of certain frictions between the members of the team of coaches and the medical and force and packaging staff during the season.
“It was the game of blame,” said a well -placed source.
According to sources, the campaign disrupted by Richarlison’s injuries turned out to be a contention apple, especially following the 4-0 defeat of the Carabao Cup by Liverpool in February when, having only returned to respective hamstrings recently and injuries of the groin, the Brazilian international has undergone a neckline injury in standby.
There have been other examples this season when the Postcoglou team and the medical and fitness department have not seen the eyes.
Has Postcoglou pushed the players too hard? Or are the strength and packaging and medical services in fault? The answers will vary depending on who you are talking about.
Interestingly, it is understood that there were similar strains during the Postcoglou reign in Celtic, with the medical staff and the manager is not always aligned.
It is relevant to add that these tensions in Tottenham have softened in recent weeks while the wounded on foot of the club have returned to availability, while Postcoglou has sought to take into account more days of leave for its players in recent months – their elimination of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup allowing it an additional line.
However, the large number of muscle injuries that the club has suffered this season indicates a problem that requires rectification.
As it is normal at the end of the season, Tottenham will examine the campaign to make ministerial improvements before the next.
With the incoming arrival of Vinai Venkatesham as a new CEO, it is likely that the current position of football director Scott Munn will be examined at the end of the season.
Tottenham also had interviews with former director general of football Fabio Paratici for a return to the club after its release in 2023 after a call against a ban on FIFA and a half of FIFA for the alleged financial irregularities while Juventus was rejected by the highest sports court in Italy.
It is also fair to assume that the horrible record for club injuries will be part of the examination process.
The advantage of club injury problems was the development of Bergvall and Archie Gray, 19, this season.
The two teenagers were to be detained in the first team this season – but the pair has made 88 appearances between them so far.
Although there is recognition that the experience will be invaluable for the development of the two players, it is also accepted that the situation has been far from ideal for a club which should be difficult for a place among the first five.
