𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

It may be the hottest day of the year so far, but the clouds have begun to close in over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Is an Arctic storm about to hit North London?

Ange Postecoglou promised Spurs will not underestimate the Norwegian champions after his own twin defeats to them as Celtic boss in 2022.

“You’d love us to think that, that you’re a small club and we don’t rate (you). No, no, that’s not how I (think), I just said I think Bodo’s there on merit. They beat Lazio, they beat Olympiacos, tough teams. They’re there because they’re a good football team.

“Irrespective of how this season’s gone, we have generations of fans who want this more than anything else, to share again with the people that they love a special moment supporting their football club.”

From a small town north of the Arctic Circle, FK Bodø/Glimt has emerged as one of European football’s most captivating underdog stories.

Their unlikely transformation is largely thanks to Bjørn Mannsverk, a former fighter pilot who brought his unique mental coaching techniques to the club.

In 2017, Bodø/Glimt had just been relegated to Norway’s second tier. Mannsverk, brought in as a “mental coach,” found a team riddled with negativity and prone to “collective mental breakdown.”

His mission was to overhaul the team’s mentality, encouraging open communication about feelings, stress reduction, and improved attitudes towards preparation and nutrition. He aimed to destigmatise mental training, shifting the focus away from winning or losing and towards embracing a new philosophy and culture.

Ange Postecoglou will have to make do without Heung-min Son tonight as he makes six changes from the side thrashed by Liverpool last weekend.

Djed Spence, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel all come out for Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Bergvall is not in the matchday squad having played the full 90 minutes in the loss at Anfield, also out with a twisted ankle.

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Van de Ven, Romeo, Udogie; Bissouma, Bentancur, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Richarlison

Bodo/Glimt XI: Haikin; Sjovold, Nielsen, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Fet, Hauge, Saltnes; Maata, Hogh, Blomberg

Bodo/Glimt sporting director Havard Sakariassen has described his team as a group of “mates” but warned Tottenham they can spring another shock and become the first Norwegian club into a European final.

Lazio, Olympiacos and Twente have already succumbed in this season’s Europa League to the side from the small town of Bodo inside the Arctic Circle.

Next up are Spurs in the last four and Thursday’s first leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Bodo’s entire population of 55,000 could fit into the ground with plenty of room to spare, but Sakariassen believes the tight-knit team, who were in the second tier eight years ago, can upset the odds, especially given their growth since Arsenal beat them twice in 2022.

“We’re behind the manager 100 per cent. He’s a great man. I come into work every day and see the lads listening, taking on the messages how he wants to play and the coaches and trying to do what’s best for this club.

“We’re in a very good position in Europe where we can still have a special season under his management.”

“No one in the whole club from top to bottom can be satisfied with where we are. It definitely hurts. I had to do an interview at Liverpool on Sunday and we have lost 5-1. It’s a little bit embarrassing, I’m a bit embarrassed myself and you have to go and talk.

“I know no one actually wants to hear what I have got to say because they want to see the reaction and get the reaction – and that is the chance we have on Thursday night.

“Then in seven days time we have got another massive game and if we get through that, we are in a European final so there are positives there, but we have got to go and do it and show them we are just as hungry as they are to win something.”