Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham side have two games on the calendar before their return to Europa League action. Taking on Chelsea and Southampton over the next seven days, Spurs are then at home against Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
It is a huge match in Tottenham's season and one they really need to claim victory in considering Eintracht's home form in Europe this campaign. The north London club were previously the favourites to win the Europa League trophy but they have since seen Athletic Club and Manchester United nip ahead of them in the bookies' odds.
Considering Tottenham's season to date and the huge pressure on Postecoglou's shoulders right now, the head coach has to deliver success in the competition come the final in Bilbao on Wednesday, May 21. Ahead of the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, three players are going to have to watch their step as they are walking the disciplinary tightrope at present.
Yellow cards from the league phase are carried over to the knockout stage and that means some players could possibly end up serving a suspension either in the second leg of the quarter-final or the first leg of a potential semi-final. Article 63.02 of the UEFA Europa League regulations states: "From the first match in the league phase, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, that did not result in a red card, as well as after any subsequent odd-numbered caution (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.)."
Yellow cards are not wiped out until the conclusion of the quarter-final stage, meaning the three players in question have two games to try and avoid a caution. Article 63.04 stipulates: "Exceptionally, all yellow cards and pending yellow-card suspensions expire on completion of the play-offs. They are not carried forward to the league phase. In addition, all yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals."
The three Tottenham players at risk of a one-match ban in the Europa League are Lucas Bergvall, Yves Bissouma and Dejan Kulusevski after picking up two yellow cards in the competition this season. Radu Dragusin is another Spurs star on two yellow cards in Europe but he cannot obtain a one-match ban as he is out for the remainder of the season through injury and no longer in Spurs' European squad as a result.
Rodrigo Bentancur was previously on two yellow cards but he received a third booking of the European season away at AZ Alkmaar earlier this month. The Uruguayan subsequently sat out the return leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the team clinched a place in the last eight of the competition with a 3-1 win.
It is not exactly clear yet when Kulusevski will return from a foot injury but all at Tottenham will have their fingers crossed that the Swede can play a part in both games against Eintracht. The attacker is such an instrumental player in Postecoglou's Spurs system and someone who they really cannot afford to do without amid the threat of a possible one-match ban.
The same also applies to Bergvall after making himself an undroppable in the team in recent months. The midfielder's form has been bad news for Bissouma as he has dropped out of the side as a result.
Considering the team's mixed form and the need to win silverware, Postecoglou and Tottenham will need all their players available if they are to finally bring the club's trophy drought to an end.
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