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The club's revenue fell from £549.6 million in the previous year to £528.2 million in their latest financial report, though they did reduce losses after tax from £26.2 million to £86.8 million in 2023.

In the past Levy has been the subject of criticism for not spending enough on the squad and, with the club on course for their lowest league finish in 21 years, there are calls for him to spend big again.

But when speaking on Monday, he reiterated that the club need to be financially sustainable.

"Since opening our new stadium in April 2019, we have invested over 700 million pounds net in player acquisitions," said Levy in a statement.

"Recruitment remains a key focus, and we must ensure that we make smart purchases within our financial means.

"I often read calls for us to spend more, given that we are ranked as the ninth-richest club in the world. However, a closer examination of today's financial figures reveals that such spending must be sustainable in the long term and within our operating revenues.

"Our capacity to generate recurring revenues determines our spending power. We cannot spend what we do not have, and we will not compromise the financial stability of this club."

Central to Spurs' drop in revenue was a lack of UEFA prize money, having earned just £1.3 million in 2024 compared to £56.2 million the previous year due to their lack of involvement in European competitions.

Spurs are currently 14th in the Premier League, having lost 15 of their 29 matches, and travel to Chelsea on Thursday after a near-three-week hiatus.

Having won just three of their last 13 matches in the Premier League, they are on course for their lowest league position for 21 years since finishing 14th in 2003-04.

“I guess the domino effect of certain things happening. You try and assess things as you go along but my inclination is we probably got the start of the year wrong," said Postecoglou.

“It’s becoming increasingly challenging for footballers these days they don’t get a traditional break, I just think we went into the start of the season really hard and probably underestimated the challenges of Europe this year with your two extra games and having a big cup run.

“Then you add into the mix that we lost some key players earlier on and it feels like we’ve been chasing our tail ever since and we haven’t been able to get some steady ground.

"A lot of that goes back to the start of the year, maybe we would have taken a different approach knowing the season we had ahead.”

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, spoke about the gap between themselves and the teams at the top of the Premier League following his side's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal in their last league game.

“It is quite big,” said Maresca, when asked about the gap between Arsenal and Chelsea. “The reason why is because they are working with the same manager for five years.

“The difference is quite important. With the same players, they already played for some important games.

“But our target, our duty is to close that gap between us and them. In this moment, the table just says the difference between us and them it’s six points, if I am not wrong."

Cucrella has scored two goals in his last three league appearances for Chelsea, having scored in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time in his time at the club.

The Spaniard has also registered at least one shot in seven of his last nine league games, while he has had two in his last two matches.

Son has registered nine Premier League assists this season, making him one away from recording 10+ assists in four separate seasons in the competition (10 in each of 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2023-24), which would equal Christian Eriksen’s Premier League record for Tottenham.

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League games against Spurs (W9 D2), with their last defeat coming in November 2018.

Chelsea have also won their last three matches in a row against Spurs by an aggregate score of 10-4.

They have, in fact, won more Premier League games (36) and scored more Premier League goals (120) against Tottenham than they have vs any other opponent.

No side has earned fewer points in Premier League London derbies this season than Tottenham Hotspur (10, level with Brentford), who have lost five of nine such games this season (W3 D1).

Coming into this matchday, only Leicester (10) and Southampton (12) have lost more Premier League away games this season than Tottenham Hotspur (eight). Not since 2008-09 have Spurs suffered more away defeats in a single league campaign (11).

Vertonghen, who now plays for Anderlecht in his home nation, has been limited to just five appearances across all competitions after Achilles and ankle problems.

The 37-year-old retired from international football last July, ending his career with Belgium as the Red Devils' all-time appearance maker with 157 caps for his country.

Vertonghen started his career with Eredivisie side Ajax before completing a move to Spurs in 2012, and would spend eight years in north London.

The defender made 315 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 14 times and twice being named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

He was also a key figure in Mauricio Pochettino's team that reached the Champions League final in 2019, a game they lost 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

Following his spell with Spurs, Vertonghen joined Benfica on a three-year deal before signing on a free transfer with Anderlecht in 2022 after his previous contract was terminated.

Vertonghen cited an inability to properly prepare for games as key to his decision, and will hang up his boots after Anderlecht's final league game of the season against Genk.

"I have noticed that it is becoming more and more difficult to prepare myself physically for training sessions and matches and to show myself as the player I want to be," he said.

"Not only towards the fans and my fellow players, but also towards myself. That is why I will be stopping after this season."

Facing a 1-0 deficit after a dreadful first-leg performance, Tottenham hit back to go in front in the tie through goals from Wilson Odobert and Maddison in Thursday's second leg.

Peer Koopmeiners made it 2-2 on aggregate just past the hour mark, but Odobert – who had not scored for Spurs until Thursday – grabbed his brace to send them through.

Tottenham have struggled in the Premier League this season, sitting 13th in the table, eight points adrift of the top half.

The midfielder told TNT Sports: "There was a lot of talk after last week's performance, we were honest with ourselves – it wasn't good enough.

"I know what we're capable of here and we got the job done. We haven't achieved anything yet, we're in the quarter-finals and we kick on and we look forward to it."

Tottenham will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the last eight, with either Lazio or Bodo/Glimt facing the winner of that tie in the semi-finals.

Spurs have been beset by injuries this season but were back to something approaching full strength on Thursday, and Maddison felt having regular centre-back duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Van reuniting together was key.

"Over the last few months when we've spoken about injuries and missing key players, then tonight, we're stood in the tunnel and you look at the team and it's a group of men," Maddison said.

"When you have the spine of players who are experienced and have played at this level for a long time it makes a difference.

"Micky and Cuti, they were good at the back, it was a solid performance and we're deservedly through.

"Wilson Odobert will grab the headlines tonight and rightly so, two goals and he was a threat, I thought he was absolutely fantastic. I'm going to go give him a big pat on the back."

AZ Alkmaar turned out to be the better side in their UEFA Europa League 2024-25 Round of 16 first leg clash against Tottenham on Thursday night at home. The Dutch side got the lead through on own goal from Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall in just the 18th minute of the game. Tottenham could not bounce back and dished out a lackluster performance as Alkmaar came close to doubling their lead quite a few times.

The Dutch side enter the Round of 16 phase after defeating Galatasaray in the playoffs whereas Spurs claimed fourth spot in the league phase to earn direct entry.

Alkmaar have already played Spurs early on in the season, and lost the match 1-0. The Eredivisie side have had average performances this season due to which they found themselves languishing in the 19th spot in the Europa League league phase.

As for Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou's team have had a better outing in Europe as compared to their Premier League games. With key players returning from injury, the Aussie coach has only UEL as a hope of silverware this season.

The AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur, UEFA Europa League 2024-25 Round Of 16 1st Leg match will take place on March 6, Thursday at AFSAS Stadium at 11:15 PM IST.

The AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur, UEFA Europa League 2024-25 Round Of 16 1st Leg match can be live streamed on the SonyLiv app and website in India. One can watch the live telecast of the same on the Sony Sports Network.

A clinical Spurs ran out 4-0 winners over City at the Etihad Stadium in November, having also knocked them out of the EFL Cup the month before.

That result in the top-flight was followed up by a tough spell for Spurs which saw them drop down the table, but having won their last three in the league, they are now up in 12th on 33 points.

"We've enjoyed our games against them, whether that was this year or last year. They're going to try and win; they're going to try and play expansively, and we are going to try and do the same. It's going to be a good test for us."

City endured a disappointing week after a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid saw them exit the Champions League in the play-offs on Wednesday (6-3 on aggregate) before they were soundly beaten 2-0 by Liverpool on Sunday.

Guardiola says he has not been surprised by Spurs' recent winning run, which has coincided with a raft of players returning from injury, noting the individual talent Postecoglou has in his side.

"The rhythm they play and intensity they do, incredible runners in the transitions, but I think lately they have a few more extra passes.

Son Heung-min has provided nine assists for Tottenham in the Premier League this season, including two for Brennan Johnson in their 4-1 win against Ipswich last time out.

Only in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2023-24 has he provided more in a single campaign in the competition (10 each time).

Guardiola "hopes" Erling Haaland will be fit to face Spurs, and his involvement would be vital. He has scored six goals in five Premier League games in London this season.

The Norwegian is also one away goal away from scoring 10+ home goals and 10+ away goals in three different Premier League campaigns (also 2022-23 and 2023-24). The only player to have ever done so in three consecutive seasons is Harry Kane (2015-16 to 2017-18).

While City are tipped to get back to winning ways on Wednesday, Spurs have already beaten them twice this season (4-0 in the Premier League and 2-1 in the EFL Cup). The last time Tottenham beat the reigning English champions three times in a single campaign was 1984-85 (v Liverpool).

Following their 4-0 win in the reverse fixture, Spurs are also looking to do the league double over City for the first time since 2021-22. They last did so without conceding in 2009-10.

City have failed to win any of their last three Premier League away games against London sides (D2 L1), having won six in a row beforehand. Their last trip to the capital saw them beaten 5-1 by Arsenal.

A buoyed Tottenham Hotspur side are set to host a beleaguered Manchester City side in match week 27 of the Premier League 2024-25 season. Spurs, who found themselves fighting a relegation battle, are now slowly finding themselves up the table. They are in 12th spot from 26 matches played. (Premier League Table | More Football News)

As compared to Man City, Pep Guardiola's side are still in fourth place, having won 13 games in the same number of games.

Spurs will confident to face City on their home turf after the former had defeated the current Premier League champions albeit in the Carabao Cup earlier on this season. Ange Postecoglou, who had draw a lot of flak, will know a win against City could boost his side up the PL table.

As for City, their title hopes have vanished and are now playing for Champions League qualification. Their 0-2 defeat against Liverpool left them in fourth place and level on points with Newcastle United with the former just ahead on goal difference.

The Wales international, whose father David played for the Tractor Boys between 1997 and 2001, bagged a first-half double, while Djed Spence and Dejan Kulusevski were on target later on to seal all three points at Portman Road.

Johnson was in the right place at the right time twice in the space of eight minutes to convert a pair of Son Heung-min assists, though Omari Hutchinson halved the deficit before the break with an impressive first-time strike for the hosts.

The result remained in the balance until the closing stages, when a deflected Spence effort and Kulusevski's fine individual goal ultimately condemned Ipswich to a seventh defeat in eight home league matches.

Kieran McKenna's side remain 18th in the league table, but they are now five points from safety following Wolves' surprise win at high-flying Bournemouth.

Spurs, meanwhile, stay 12th and are six points adrift of the top 10.

Around this time 25 years ago, David Johnson's goals were instrumental towards Ipswich sealing their return to the Premier League. But a quarter of a century later, his son’s goals have dented their hopes of remaining in the top flight.

Johnson's first Premier League brace for Tottenham took his tally for the season to nine, his highest during a single campaign.

Both were set up by Son, who has been directly involved in eight goals (two goals, six assists) in his last eight away league games.

Kevin Danso, Son Heung-min and Rodrigo Bentancur are all among the doubtful players ahead of their trip to Ipswich Town, while Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin and Micky van de Ven are all out.

"Everyone likes an impeding car crash, I am sure we had a lot of people willing that scenario on. I know how hard these players have worked," he said.

"Our training was better and I was confident that we would put in a good shift. The focus is still on trying to win games. In the background we are doing it our own way. We are looking into ways we can do things better, but we're not going to be the only ones.

"There will be a few that come to my world in the next period and people will see it's not just a reflection of people involved, but the circumstances you have been dealt with.

When questioned as to whether he thought the problems with injuries and poor form might soon ease, he was unwilling to give a definitive answer.

"Who knows? We feel, and I certainly feel there's a massive opportunity in the back half of the year," he said.

"You look at him and he’s a monster. He’s a young lad that’s got the enthusiasm and energy and also the talent," said Palmer.

“So for us to have him and him be playing as well as he is at the moment, he’s going to have a big part to play the rest of the season.

“He’s a proper striker, and I think for us as well he’s an outlet. He’s a big physical boy. He’s not huge but he’s got that raw strength.

Delap is Ipswich’s top scorer, with all of his 10 goals coming in the Premier League. He comes into this game having scored in back-to-back league games.

Only Chris Wood (43.9%) has scored a higher share of his team’s goals in the Premier League this season than Delap (43.5% - 10/23). Delap’s 10 goals this season is the joint second most by an Ipswich player in a single Premier League campaign, behind only Marcus Stewart in 2000-01 (19).

Tel scored in his first start for Tottenham, away to Aston Villa in the FA Cup earlier in the month, which was also Spurs’ last away game.

While, at home to Manchester United last time out, he became the seventh different teenager to feature for Tottenham in the Premier League this season. It’s the joint-most different teens they have fielded in a single campaign in the competition (also seven in both 1992-93 and 1993-94).

After a run of one win in 11 Premier League games (D2 L8) that saw them concede 24 goals, Tottenham have won their last two (2-0 v Brentford, 1-0 v Man Utd). They last won three in a row in December 2023, while they last did so without conceding in May 2022.

Ipswich remain the only side without a win in the Premier League so far in 2025, drawing two and losing four of their six games. They last had a longer run without a league victory from the start of a calendar year in 1990 (eight games).

No side has won fewer games (one) or scored fewer goals (nine) at home in the Premier League this season than Ipswich Town. Since beating Chelsea in December, they have lost their last three at Portman Road by an aggregate score of 10-1.