The conclusion of the 2023/24 Premier League season looms, with Tottenham Hotspur poised to make a return to the UEFA Champions League after a hiatus from Europe’s premier competition. Currently trailing Aston Villa by a mere two points following their resounding 4-0 victory at Villa Park, Tottenham, under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou, have a fixture advantage yet to be realized, potentially pivotal in the remaining fixtures.
While Villa occupies fourth place and the top three spots are held by Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City, all of whom are juggling domestic and European commitments, Tottenham’s sole focus remains on Premier League fixtures until the season’s culmination in May.
Given their ambitious aspirations, supporters of Tottenham Hotspur fervently hope for an absence of injuries, having endured significant setbacks earlier in the campaign. The team has also been hampered by suspensions, notably midfielder Yves Bissouma, who faced a one-match ban for a red card and accumulated five yellow cards in the first 19 Premier League games, subsequently serving a four-match suspension following another dismissal.
Cristian Romero’s absence for three matches due to a red card further underscored the team’s susceptibility to disciplinary issues, with Destiny Udogie also missing a game following a red card against Chelsea. As the season progresses, another potential obstacle looms, with the Premier League’s stipulation that a player receiving 10 bookings in their side’s initial 32 matches will face a two-match ban in the same competition.
With Tottenham yet to complete five games until their 32nd league match, there remains the possibility of certain players accumulating enough yellow cards to trigger suspension. However, the team appears well-positioned to navigate this challenge, with Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr each on six yellow cards, requiring further cautions in subsequent fixtures to face suspension. Bissouma and Udogie, who have previously served bans, are next in line with five yellow cards apiece.
While Kulusevski and Sarr are the primary candidates for suspension, their avoidance of yellow cards thus far in 2024 suggests a significant departure from this trend would be required for them to face suspension. Consequently, Postecoglou remains hopeful that Tottenham will evade further setbacks during this critical juncture, as they strive to secure Champions League qualification.