Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou could suffer a double suspension blow when the Lilywhites face Eintracht Frankfurt in Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg.
The Australian's unforgettable statement that he always wins things in his second year in a job - which is currently factually correct - could still ring true at the end of the season as Spurs chase continental glory.
The Lilywhites pulled off an eye-catching home comeback over AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of their last-16 tie to earn a date with Frankfurt, prevailing 3-1 at home following a 1-0 defeat in the Netherlands.
Spurs had to make do without Rodrigo Bentancur due to suspension for the second leg with AZ, but the midfielder's return for Thursday's game means that the hosts have no players banned for the first leg.
However, both Yves Bissouma and Lucas Bergvall are walking a tightrope, as the midfielders are both on two yellow cards and are therefore just one caution away from serving a Europa League ban.
Spurs could lose Bissouma, Bergvall for Frankfurt second leg
© Imago
In the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, three yellow cards trigger a one-game suspension, as do any even-numbered cautions after that (fifth, seventh, ninth bookings etc).
Yellow cards that do not result in a suspension are not wiped until the completion of the quarter-finals, meaning that Bissouma and Bergvall would miss the trip to Frankfurt if they are booked on Thursday.
Furthermore, even if the pair manage to avoid entering the referee's book in the first leg but are then cautioned in the second, they would miss the first leg of any potential semi-final should Spurs get there.
Dejan Kulusevski is also on two yellow cards for the Europa League campaign, but the Swedish attacker is still working his way back from a foot injury and is not expected to be available for either clash with Frankfurt.
Kulusevski joins Kevin Danso (hamstring) and Radu Dragusin (ACL) on the Spurs sidelines, but Postecoglou confirmed at his press conference on Wednesday that he otherwise expects to have everyone available.
Postecoglou delivers Spurs team news update and responds to sack claims
© Imago
"Everyone is good from the weekend from a physical standpoint. It's a good place to be for us and not something we've had much," Postecoglou said, before also fielding a question on his own future.
Spurs' pitiful 14th-placed ranking in the Premier League table has naturally raised speculation that Postecoglou could be sacked, and BBC Sport claims that their Europa League performance will be a 'key factor' when it comes to deciding his future.
However, Postecoglou - whose Spurs contract does not expire until 2027 - affirmed that he has navigated his way through difficult times throughout the entirety of his career, adding: "I came to this club with a clear purpose of rejuvenating a squad that was coming to the end of a cycle.
"Whatever noise there is, now or in the future, that shouldn't diminish that desire. Everything in my professional life has come through a struggle," as quoted by football.london.
On a brighter note, Tottenham's number nine Dominic Solanke could equal or break a Europa League record held by Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in the first leg on Thursday night.
Ben Knapton
