Overview
17 is a haunting number for Tottenham in the 2024-2025 season. Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League after a forgettable campaign.
However, they ended their 17-year title drought with a Europa League title, defeating Manchester United in the final.
Coach Ange Postecoglou has fulfilled his promise to win the title in his second season. This is also Tottenham's first title since winning the Carabao Cup in 2008.
However, despite winning the Europa League, President Daniel Levy has decided not to continue to put his faith in the Australian captain, after Spurs endured their worst Premier League season in history.
In a bold statement after the season, Levy affirmed that Tottenham has ambitions to compete in both the Premier League and the Champions League, and the chosen replacement is Thomas Frank.
Immediately after appointing Frank, the "Roosters" immediately became active in the transfer market. They recruited the expensive new signing Mohammed Kudus, along with two potential defenders: Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai.
In the coming time, Tottenham will play 4 friendly matches with Luton Town, Arsenal, Newcastle and Bayern Munich respectively. They will then face Paris St-Germain in the European Super Cup match - the start of the new season.
Meanwhile, Reading are getting used to a new chapter. At the end of last season, Redwood Holdings Limited completed the club's takeover, ending a period of instability under Dai Yongge's ownership.
Under the combination of Ruben Selles and current coach Noel Hunt, Reading has 75 points - only 3 points behind the 6th-placed team Leyton Orient - and almost reached the League One promotion play-off round.
They started the summer full of spirit with a series of 3 unbeaten friendly matches: won Hungerford Town 5-1, drew Gillingham 0-0 and most recently won 2-1 against Swindon Town.
Reading will have a notable friendly match with Tottenham. They will then continue to prepare for the new season with matches against Slough Town and Portsmouth.
In the last time the two teams met in an official match in early 2013, Tottenham won 3-1. Notably, Reading's current manager - Noel Hunt - came off the bench in the second half of that match.
Personnel situation
After a period of training, Mohammed Kudus is likely to make his Tottenham debut. However, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin are still recovering from injuries, while Mikey Moore, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel have not returned to the team.
Young defenders like Kota Takai and Luka Vuskovic could also be given a chance to play in the next match.
On the other side of the front line, midfielder Ben Elliott played 30 minutes against Swindon - a big step forward in his recovery from a serious hamstring injury.
Expected lineup:
Reading: Pereira, Yiadom, O'Connor, Burns, Jacob, Wing, Savage, Osho, knibbs, Camara, Ehibhatiomhan.
Tottenham: Kinsky, Porro, Takai, Van de Ven, Spence, Maddison, Bentancur, Sarr, Kudus, Solanke, Son Heung-min.
The match between Reading and Tottenham takes place at 9:00 p.m. on July 19 (Vietnam time).
