It’s not nice to go out of a competition the way we did this week. You see, football is all about winning and ultimately silverware. And I can write it up anyway you want, it’s just not nice.
That said we do reluctantly understand and accept it because the most important thing for us this season is finishing in the top four.
So we move on, we focus on the football and we hope that the resting of players this week, while Spurs played their strongest side, works out for us on Sunday. This is an important game for us.
And all games are important and winning is a habit and I trust Unai.
Apologies for the quick post (it was written Friday evening as I’m in a no internet zone most of Saturday), there will be updates to it over the weekend.
Match facts from the BBC
Head-to-head
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Aston Villa have won three of their five Premier League matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, including each of the last two. Only Chelsea, with four victories, have more away league wins at the venue.
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The last time Villa claimed three successive league wins away to Spurs was 100 years ago (between 1922 and 1924).
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The away team has won 12 of the past 17 league matches between the sides, with none of those games ending drawn.
Tottenham Hotspur
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Ange Postecoglou’s side began November 2023 top of the Premier League and unbeaten (W8, D2) but since then they have won 16 and lost 16 of 37 league matches.
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Defeat would see Tottenham become the sixth club to lose 400 Premier League games.
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Spurs’ only clean sheet in their last 19 top-flight home fixtures came in August’s 4-0 win against Everton.
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Tottenham have conceded the opening goal in 11 of their 13 home Premier League matches in 2024 but came back to win seven of those games.
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Son Heung-min has scored six goals in eight Premier League appearances against Aston Villa, though they were all netted at Villa Park. No player has scored more against an opponent without scoring a home goal in the competition.
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James Maddison is one short of 50 Premier League goals.
Aston Villa
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Villa are unbeaten in seven league matches (W4, D3)
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They have lost just one of their 13 top-flight games in London under Unai Emery – a 5-0 loss at Crystal Palace on the final day last season (by which point they had already qualified for the Champions League).
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Aston Villa substitutes have scored a league-high 10 Premier League goals in 2024, and likewise lead the way in combined goals and assists (17).
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Unai Emery celebrates his 53rd birthday on the day of this game.
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Lucas Digne is one short of 200 Premier League appearances.
