Aston Villa boss Unai Emery warns Tottenham that Champions League qualification is more durable than ever now, with their hopes of a high 4 end all however over
- Tottenham and Aston Villa are nonetheless within the hunt for European Soccer subsequent season
- Unai Emery says qualifying for the Champions League is harder than earlier than
- Villa host Spurs on Saturday with Kamara, Bailey, Money and Coutinho all obtainable
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has advised Tottenham that qualifying for the Champions League is much harder than it was earlier than.
Villa host Spurs on Saturday with the 2 sides nonetheless within the hunt for European soccer subsequent season, however with hopes of claiming a top-four Premier League place all however over for each.
Tottenham – Champions League finalists in 2019 who reached the spherical of 16 this season – are sixth, six factors behind fourth-placed Manchester United having performed a sport extra.
Eighth-placed Villa’s late bid to interrupt into the highest 4 was ended by successive 1-0 away defeats to United and Wolves over the past fortnight.
‘Their expectation at first was to be within the high 4,’ ex-Arsenal boss Emery stated of his former North London neighbours.
Unai Emery has advised Spurs qualifying for the Champions League is harder than it was earlier than
Villa host Spurs on Saturday with the 2 sides nonetheless within the hunt for European soccer subsequent time period
Tottenham – Champions League finalists in 2019 who reached the spherical of 16 this season – are sixth, six factors behind fourth-placed Manchester United having performed a sport extra
‘It is now harder than it was 5 to 10 years in the past. There are actually seven groups making an attempt to be within the high 4.
‘Perhaps Aston Villa now as properly. It is harder.’
Tottenham’s seek for a primary trophy since League Cup success in 2008 has seen them flip to Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte since Mauricio Pochettino’s departure in November 2019.
Neither Mourinho nor Conte, each perennial winners, may sprinkle their stardust on Spurs and caretaker boss Ryan Mason now has the duty of making an attempt to safe European soccer subsequent season.
Mason’s three matches in cost thus far have produced a win, a draw and a defeat, with the most recent sport being a 1-0 residence victory over Crystal Palace.
Emery stated: ‘Tottenham have had some issues within the final month however they’ve excellent gamers.
‘The final match they performed in opposition to Palace they saved good steadiness tactically they usually have very highly effective gamers within the transition, being robust defensively.
‘They’ve excellent gamers who could make totally different tactical selections.
‘The final matches in opposition to them at residence right here, (Villa) have struggled and it is now a problem to get a very good efficiency at residence.
‘We now have to imagine in our gamers, in our tactical means we’re progressing. That’s the match on Saturday.
‘To play an incredible match, spirit and taking part in and making an attempt to get at them. They’ve a three-goal distinction with us however our thoughts is to be very aggressive and to get higher.’
Emery says Tottenham have ‘highly effective gamers within the transition’ and are ‘robust defensively’
Villa’s Boubacar Kamara (R), Leon Bailey, Matty Money and Philippe Coutinho are all obtainable
Villa quartet Boubacar Kamara, Leon Bailey, Matty Money and Philippe Coutinho are all obtainable.
‘It is the primary time within the final month we now have everyone able to be within the squad for Saturday,’ Emery stated.
‘Solely Jed Steer is out however Money, Kamara, Bailey, Coutinho – within the final match they had been within the squad however not prepared 100 per cent to play.
‘Some gamers are nonetheless not able to play 90 minutes, however they’re able to be within the squad and able to play.’