Tottenham Hotspur have moved out of the relegation zone after an impressive win. The Spurs victory came against Aston Villa. Manchester United also secured Champions League football.
Spurs Boss Pleased With Performance
Spurs boss Robert De Zerbi spoke to BBC Match of the Day and said that his team could have scored more goals in the first half. He added that they didn’t concede any chances to score and played very well, showing the right spirit and behaviour on the pitch. De Zerbi stated he was pleased with the performances.
“I knew my players were very good before this game,” De Zerbi said. He cautioned against complacency, saying the season is not finished and they cannot be happy with just two wins, emphasising the need to keep working with the same mentality. He wants the team to stay focused for the next game and believes his biggest job is to help the players show their qualities, which he believes are above fighting relegation.
De Zerbi added that the team must accept their current position and be stronger than those who speak too much. He urged the team to feel the same pressure and recognise that football can change week-by-week, not forgetting their position in the table and how they felt before the Wolves game, and to push again.
Aston Villa Manager’s Reaction
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, also speaking to BBC Match of the Day, said Tottenham played fantastically and competed fantastically, needing the points and fighting to get them. Emery admitted that his team didn’t perform well in the first half, and although they reacted in the second half, it was not enough.
Emery acknowledged that despite things being very good over 35 games and having the advantage of still being in the top five, they must continue to be demanding. He suggested that the current points total may not be enough for Champions League qualification and they must try to recover their form and do the things they were doing, with three matches still to go. He stated that Tottenham played fantastic, pressed, won duels, and were dominant in individual duels, beating his team.
On making seven changes to the lineup, Emery referenced their recent form: “Last week we lost against Fulham and which players played against Fulham? We played against Nottingham Forest and we lost. Today we lost with different players.”
Villa’s Focus Shifts to Europa League
Looking ahead, Emery said their Europa League semi-final second leg will be a different match and a different competition. He said that being in the semi-final of the Europa League is fantastic, noting he hasn’t experienced a match like this in his three years at the club.
He also pointed out that supporters forget that they are having a fantastic season and are on the same points as Liverpool. Despite the loss, Villa are still all-but in the Champions League but they need to make sure of it.
Other Premier League Action
- Bournemouth have moved up to sixth.
- Manchester United have secured Champions League football.
The Premier League action continues with Chelsea v Nottingham Forest and Everton v Manchester City.