LONDON, Nov 2 — Unai Emery has stated that Tottenham Hotspur are the “favourites” to outpace his Aston Villa squad in the Premier League, citing their larger financial resources as a key factor. As the two teams gear up for their upcoming clash this Sunday, Villa will travel to north London holding a five-point advantage over Spurs, who currently sit in eighth place. Notably, Aston Villa has managed to finish above Tottenham in the league standings for the past two seasons.
Emery acknowledged Tottenham’s superior budget when discussing their prospects for the match and the season overall. “They are the favourites in front of us for the season and the match on Sunday,” he commented during a press conference on Friday. Despite this, Emery remains optimistic about his team’s potential, emphasizing their competitive spirit. “We are competing and feeling confident in our approach,” he noted.
The Aston Villa manager expressed his ambitions for his side, highlighting their desire to contend with other clubs like Tottenham, Chelsea, and Newcastle. “We aim to compete with those teams for a place in the top seven or top six,” he said, describing the forthcoming match as a significant challenge.
Villa has enjoyed a strong start to their Champions League campaign, and Emery remarked on the competitive landscape of the league. “I must remind everyone that there are seven other teams ahead of us at the outset, thanks to their budgets,” he stated. However, he emphasized that Villa has been steadily improving over the past two years, aiming to maintain the high standards they have set for themselves.
On the other side, Tottenham recently secured a 2-1 victory against Manchester City in the League Cup, which followed a disappointing 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace last week. That win marked their eighth victory in the last ten matches across all competitions, although only three of those wins were in the Premier League. Manager Ange Postecoglou is aware that his eighth-placed team needs to achieve greater consistency in their performances.
Reflecting on their recent form, Postecoglou acknowledged the team’s struggles in the league, pointing out, “We’ve had some disappointing results, but really only one disappointing performance, and that was the Palace game. We didn’t perform well there, and we got what we deserved.” He emphasized the importance of learning from setbacks and bouncing back quickly, indicating that this resilience is crucial for the team’s evolution.
“It’s part of our growth as a team,” Postecoglou remarked. “The journey won’t always be smooth, but we aim to minimize the number of times we fall short of our desired style of play.” He likened this process to gardening, stating, “If you want to grow a beautiful garden, you have to handle some fertiliser. That’s the only way it will happen.”
As for player availability, Spurs captain Son Heung-min missed the midweek win over City due to an injury but returned to training on Friday. He has been sidelined for three of Tottenham’s last four Premier League fixtures but is expected to be fit for the encounter with Villa. Postecoglou confirmed, “Son has trained today. If he gets through training tomorrow, he should be OK.”
However, Tottenham will be without defender Micky van de Ven, who suffered a hamstring injury during the match against City. Postecoglou is hopeful for his return following the upcoming international break.
As the teams prepare for this pivotal clash, the stakes are high for both sides, with Aston Villa aiming to maintain their strong position and Tottenham striving for consistency and to rise back up the table.