Pundit explains why Spurs have a big advantage over rivals in the race for the top four
Stephen Warnock believes that Tottenham Hotspur have a big advantage over Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification since the Lilywhites have no...
The post Pundit explains why Spurs have a big advantage over rivals in the race for the top four appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.
Stephen Warnock believes that Tottenham Hotspur have a big advantage over Aston Villa in the race for Champions League qualification since the Lilywhites have no European football to worry about.
Spurs leapfrogged Villa to move into fourth place after they overcame Brighton 2-1 at home on Saturday, with the Villans subsequently falling to a 2-1 loss to Man Utd on Sunday.
The result at Villa Park potentially brings Man Utd right back into the race for Champions League qualification, with the Red Devils currently sitting just six points below Spurs.
While Tottenham would have their eye on the sides above them as they continue to chase down Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, they would also perhaps be looking nervously over their shoulder at Erik Ten Hag’s men should they keep their current winning run going.
Tottenham have an advantage over Aston Villa
Warnock insisted that while Villa still have the quality to wrestle back the fourth spot, the Tottenham and Man Utd players look much fresher as a result of having fewer minutes under their belt this season.
The former Villa left-back told BBC Sport: “I still think Villa’s squad are capable of qualifying for the Champions League, especially because fifth place may be enough if England secures an extra spot.
“But at the moment it looks like they are in a fight with United and Tottenham for fourth and fifth, and my worry is the amount of European football Villa have already played – and still could play – in the Europa Conference League will catch up with them.
“Villa have used 27 players in the Premier League this season, which is about average and similar to United and Spurs, but their outfield players have played more minutes in all competitions and been rotated less – the least in the Premier League in fact.
“United and Spurs do not have European football to worry about in the run-in either, and it already feels like they have both been getting stronger in the past few weeks as their players have returned from injury, or international duty.
“That’s not been the case for Villa, who have already lost key defender Ezri Konsa to injury this month and saw Boubacar Kamara forced off with a knee problem against United.
“It all makes their task even harder but they have put themselves in a great position and, with Emery’s know-how and guidance, I believe they can push on.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Villa have shown remarkable consistency since Emery took over and they certainly cannot be written off from the race for top four just yet. However, it is clear that the Tottenham players and Postecoglou have their eye on a much bigger prize, even though they might not admit it publicly.
The post Pundit explains why Spurs have a big advantage over rivals in the race for the top four appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.