Manager Ange Postecoglou believes that Tottenham’s supporters have reason to feel enthusiastic following their dominant victory over 10-man Aston Villa, boosting their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Despite Aston Villa maintaining their fourth position in the Premier League standings, Tottenham, positioned fifth, are now only two points behind Unai Emery’s team, with an additional match yet to play.
“It was a big game with plenty of significance,” Postecoglou said.
“For us to perform like that was a big credit to everyone.”
If Villa had won on Sunday, they would have moved eight points clear of Spurs in the last Premier League spot guaranteed a place in European football’s elite club competition.
Instead the visitors took control of the contest in the second half with goals from James Maddison and Brennan Johnson coming before home captain John McGinn was dismissed for a rash challenge on Destiny Udogie.
Son Heung-min and substitute Timo Werner – with a goal in stoppage time – wrapped up a 4-0 rout for the north London side.
“Get excited? why not,” added Postecoglou. “The supporters, if they don’t get excited by a performance and result like that, in what was a significant game…you’ve got to enjoy that.
“It means we’re one game closer, with just 11 games to go. Everyone was billing this as a do-or-die for us. I assume we’re not dead yet.”
Based on analysis from data experts Opta, Tottenham’s impressive win at Villa Park has elevated their likelihood of finishing the season in the top four to 54%, while Aston Villa’s chances stand at 40%, and sixth-placed Manchester United’s at a mere 2%.
Passionate McGinn has no ‘bad intentions’ – Emery
Meanwhile, Villa manager Unai Emery is eager for his team to swiftly put behind them what he describes as a “very poor performance.”
Ajax is set to visit the Midlands this week, with the second leg of Thursday’s last-16 Europa Conference League tie finely poised after the goalless draw in the initial match in Amsterdam.
“I didn’t speak a lot with the players, only I told them ‘keep going, move on, think of Thursday and West Ham on Sunday’ – and with John the same,” said the Spaniard.
“McGinn has played here and been strong, comfortable, very passionate and he’s a not a player doing things with bad intentions. I think the red card maybe could be a red card but not bad intentions.”