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In a season of immense disappointment to this point, Manchester City have a chance to show they are still a side to be reckoned with as they take on the holders over two legs.

Pep Guardiola will be speaking ahead of the first leg from 12:30 GMT, we'll also hear from City centre-back Ruben Dias, and you can watch those news conferences at the top of this very page.

Right, let's have a quick reset as we now look ahead to this week's Champions League play-offs.

Just the small matter of Manchester City v Real Madrid. I wonder if Uefa were expecting this one when they designed their new format for the competition?

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Aston Villa midfielders Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers speaking to BBC One about Villa's new signings Donyell Malen, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.

Jacob Ramsey: "I think this is probably one of the best squads that we've had. You see the bench with all the experience - Rashford coming on, Malen starting and Asensio coming on.

"The squad depth is unbelievable and the starting players need to raise their game now because the players that are coming on are a big threat."

Morgan Rogers: "It pushes us along. We also want to take what we can from the experienced players that we've got in the squad and the things that they've done in their career.

"Us two are just kind of starting out and setting out our careers and it's good to take what they've done and use it to our advantage and to push ourselves.

"It's massive to have people like that in the building and it just drives everyone on. That's why we've got such a healthy squad and hopefully we can just push each other."

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Morgan Rogers' importance to Aston Villa and manager Unai Emery cannot be overstated.

This is the 22-year-old's first full season at the top level and he has taken it like a duck to water.

Aside from the EFL Cup, where he wasn't selected in the squad for either game, Rogers has started every single match for Unai Emery in every other competition this season where he has been fit and available.

He's made 33 appearances across the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League and scored 11 times while also providing six assists.

Three of his 11 goals this season have been match winners, including Sunday's strike against Spurs which saw Villa progress into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

According to transfermarkt, he's also been deployed in six different positions this season under Emery, proving both his worth and versatility.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to BBC One: "I am very happy. It was a fantastic match against a very good team and we played really well.

"After a long time, we are in the fifth round of the FA Cup. I know how much this competition means for our supporters and us, and I am happy for the fans.

"We are playing more or less as we planned. We dominated and played with confidence and personality - everything we did today was more or less very good."

On Jacob Ramsey: "He played really well. We are happy when the player is scoring. He had more chances. Of course, we need his best performances from Ramsey. He is getting better and being consistent without injuries.

"We will need players who are physically good for the rest of the season. There are players coming back in the coming weeks. We also have players like Donyell Malen, Andres Garcia, Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford and hopefully, we can build the team in the structure we want to create."

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Morgan Rogers' goal against Tottenham was his eighth goal in eight appearances at Villa Park.

Since the start of December, this is the most goals scored by a Premier League player at a specific venue across all competitions.

The 22-year-old seems to impress more and more every week but speaking after the game, he said he is still looking to improve beyond his current levels.

"The second goal was important, we played well but we hadn't killed the game off," he told BBC One.

"We probably could have scored a few more but overall we are happy with the performance and the win.

"I'm trying to improve, trying to get better, but the team are trying to create something and we'll see where it takes us."

No doubt Aston Villa were very impressive and - correct me if I'm wrong - I'd say both Villa and Unai Emery have received plenty of praise and no shortage of respect in the past 18 months, in particular, Anon.

As for yesterday, I'd argue it is something of a compliment to Villa that these performances are not seen as a surprise. It is what people have come to expect from such a good side.

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Marcus Rashford made his Aston Villa debut in the FA Cup win over Tottenham yesterday and has posted on Instagram thanking the fans for their "warm welcome".

So far, so standard you might think.

Well, yes, but the more interesting part comes in the form of one of the replies.

Rashford's former Manchester United team-mate Jadon Sancho, now at Chelsea, responded simply: "Freedom."

Hmm...

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Since losing the 2015 final to Arsenal, Aston Villa had been beaten in the third round of the FA Cup seven times with the other defeats coming in the fourth round.

They have gone almost 30 years without lifting any silverware and, with Liverpool and Arsenal both out of the competition, and Manchester City not at their sparkling best, may be sensing an opportunity to add to their glittering history.

The seven-time winners had 11 shots to Spurs' three in a one-sided first half and should have gone into the break with more than a 1-0 lead.

They did not let that deter them as they flew out of the blocks for the second period and added to the scoreline through the brilliant Morgan Rogers.

Villa now have two-time FA Cup winner Marcus Rashford in their ranks and he almost made an instant impact when his beautiful flick found Rogers, who searched for Jacob Ramsey, but Antonin Kinsky once again came to Spurs' aid.

There are two sides to every story - we will be looking at what was a great night for Aston Villa next.

But before we leave Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, just a quick addition to what has been said about the Spurs fixture schedule.

Postecoglou said that he was looking forward to having a week to prepare for their next match against Manchester United.

And if you take a look at the below, looking forward to the break between games is probably an understatement:

• It will be just the second time that Spurs have had a free week in their calendar without a midweek fixture since August.
• That break came between December and January and even then - that was just the six days between Wolves (29/12) and Newcastle (04/01).
• There have been three international breaks since August but Spurs had the majority of those players that were fit and available away on these dates.
• In 2025 alone, Spurs have had 11 games in 38 days - that's an average of a game every 3.5 days.
• Ange Postecoglou has used 29 players over the course of the season in all competitions, fourth most in the Premier League behind Brighton (30), Ipswich (31) and Southampton (33).
• Of those 29 players, only 14 have played in 18 matches or more due to injuries.
• Only forward Dejan Kulusevski has featured in every single match this season.

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Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte looked brow-beaten at the end of their tenures at Tottenham, but Ange Postecoglou is fighting for himself and his players.

The Australian got knocked out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in the same week, culminating in a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday night.

After staying long after the final whistle to acknowledge the supporters, and being the last on the pitch along with goalscorer Mathys Tel, he began his defence in a series of media interviews.

After talking to broadcasters, Postecoglou sat down with the written media at his post-match press conference, where he said criticism that doesn't include the mention of injuries is "agenda-driven".

The 59-year-old defended his players, saying that he had "admiration and respect" for them and highlighting that teenagers Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Mikey Moore have been playing significant minutes in their three-month injury crisis.

He also insisted that he is thinking long-term, which was proven by his unwillingness to bring back any injury returnees for these two cup ties, giving them an extra week to prepare for Manchester United.

He then added that Tottenham have "plenty to look forward to" and that they will be an "outstanding team" when players return.

A mixture of fight and frustration appeared to fuel Postecoglou's press conference, as he battles to buy time while pressure mounts on not only him but also chairman Daniel Levy, who faces widespread criticism from supporters.

There are also questions around what kind of manager Tottenham could attract in their current predicament and whether they would make a major impact.

Incidentally, Daniel Levy and owners ENIC must be careful about any step they take, as they face what will likely be the biggest protest against their ownership in years when they host Manchester United at home on Sunday.

It remains to be seen whether Postecoglou's approach will work amid this complex backdrop.

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Here's hoping it is not possible to break the thumbs with over use.

The system that collates your WhatsApp, text and X messages has been churning constantly all morning.

We have had a constant feed of contrasting messages on Tottenham, with some calling for Ange Postecoglou to go, others for him to stay.

We have even had a message in support of chairman Daniel Levy.

Coming up is an example of each - please use the thumbs to show whether you agree or disagree...

Mauricio Pochettino

• Spent five years in charge. Sacked in November '19 after picking up just three Premier League wins in the early stages of the season.
• Spurs were 14th in the Premier League, had just been knocked out of the EFL Cup by League Two side Colchester and lost 7-2 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stages.
• Pochettino had led Tottenham to the Champions League final in the previous campaign.
• Chairman Daniel Levy said: "We were extremely reluctant to make this change. It is not a decision the board has taken lightly, nor in haste - but we do so in the club's best interests."

Jose Mourinho

• Sacked in April '21 after 17 months in charge.
• Spurs were seventh in the Premier League and were knocked out of the Europa League in March.
• Mourinho was sacked in the week leading up to their EFL Cup final clash with Manchester City.
• Chairman Daniel Levy said: "Jose and his coaching staff have been with us through some of our most challenging times as a club...I regret that things have not worked out as we both had envisaged."

Antonio Conte

• Left by mutual consent in March '23 after 16 months in charge.
• Spurs were fifth in the Premier League and had just been knocked out of the Champions League
• In his final post-match news conference, Conte launched a huge rant on the players, calling the players "selfish."
• Chairman Daniel Levy said: "We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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As it stands, Ange Postecoglou is still expected to be in the dugout when Tottenham host Manchester United on Sunday.

Of course, it is unclear exactly what is in chairman Daniel Levy's mind, especially as he himself faces pressure from supporters, as he weighs up difficult decisions to try to improve results in the longer term.

But today it appears to be business as usual for Spurs despite the disappointment of being knocked out of both domestic cup competitions over a difficult three days.

Injuries continue to cause problems, and those players who are available look tired while accumulating too many minutes.

But Postecoglou says he expects a "reset" to occur over the next fortnight as he is expecting to get several players back in the next fortnight while also having just a second midweek without a fixture since August.

Spurs remain in the Europa League, which restarts for them in March, as they look to avoid another season without a trophy.

Clinton Morrison
Former Republic of Ireland striker on Football Daily

I do hear where Ange Postecoglou is coming from and the frustration of injuries.

I think Tottenham should stick with him though. I don't think you should chop and change your manager.

Stick with him and when he has got everyone back you can judge him.