Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has also faced the press before the club take on Elfsborg in the Europa League on Thursday. He was first asked about the cup competitions: "I agree with him [Postecoglou that the club can do something special]. We are doing really well in the cups, it is easy to focus on the league but we are doing really well in the cups.

"Tomorrow is an important game and if we win we are through to the next round so I think we can do big things these last four months."

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on whether he feels he has received enough backing from the board this January: "Everyone is trying their utmost. I don't think anyone is working against me. I don't think anyone wants me to fail. In this kind of situation it's a tough gig being a manager because you can be very isolated, you can be very vulnerable - I don't feel that. The playing group and the people I work with are doing their utmost to guide us through this. From my perspective, my focus is firmly on what I can control and what I can control is making sure I'm preparing a team for a really big game tonight."

On how close potential incomings are: "I would be disingenuous if I said anything other than, right now, nothing is imminent. That doesn't mean that opportunities are being explored. Traditionally, the last few days of any window tend to be frenetic and I expect us to be involved in that. Does that mean anything will get concluded? I can't commit to that. I'm a bit of a distance from it but the information and dialogue I have is that we are exploring all the opportunities to bring some help in for the players."

Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on his message to the 'angry' Spurs fans: "My message would be to all Spurs fans because I represent all Spurs fans, not just the angry ones that you are referring to.

"We are working hard to turn this around. We know the situation and we are notwithstanding the fact that the possibilities and opportunities in the second half of the season are very much in our hands to capitalise on and make it a successful season."

Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on Cristian Romero's fitness: "Cristian is still a bit of a slow burner. We are mindful that his injury was just a bit different and he's still got to tick a few boxes. He's not for the horizon at the moment in terms of this weekend, we'll see how he goes after."

Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on whether he is feeling under pressure going into this game: "Me personally? No different to any other game. It's a game we want to win and we'll go into it with the same intent. It's a competition we've done really well in, we're in a great position and we want to solidify that position and finish in the top eight.

"It's in our hands tomorrow night. A win makes it certain, a draw will probably be good enough as well. Finishing in the top eight for us is hugely important because it gives us a good foothold in the tournament but also gives us a couple of weeks where we don't have midweek games and at this point, is really important."

Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on team news: "Micky [van de Ven] is good to go so we will try and get him some minutes tomorrow. He has a good week/10 days training and he's in good condition so he's fine.

"James Maddison has got a calf strain so he will be out for 2-3 weeks. Pape Sarr is OK, he's got a niggle but he's OK and available. Yves Bissouma is available. I think that is it for tomorrow night at this stage."

Tottenham's form over the last few months has progressively gone downhill, particularly in the Premier League.

In their last six games across all competitions three were in the English top flight and Spurs lost all three. Those matches were against Leicester City, Everton and Arsenal.

Comparatively, the other games which took place in cup competitions saw three wins. Spurs beat Liverpool 1-0 in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final, they defeated Tamworth 3-0 in the FA Cup and beat Hoffenheim 3-2 in the Europa League.

Recent results:

• Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool, EFL Cup, 8 Jan
• Tamworth 0-3 Tottenham, FA Cup, 12 Jan
• Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham, Premier League, 15 Jan
• Everton 3-2 Tottenham, Premier League, 19 Jan
• Hoffenheim 2-3 Tottenham, Europa League, 23 Jan
• Tottenham 1-2 Leicester, Premier League, 26 Jan

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on the bonus of avoiding the play-offs:

"It could be good if we are in the top eight to rest, trying to recover players and in the training sessions.

"We can feel in our process less time to work in the training session. Of course competing as well we have to practice in official matches.

"Of course we are playing on Sunday, tomorrow, on Saturday. We have players injured but it’s a new objective for players getting less minutes. I want to get into the top eight because it’s a good opportunity."

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Let's hope his [Tyrone Mings] injury isn't too long term because he has suffered. That was good to see him coming back and getting a run of games and he's just really starting to find his thrive. So he's going to be a bit of a miss.

Villa have looked a little bit jaded and tired recently, I have to say. And it's that balance, isn't it, with the Premier League and then European competition. I think it's fair to say it's taken its toll on a fair few clubs and I think Villa are one of those.

But if you're a Villa fan, you know, you've still had a great season.

Stiliyan Petrov
Former Aston Villa midfielder on The Football News Show

It’s going to be a really good game to watch because there are two managers, tactically very well prepared, two teams with similar styles, I am looking forward to it. I have two boys, one is a Celtic and one is a Villa fan so you can imagine what’s happening in my house… I’ll take a draw!

‘I’m in a different position, with the two clubs I went through so much, had so much success, had very good managers, great team mates. And through my battle with cancer I had the support of both clubs. So my heart is torn guys. But I do look forward to that game.

Watch the full programme here.

Aston Villa

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on the status of injured defender Tyrone Mings and whether injuries have impacted their plans in the January transfer window:

"We will see [about Tyrone Mings] this afternoon, we are going to train and decide on every player for the match tomorrow.

"Or one player like Lamare Bogarde who has played and helped us. He’s training sometimes as a centre-back and he will have to be ready but we are thinking about letting him leave on loan, he needs more experience to be ready to play with us."

On whether he has enough versatility within his squad:

"We have enough players to compete and feel confident. Some versatile players have to feel comfortable when they are playing. With Lucas Digne, he is an experienced player and he can feel confident paying as a centre back in case we need like Sunday.

"I am analysing everything, if Tyrone Mings is available he will play.

"I believe in the squad we have. We have injured players but this is something everyone has."

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on facing Celtic:

"They are a very prestigious club.We have 13 points with the possibility to be in the top eight and we are doing fantastic in the Champions League this year.

"Even when we lost at Monaco we played I the way I want. Tomorrow is a big incentive. It is a special match for the supporters. I played in the Champions League against them with another club."

On whether he will be keeping an eye on results elsewhere:

"I want to be active and play and enjoy the way. In case, if we are, we will see.

"Of course I want to be in the top eight. Last week I was a bit pessimistic, after the match against Monaco, but overall we are doing a fantastic way. It’s not in our hands but other teams as well have to win tomorrow and I want to play the match, enjoy it with our supporters, we are excited and motivated. The players are enjoying it in the Champions League.

"At the end of the match we will watch the other results."

Stiliyan Petrov
Former Aston Villa midfielder on The Football News Show

Image source, Getty Images

It is a huge game. Battle of Britain, that's what they usually call these games. I've played in a couple of these games and I know the pressure and the demand.

Aston Villa are really comfortable in the Champions League, really strong performances.

They've had a few oppportunities in away games where they could make up some more points but I think they're sitting in a comfortable position and unfortunately they have to wait for other results to go through to the last eight.

I think it's been a very positive campaign for Aston Villa.

Tottenham have finished in the top half of the Premier League table in each of the last 16 seasons - the last time they failed to end a campaign in the top 10 was 2007-08 when they had to settle for 11th under Juande Ramos, although they did win the League Cup that season.

Not only have they been a consistent top-10 team over the past 17 years, but they have also been regular qualifiers for European football - securing a spot in one of the three competitions in all but two seasons.

After falling to a fourth successive loss in the league against Leicester on Sunday, Tottenham, who have won just one of their last 11 in the top flight, are only eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Tottenham Hotspur

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Sunday's fan protest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was just the beginning, according to Jamie Coughlan from Change for Tottenham.

After playing Elfsborg in the Europa League on Thursday, Tottenham don't have another home fixture until Manchester United visit on 16 February and Coughlan says that meeting with the Red Devils will be a focus.

Coughlan did lay some of the blame at the feet of Ange Postecoglou but believes the Australian was dealt a tough hand when he arrived at the club in the summer of 2023.

"There is blame to be held at Ange [Postecoglou] but at the same time you have to look at what he's inherited compared to previous managers," Coughlan said.

"He lost Harry Kane six weeks after he came into the job, that's losing 25 goals a season.

"The board have neglected the footballing side by stripping it back slowly and steadily- they're decreasing our wage structures.....the blame lies between every single person involved the club. Some fans think that fans are to blame, some think it's solely on Ange, some think it's solely on Levy... there's a common denominator in the managers we've had... they've all felt let down by the ownership."

Tottenham Hotspur

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was also spotted in Tottenham training today, saving shots alongside fellow stopper Antonin Kinsky.

Vicario has been absent since November after undergoing ankle surgery.

Striker Richarlison who was replaced during Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Leicester City as a precaution, was also present in training.

Tottenham Hotspur

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A huge boost for Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou today as defender Micky van de Ven is back in training before tomorrow evening's Europa League match.

The centre-back has only made one appearance since the end of October due to a recurring hamstring injury.

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Who would've thought Manchester City would find themselves here, eh?

The 2023 Champions League winners sit 25th in the league table with eight points - two wins, two draws and three losses.

There have been wins against Slovan Bratislava and Sparta Prague.

But a demoralising draw against Feyenoord, in which they squandered a three-goal lead in the last 10 minutes, and a capitulation against Paris St-Germain, where they gave up a two-goal lead to lose 4-2, have seriously upset their apple cart.

Combined with losses to Juventus and Sporting and a draw against Inter Milan, they are left needing to beat Belgian side Club Brugge to progress to the play-off phase of the last-16.

Much to do for Pep Guardiola's serial winners (usually).