Ange: If this was do-or-die, we’re not dead yet!
ANGE POSTECOGLOU issued a defiant message to Tottenham’s Champions League doubters after they crushed top-four rivals Aston Villa. Had fourth-placed Villa won, they would have moved eight points clear of Spurs with 10 games remaining and the finishing line would have been in sight. Now the gap is just two and Spurs have a game in hand. After a goalless first half, James Maddison and Brennan Johnson struck early in the second before Villa captain John McGinn was sent off for a wild lunge at Destiny Udogie. Son Heung-min and substitute Timo Werner piled on the pain with late goals. ‘It means we’re one game closer, with just 11 games to go,’ said manager Postecoglou. ‘Everyone was billing this as a do-or-die for us. I assume we’re not dead yet. ‘Considering the context of the game, the venue and the opposition, it was as controlled as we’ve been in any game all year. That’s positive for us — there is a lot of growth in this team. ‘We got the sense Villa were beginning to tire at the end of the first half, so the message was to maintain our intensity and we got off to a flier. The quality of our football was then excellent to see out the game.’ The one stain on an otherwise perfect day for Spurs was the injury sustained by Micky van de Ven at the start of the second half. The Dutchman was forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
For Villa, this was the sort of result that can undermine a season. They must beat Ajax on Thursday to secure a place in the last eight of the Europa Conference League after a 0-0 draw in Amsterdam last week. After this hammering, that fixture suddenly looks more difficult, although Ajax could only draw 2-2 at home to Fortuna Sittard yesterday. Manager Unai Emery tore up his usual tactical plan and switched to a 5-3-2 system, but blamed the defeat on his players’ inability to stay calm under pressure, despite defending McGinn. He said: ‘We lost control of our emotions and the red card was disappointing for me. ‘John McGinn is always playing with passion. He’s always honest and very competitive. His intention is not bad. ‘In the second half, the first two goals were crazy. After the red card it was more difficult. We have to control our emotions, even when we are losing 2-0. We have a responsibility to be mature. ‘We are still fourth but, of course, we have to accept to lose. Today we weren’t clinical and we weren’t better than the opponent. It was a very bad day at the office. ‘The most important thing in the Premier League is to be consistent over a season. We are disappointed, we are sad, but we are still fourth.’