MOURA: I’M NOT CRYING

LUCAS MOURA insists there’s no “time to cry” as Tottenham look for their first win against a top-half team since November.

The 2-0 victory over Manchester City back then was quite the performance from Jose Mourinho’s men, one which took them to the top of the Premier League.

But if that period was full of sunshine, the one they find themselves in now couldn’t be much stormier with a 2-1 defeat by Arsenal followed by their exit from the Europa League against Dinamo Zagreb.

Moura (below) said: “It’s hard to say why we haven’t beaten a top-half side since November. What I can say is that the three games we played before Arsenal, we did really well — nine points and played very well. I don’t know what happened against Arsenal, that we decided to change.

“We didn’t play at our level and there is no excuse. But we are capable of beating these kind of teams. Now we need to do differently against Villa.”

Speaking about the Arsenal game, Moura added: “We were too passive in the game — no intensity, no aggression. But now that’s in the past, we don’t have time to cry, we need to look forward.”

Villa, Everton and West Ham are fresh European contenders, which has made life tougher. And Moura said: “Since I have been here in the Premier League, it’s the most difficult season.”

One plus for Spurs is that injury might keep Jack Grealish out for

Villa today. Moura added: “He has amazing skills. He’s an amazing player – like a Brazilian.”