Team news as Spurs battle for Premier League survival

Spurs are desperate for points in the relegation battle, while Unai Emery’s Villa look to clinch a Champions League berth in a crunch Premier League clash at Villa Park
Roberto de Zerbi makes three changes to the Tottenham line-up that defeated Wolves in their last outing.

Xavi Simons, Yves Bissouma and Dominic Solanke drop out with Mathys Tel, Joao Palhinha and Richarlison brought in.

Tottenham team to take on Villa
Tottenham XI: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha, Gallagher; Tel, Kolo Muani, Richarlison
Aston Villa team to face Tottenham
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; Barkley, Sancho, Rogers; Abraham
We’ll have the team news from Villa Park for you in the next little while.

Xavi Simons will not be involved after a cruel injury blow ahead of the World Cup.

Xavi Simons ruled out of World Cup as injury ends his Tottenham season
Glenn Hoddle reveals he offered to manage Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspur legend Glenn Hoddle has revealed he offered to take charge of the club amid their desperate fight against relegation , prior to Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment.

"They never came to us.

We did, Ossie (Ardiles) and myself, after the Forest game, we felt there was a real problem there."
He added: "Ossie and I made it clear that we would go in there if they wanted us to go in there with probably a younger legend (as coach) as well."
Roberto De Zerbi is the man tasked with steering Spurs to safety, but a pair of club legends had their eyes on the role, too.

Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles were a great midfield double act – but I think Tottenham made the right call...

Hoddle reveals Spurs legends offered to manage team before De Zerbi appointment
Unai Emery is confident that Roberto De Zerbi is the man to take Tottenham forward after two terrible seasons in the Premier League.

De Zerbi’s first task is to ensure Spurs don’t get relegated and if he achieves that Emery is backing him to impose an identity on Tottenham.

“He did it here with Brighton and as well in Marseille.

He has only coached three matches with Tottenham, and he will need time.

“The most important thing for them is to try to compete and escape from the bottom.

He will get success during his time with Tottenham, I’m sure.”
Unai Emery fumes over ‘crazy’ decision as Elliot Anderson escapes red card: ‘Where is VAR?’
Unai Emery was not best pleased at all by some of the officiating on Thursday, evening calling for more VAR.

A rarity.

Emery fumes over ‘crazy’ decision as Anderson escapes red card: ‘Where is VAR?’
Emery on difficult task in Premier League
More from the Aston Villa boss who explained: “When we won two weeks ago in the last minute against Sunderland, I was positive.

Last week when we lost against Fulham, I was not so positive about everything we’re doing and the points we need to get fifth, fourth or third in the league.

“There are some teams behind us performing well, like Brighton for example or Chelsea with their capacity to win a lot of matches at the end of the season.

We must focus on our own matches and trying to get points.

“The first one is on Sunday against Tottenham, and I am positive and delighted with how we are arriving in the moment we’re in now, playing in the semi-final with a second leg to play and in the position we are in the league.

“It’s really fantastic with the consistency we are achieving, but we still have the last challenges to play.”
Villa focused on Champions League spots
Unai Emery says Aston Villa have shrugged off the defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League and are focusing on finishing as high in the
“Each match is very important,” said Emery.

“In the Premier League we’re involved in day 35 – we are completely focusing on it as a priority.

“Yesterday, the priority was Forest in the Europa League.

Now it’s a different competition and the priority is the Premier League and being consistent and demanding through it to achieve our huge challenge to be again in the Champions League.”
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