Harry Redknapp has installed Tottenham Hotspur as the favourites to finish in fourth place this season, insisting that the Lilywhites deserve to be in the Champions League, given the football they have played so far this season.
The race for the final guaranteed Champions League spot looks set to go down to the wire between Spurs and Villa.
While Tottenham have the advantage of not being in Europe, with their opponents also having the Europa Conference League to worry about, Ange Postecoglou’s men have to contend with a tricky end to the season.
The result at Villa Park could thus go a long way towards determining who clinches fourth and Redknapp has now backed Postecoglou to take his side over the line.
The former Tottenham manager told BetVictor: “Ange has done well, I like him. He comes across really well, looks like a good guy and says it like it is. He doesn’t come out and speak a load of jargon like a lot of managers do.
“I still make Tottenham favourites for fourth place, absolutely. I think they’ll finish above Aston Villa. Villa have been great too, but it’s beginning to look like a straight fight between those two clubs.
“At the moment, Manchester United are miles away – I don’t see them anywhere near winning the title or being close to doing so in the next few years either. I thought at one point they could finish in the top four this season, but then I watched that game against Fulham and I still reckon they’re miles away.
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Tottenham are Champions League quality
Redknapp suggested that Tottenham have shown that they are Champions League material with the standard of performances they have delivered this season and suggested that a club with their resources should be in Europe’s premier competition.
He added: “Spurs have had a good season and if they finish fourth it’s a fair reflection of where they are as a side at the moment – they should be finishing in the top four or top five every year with their squad, stadium and the money they’ve spent on players.
“They’re entitled to be in that top four or five for sure. There are six teams really who are fighting for it – Chelsea are the other ones but they’re massive underachievers. Your top six really should be the three teams at the top followed by Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham.”
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As we enter the business end of the season, this is when the contenders will be separated from the pretenders, with the pressure now starting to be tuned up on either side.
Villa do not have experience of finishing in the top four but we should remember that this Spurs side is also quite a young team, with several players in their first Premier League season.
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