Football365

In the last 335 days, three meetings between Spurs and Nottingham Forest have been overseen by six different managers in a trilogy which has slowly descended into hilarious farce.

Ange Postecoglou v Nuno Espirito Santo was part one, a game pitting Europa League semi-finalists against a team which sat third in the Premier League.

In the sequel, Sean Dyche faced Thomas Frank with both sides excelling in European competition but struggling domestically.

Part three ought to have never been commissioned, but there was Igor Tudor and Vitor Pereira, jumping absurdly high sharks as entirely interchangeable ringmasters ostensibly guiding these circuses.

And how eternally damning for Spurs to have lost all three of those matches, two at home, two by 3-0 this season, and with their desperation levels gradually increasing each time.

With neither of these teams in any way capable of engineering a result they set out to achieve before a game – and the reward in this specific match ultimately justifying the risk both sets of players take every time they play association football – there was little threat of either Spurs or Forest playing for a draw.

That made for a wonderfully chaotic dynamic underpinned by misplaced passes, snatched chances and Igor Jesus going closest for both teams after 45 minutes.

The Brazilian’s header from a Kevin Danso long throw flicked up onto his own bar in the early stages, before some excellent improvisation forced a save from Guglielmo Vicario.

That gave Forest their second corner in comparison to the eight launched in to little effect by Spurs. And it brought the breakthrough as Jesus made sense of the mess of bodies in the area to give the visitors the lead.

It was a little harsh on Spurs, who had arguably been the better side and almost equalised instantly through a fine Mathys Tel effort which Mats Selz tipped onto the bar brilliantly. But it was more cruel on the supporters who welcomed the team bus in their thousands along the High Road, leaving Tudor “emotional” and pointing to “good motivation” for his players.

But this Survival Sunday double header of games was essentially over by half time. Spurs have not won from behind at the break in their last 28 opportunities, while Forest have dropped just eight points from winning positions all season.

One of the three teams with a better record – along with Burnley and Wolves – were beating West Ham 1-0 at Villa Park and doing both sides in north London a favour.

Aston Villa would see out that victory with relative comfort despite a hopeless roll of the half-time dice from Nuno Espirito Santo. Adama Traore and Callum Wilson replaced Freddie Potts and Taty Castellanos for the second half but the most 2019-coded double substitution imaginable could not salvage a result in big 2026.

The Hold My Beer response from Tudor was to watch that close first half Spurs just about edged despite going behind, before bringing on Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall for Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence and shifting things around to the extent that no-one seemed to know what they were doing any longer.

“We are sleeping less on the pitch,” said the Spurs manager this week. “That’s the main thing. We react before, so for me this is crucial. Now we react earlier. We are not always, ‘what happened?’ And then we react after. Now we react before things happen.”

The five Spurs players pointing aghast at the space taken up by a completely unmarked Morgan Gibbs-White – who else but? – just in front of the penalty spot on the hour suggested otherwise.

Among that number was Pedro Porro, rounded easily by Callum Hudson-Odoi before the Forest forward’s cutback, and the ambling captain Cristian Romero, so frequently found at the scene of the latest defensive crime while dressed in a hot dog suit and insisting that we’re all trying to find the guy who did this.

Romero, in almost precisely the same spot, offered the exact same reaction when Taiwo Awoniyi swept in Neco Williams’ tantalising cross 25 minutes later to complete what felt like a pivotal swing in this infernal relegation race.

Forest are only three points clear of the drop now, but the momentum built with this victory could be invaluable, as much for the damage inflicted upon Spurs as the boost to their own confidence.

Pereira does seem to have landed upon a more effective blueprint for success at Forest, whose two draws and a win in their last three Premier League games matches Spurs’ tally for the entire calendar year.

As for Tudor, the new manager bounce was not only agonisingly delayed but painfully brief – and most of it coming in a meaningless Champions League second leg. Both scorers from what was supposed to be a transformative win were dropped for this, a crushing defeat which dragged Spurs hurtling back to the Earth’s core.

Despite never having scored in the Premier League after being signed in the summer, Tottenham are reportedly interested in landing a striker from a direct rival.

Spurs are reported to be looking for a ‘creative striker profile.’ None of their forward options have had rousing seasons, with Richarlison the only man close to passing the 10-goal mark in the Premier League.

He’s currently on nine, while Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel are both down on three goals.

It’s unsurprising that Tottenham are in relegation danger – just one point above the drop zone – and if they survive their current plight, they’ll want to turn their fortunes around massively next season.

Signings in a lot of positions will be needed, but the necessity for more goals is evident. They could have an answer to that, though on the surface it doesn’t look the most convincing option.

Fussballdatten reports Arnaud Kalimuendo could attract interest from Spurs and Aston Villa in the summer. The striker is currently on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt, where there’s an option for him to be signed for €27million (£23.5m).

There, he is said to be seen as the most ‘electrifying’ signing since Randal Kolo Muani, who scored 15 goals and provided 14 assists in his first season with the club in the Bundesliga.

Indeed, manager Albert Riera is said to be a big admirer of Kalimuendo, and parent club Nottingham Forest are willing to see the back of him.

Kalimuendo has scored four goals and assisted once in 11 games for Frankfurt after making the switch from Forest in January, and comparisons to Kolo Muani are interesting, in that both men have struggled in the Premier League.

READ: Tottenham star decides to ‘flee’ as ‘closing in’ Euro giants ‘set to sign’ Spurs teammate in £17m deal

Kalimuendo was signed permanently by Forest in the summer, and in nine league games, which only actually totalled 88 minutes, he failed to find the net, clearly struggling to convince he was worthy of more minutes.

He did bag twice in the Europa League, but the Frenchman’s efforts were not enough to see him given more opportunities at Forest.

Tottenham should perhaps take Kalimuendo’s English form as a warning then, as Kolo Muani has managed just one goal in 22 Premier League games despite being a potent asset at the other clubs he’s represented prior, Frankfurt included.

There is a chance that Spurs have no way of landing Kalimuendo, as Frankfurt are waiting to the end of the season to see if they want to activate his clause, though the option is there and it’s something they’re considering.

For Tottenham, it would perhaps be better to look elsewhere in any case.

A Tottenham insider feels the club may consider selling Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven solely to make space for an exciting prospect he is “sure” will be a first-team player next season.

Spurs are in a real spot of bother in the Premier League. There will be no European football next season after they were dumped out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid, but sitting a point above the league relegation places, that’ll be the least of their worries.

After four losses on the bounce in all competitions, Igor Tudor finally picked up his first points as Spurs boss on Sunday, scooping a point against Liverpool before beating Atletico in the second leg, continuing to show “signs.”

But those need to be shown far more often if safety is to be achieved and some star players are convinced not to jump ship in the summer.

Romero and Van de Ven have long been tipped to depart amid the woeful form Tottenham have shown, and Spurs insider John Wenham in fact feels one of them will be given the boot so that Luka Vuskovic can take up a starring role.

READ: Tottenham star decides to ‘flee’ as ‘closing in’ Euro giants ‘set to sign’ Spurs teammate in £17m deal

Vuskovic, 19, has widely impressed on loan at Bundesliga club Hamburg and is sure to have options in the summer, but Wenham feels he’ll still be at Spurs, as they can offer him a first-team role after one season out on loan.

He told Tottenham News: “Vuskovic will, if Tottenham can stay in the Premier League, become a part of the first team next year, I’m sure of it.

“He’s got a contract till 2030, as many of these players that are talking about going, it’ll be down to Tottenham at the end of the day, not these players.

“Vuskovic will, if Tottenham can stay in the Premier League, become a part of the first team next year, I’m sure of it.

READ: ‘Really worry me’ – Ex-Spurs star issues relegation verdict as ‘very surprising’ Tudor U-turn mooted

“He’s got a contract till 2030, as many of these players that are talking about going, it’ll be down to Tottenham at the end of the day, not these players.

“I think the time is right for one of them to move on, not both. I think that would weaken us drastically, but one might have to be sold in order to facilitate, you know, Vuskovic having this platform to play.

“And I think that would really show his agent and the club that there is a pathway being made for him.”

Manchester United are planning to raid Tottenham Hotspur for Archie Gray should Igor Tudor’s side get relegated to the Championship at the end of the season, according to a report.

Gray is one of the best young players in the Premier League and has been a shining light for Tottenham this season.

While Tottenham are in real danger of getting relegated to the Championship at the end of the season, Gray has been a consistent figure in the team and has been impressive.

Gray is the only Tottenham player who has started every game for Tottenham under Tudor.

The former Leeds United star is a midfielder by trade, but he has also impressed at right-back and left-back.

The 20-year-old has made 16 starts and four substitute appearances in the Premier League and made seven starts and one substitute appearance in the Champions League for Tottenham so far this season.

READ: Man Utd ‘robbed’ by VAR vs Bournemouth as Liverpool ‘liability’ has ‘forgotten even the basics’

According to Sports Boom, Man Utd have taken a shine to Gray and plan to raid Tottenham should the north London club go down to the Championship at the end of the season.

Man Utd co-owners, INEOS, are ‘hoping’ to bring the 20-year-old midfielder to Old Trafford ‘on the cheap’ if Tottenham go down to the Championship.

While Gray has told Spurs that he will not actively push for a move away from the north London club if they get relegated, Man Utd ‘will still test Spurs’ resolve over the promising prospect.’

Gray is not the only player that Tottenham could lose should they get relegated.

Established stars, such as Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, are unlikely to stick around if Tottenham feature in the Championship next season.

Romero signed a new contract with Tottenham only last summer, but the Argentina international central defender has publicly said that he could leave.

The defender said this week: “The truth is that I’m focused on the situation we’re in.

“I have a lot of respect and affection for the club and I want to finish the season in the best way possible. We’ll see later, but the most important thing now is to recover energy to help Spurs.”

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are all keen on a 2026 summer deal for Romero in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool are interested in Van de Ven, with the Netherlands international centre-back the subject of interest from Madrid, too.

Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped to perform a “very surprising” U-turn on head coach Igor Tudor on two conditions.

Earlier this year, Spurs appointed former Juventus boss Tudor to replace Thomas Frank, with their current boss tasked with guiding the north London side to Premier League safety.

However, Tudor endured a nightmare start at Spurs, with the head coach losing his first four games against Arsenal, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Atletico Madrid.

This run reportedly had Tudor close to the sack, but Spurs have somewhat recovered in recent days as they have drawn against Liverpool and won the second leg against Atletico Madrid en route to a 7-5 aggregate loss.

Next up for Spurs is a huge six-pointer against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, and former goalkeeper Brad Friedel is fearful of their survival chances.

“Let’s look at it this way: do they have the quality of players to survive a Premier League relegation scrap, or to avoid relegation altogether? Yes. Do they have the quality where they shouldn’t even be in a relegation scrap? Yes,” Friedel told Action Network.

READ: Big Weekend: Arsenal v Man City, Tottenham v Forest, Liverpool, Rosenior, Bowen, Madrid

“Do they have the mentality for a relegation fight? I’m not so sure.

“I think the away match at Liverpool probably came at the perfect time, because it was more of a ‘glamour’ tie than a ‘roll your sleeves up’ kind of game.

“I also liked what I saw against Atletico Madrid — they had a different tactical approach, especially being up 5-2 — and at least in the last two games you saw a bit of fight.

“However, those were both big global games that these players were signed for.”

He added: “So these [like vs Forest] are the games that really worry me. They do, because these are the mental matches.”

However, Friedel also thinks Spurs could perform a U-turn and keep Tudor beyond this season if he “corrects” his mistakes and oversees a great end to this campaign.

“I would find it very surprising if he stayed. But in any team sport, once a manager gets it and things click, and you see that on a day-to-day basis, that can change people’s minds,” Friedel added.

“So if he looks back and says, ‘those first four or five weeks, I got it wrong — and this is why,’ and then corrects it… let’s say they go on and win the rest of their games between now and the end of the season, then there has to be an argument to keep him.”

He added: “Right now, if you’re asking me whether he stays, I’d say no. But if he gets it, things click, and you start to see real building blocks, then you keep him.

“The only people who really know that are the ones inside the training ground every day.”

Tottenham Hotspur have acted on their interest in Austrian manager Adi Hutter, a journalist has revealed, while an observer has named Roberto De Zerbi as the ‘favourite’ to replace Igor Tudor permanently.

Interim boss Tudor has come under pressure at Tottenham, despite only arriving at the club on February 14. The Croatian has a reputation as a relegation firefighter who can spark a quick turnaround, but Spurs lost their first four games under his management.

Spurs have since snatched a late draw at Liverpool in the Premier League and salvaged some respectability by beating Atletico Madrid 3-2 in the Champions League, though they were knocked out by an aggregate score of 5-7.

Their home clash against Nottingham Forest on Sunday looks set to be a monumental game, both for Tudor’s future and the relegation scrap.

Spurs are already sounding out potential replacements for Tudor who could arrive immediately or in the summer, and Hutter has emerged as a new contender.

As per Italian transfer reporter Rudy Galetti, Spurs have ‘gathered information’ on Hutter, who has been a free agent since his sacking by Monaco in October.

READ: Big Weekend: Arsenal v Man City, Tottenham v Forest, Liverpool, Rosenior, Bowen, Madrid

The 56-year-old ‘is an option for Spurs’ either for the remainder of the campaign or ahead of next season.

Hutter has won league titles with Red Bull Salzburg and Young Boys, while he was twice named Bundesliga Coach of the Year following his great work at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Hutter spent a season in charge of Borussia Monchengladbach before joining Monaco, though his lack of experience in managing a truly elite European club will likely be a concern for Spurs supporters.

Former Aston Villa and Everton chief Keith Wyness has suggested to Football Insider that De Zerbi is the frontrunner, with Spurs already holding ‘discussions’.

“There’s been a lot of rumours that Spurs have already been having discussions out in the marketplace,” he said.

“Harry Redknapp even going public to say that he spoke to Daniel Levy, and he would have been called back. Well, that’s great, Harry, because no one will ever know if that was going to be the case or not.

“Good old Harry for that one. But no, [I] think realistically, if it was to be anybody, I think De Zerbi is the favourite.

“And I think he would be the one that makes most sense. I don’t think there’s anybody else.”

Our friends at TEAMtalk revealed on Monday that De Zerbi has snubbed the opportunity to join Spurs immediately, as he would rather wait until the summer before securing his next move.

Clearly, Spurs will have to stay in the top flight to have any chance of appointing the Italian. But even then, Manchester United could scupper their plans, as they are big admirers of De Zerbi.

Other candidates for the Spurs job include Mauricio Pochettino, Robbie Keane and Marco Silva.

A proper big weekend, this one. We’re very excited.

Arsenal can either take a big step towards the quadruple, or see the whole thing go up in smoke altogether should Pep Guardiola get his hands on another trophy after what has for him been an alarmingly long wait.

But the Premier League won’t give up all the weekend’s attention without a fight, and even with the top two’s attention elsewhere there are a whole bunch of vital games in battles at both ends of the table, including the most six-pointery game of the season so far between Spurs and Forest – two teams who both somehow go into the game feeling pretty good about life despite neither of them winning a league game in months. Spursy, that. And Foresty.

Also feels like a big ol’ weekend for Liam Rosenior’s dwindling authority at Chelsea after a week when everyone has been laughing at him even more than they were before.

Carabao Cup final to watch: Arsenal v Manchester City

Last year the Carabao had a rare moment in the sun where it could matter on its own terms. Newcastle’s joy at winning a trophy – any trophy – after so very, very long meant that for once the Carabao wasn’t just a staging post or minor trinket for a big beast with eyes fixed elsewhere.

It’s back to normal this year, with the clear narrative around this one being whether Arsenal can take the first final step – if that makes even a lick of sense – on their way to possible Quad God status or whether Manchester City can stop them in this competition at least having proved entirely unable to apply meaningful pressure in the Premier League.

That narrative itself is a quirky one, because an Arsenal victory here would of course end their own trophy drought that, while nowhere near a Newcastle, has still been a millstone around the Gunners’ neck these past few years.

And yet so dominant have they been this season that the trophy drought has felt effectively over for quite some time now. Everyone knows Arsenal are going to win trophies this season; the question is which ones and how many.

It does feel like actually sealing that deal couldn’t hurt, though. They still probably won’t do the quadruple because nobody – nobody English at any rate – ever does. But it would at least get rid of that albatross and allow them to concentrate their remaining efforts over the remaining post-interlull weeks of the season knowing that at least something is in the bag.

Although we can of course at that point expect last year’s widespread giddy insistence of the Carabao’s status as an indisputable major trophy to once again be called into question if it is Arsenal rather than Newcastle utilising it as a drought-ender.

Game to watch: Tottenham v Nottingham Forest

Just before the Premier League’s top two squabble over the season’s first trinket comes the biggest game of the relegation battle so far in a monumental six-pointer that feels even more watchable than it already was (which was very watchable indeed) after the midweek action.

The very idea of two relegation battlers having European commitments is incongruous, but the even weirder outcome is that both these teams will face a relegation six-pointer on long winless Premier League runs while feeling better about themselves than they have in ages.

Spurs’ best performance of the season was never enough to save the tie against Atletico Madrid, but a win on the night and the manner in which they did it on the back of battling all the way to the finish line to draw with Liverpool means spirits are higher at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium than at any other point in 2026.

That, admittedly, is saying little but there was a notable effort from a far-from-full stadium to get behind the team on Wednesday night, and the team responded against what was still a full-strength Atleti despite a three-goal cushion.

Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani all had their best Spurs games to date, which again isn’t the compliment it might be, but so too did Archie Gray in a commanding midfield performance that felt more like a logical next step towards fulfilling his enormous potential for the one consistent bright spot for Spurs in the unrelenting gloom of the last few months.

Nottingham Forest will be the wearier team having taken the full 120 minutes and penalties to overturn a first-leg Europa League deficit against Midtjylland 24 hours after Spurs returned to winning ways, but with their victory bringing progress and a real shot at silverware despite everything it will be an inevitably bullish and buoyant Forest who head south this weekend.

Curious indeed to think of a relegation six-pointer between two teams suddenly feeling good about themselves despite one not having won a league game for almost two months and the other for almost three, but somehow that is the scenario here.

It’s still not quite all-or-nothing for either side with so much football still to be played this season, but it’s going to be hard to see whoever emerges with the three points from this one going down.

Team to watch: Liverpool

Another team who used the European opportunity to ease their domestic woes. Both Spurs and Liverpool appeared to have taken something beyond a point from last weekend’s clash at Anfield.

For Spurs, it was renewed belief and a glimmer of hope. For Liverpool, embarrassment and humiliation at failing to beat the league’s worst team and a sense of never again.

They tore into Galatasaray from minute one and didn’t let up until a 1-0 first-leg deficit had been overturned decisively.

Now the task switches back to ensuring they take their place in next season’s Champions League, which remains far from certain with Chelsea just a point behind the fifth-placed Reds and with a far superior goal difference.

A trip to a Brighton side that has rediscovered itself after a poor run won’t be easy. Fabian Hurzeler’s team were drifting towards the relegation scrap for a while there, but three wins in four – the other a narrow and controversial defeat to leaders Arsenal – have sorted that out and means Liverpool will need another fully committed Galatasaray-style effort to win here. Any repeat of the Spurs debacle absolutely will not do.

Player to watch: Jarrod Bowen

It does feel like a weekend of great significance at both ends of the table. The top two may be otherwise engaged, but the way the fixtures have landed and the fact that what happens this weekend will freeze the league table for the next three weeks means it all feels hugely significant for the races to get into Europe and avoid falling into the Championship.

For West Ham, the incentive is clear. They play Aston Villa at the same time Spurs face Nottingham Forest, which means one thing is certain: if they can win at Villa Park – and that is not the daunting prospect it once was – they are certain to be outside the relegation zone while the Premier League goes on its lengthy interlull-FA Cup hiatus. They could even leapfrog both those clubs this weekend.

When Hammers fans first started looking at the run-in for fixtures of potential, Villa away would not have figured high on the list. That has changed significantly.

Villa have looked a spent force in the Premier League for some time now, and there’s a definite sense of focus shifting towards the Europa League. They are through to the last eight there and it all just looks a lot less effort than the Premier League does for them right now.

Villa remain fourth for now, but that’s based on their own sterling form of autumn and winter, and the ongoing struggles of Chelsea and Liverpool. Their own current form is wretched, with a single victory and four defeats from seven games since January.

They have been well beaten by Wolves, Chelsea and Man United in their last three games, and lost four of their last six home games against Premier League opposition having won every game at Villa Park from September to mid-January.

Make no mistake, this is a huge opportunity for West Ham to capitalise on a tired team struggling to keep the plates spinning to the very end of the season.

But with Crysencio Summerville still a major doubt for this one, an awful lot of responsibility falls yet again on the shoulders of Jarrod Bowen to be the man to drive the Hammers on towards safety.

Manager to watch: Liam Rosenior

Every doomed managerial reign has its defining Kodak moment. It doesn’t necessarily come right at the end, but it tells you the end is inevitable. Steve McClaren with his brolly. Ruben Amorim trying unsuccessfully to plot a course past League Two opposition with his little magnets. Thomas Frank sipping obliviously and gormlessly from an Arsenal coffee cup.

For guff-speaking LinkedIn philosopher Rosenior, that moment arrived this week when he solemnly handed Alejandro Garnacho a note containing instructions for the remaining five minutes of a Champions League tie in which Chelsea trailed 8-2 on aggregate and 3-0 on the night.

Unless that note read ‘Score six goals’ – in which case, listen, fair play – it just adds to the overwhelming sense that Rosenior is a performer. A spoofer. He’s LARPing as a Premier League manager. Cosplaying it. Everything about him feels performative and therefore crashingly insincere.

Former team-mates from his playing days have said they simply don’t recognise the Brentian figure that Rosenior now cuts. We would bet our life savings that he doesn’t even need those glasses and that they contain plain lenses.

He is being found out very quickly at this level, his tactics openly questioned by senior players who for some reason don’t seem to be as impressed as his bosses were by his endless stream of fauxspirational management babble.

It would probably take something truly dramatic for Rosenior not to at least last the season, but it already feels impossible to picture him as a long-term Chelsea manager. And not just because it’s impossible to picture pretty much anyone as a long-term Chelsea manager.

Football League game to watch: Ipswich v Millwall

Crunch time approaches in the Championship promotion race. Coventry still look sure to secure one of the two automatic promotion spots despite defeat last time out against Southampton. They take a nine-point lead over Ipswich and Millwall in third and fourth heading into this weekend with games running out.

But the second spot is firmly in play with this pair sitting just two points behind Middlesbrough. Victory here boosts either side’s chances, but most notably Ipswich who were the only team in the top five to win their last game and have a game in hand – against struggling Portsmouth – over all the teams around them.

Ipswich haven’t lost at Portman Road in any competition since October, but Millwall are on a four-match winning run away from home so something has to give.

European game to watch: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid

The Madrid derby is approaching must-win territory if Real are to keep their pursuit of Barcelona at the top of La Liga a realistic one.

There’s less at stake for Atletico Madrid who, along with Villarreal appear certain to finish third and fourth given the chasm that exists to the big two above them and everyone else below.

But they’d obviously love to scupper their neighbours after suffering the indignity of defeat on the night to Spurs in the Champions League this week, the first team to experience such a sensation in two long, banter-filled months.

Women’s Super League game to watch: Man City v Tottenham

It’s been a procession for much of the season, but with two of the three matches all season in which City have dropped points coming in their last three they could just do with ensuring there are no more slip-ups against a dangerous Tottenham team. Chelsea are not a team you want to give any encouragement to in a Women’s Super League title fight.

It should be fine. Spurs have had a fine season but have dropped off the top-three pace now and, cosily marooned in fifth, would be forgiven if the upcoming FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea is the game at the forefront of their minds now.

But we all know funny things can happen when a title-chasing Man City side face Tottenham.

Despite a recent wobble in the Premier League, there is no need for Aston Villa to copy Manchester United and Tottenham. They can win the Europa League and finish fifth under Unai Emery.

Emery could probably coach the Aston Villa Under-19s to Europa League success, such is his incredible love affair with the competition.

The Spaniard is a record four-time winner of the competition and has reached five finals in total, with his sole defeat coming as Arsenal boss in 2019.

He guided Sevilla to the trophy three years in a row between 2013 and 2015 before losing with Arsenal against Chelsea, and then claimed another title with Villarreal in 2021, beating Manchester United in the final.

This is his competition. There’s just something about Emery in the Europa League.

Villa would arguably have a strong chance of winning the Europa without Emery in charge, but it’s him that gives them the edge and almost makes their title win feel inevitable.

Lille in the round of 16 was just about as tricky as they come for the Villans, who successfully navigated their first leg in France with a 1-0 victory.

A week later, Villa welcomed Lille to the Midlands after big tournament rivals Lyon were knocked out by Celta Vigo, and Premier League counterparts Nottingham Forest knocked out a very handy FC Midtjylland side that finished third in the league phase.

It’s all coming up Unai for Villa, whose status as favourites has strengthened significantly after a very productive Thursday night.

They were hardly guaranteed qualification to the quarter-finals with the score level on the night at half-time, but an elite counter-attack involving only three players, including goalkeeper Emi Martinez, doubled Villa’s aggregate lead.

After a comfortable save, Martinez produced an outstanding kick towards Jadon Sancho, who did everything perfectly, timing and weighting his pass for a rampaging John McGinn to latch onto and tuck past Berke Ozer. With four minutes remaining, Leon Bailey sealed a 3-0 aggregate victory.

McGinn’s return is significant and very well timed for Villa, whose domestic campaign has been falling by the wayside in recent weeks.

Villa, clearly challenging Bournemouth as the streakiest team in England, have lost three Premier League games in a row against top-five rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as bottom club and Midlands rivals Wolves.

It’s actually only one top-flight win in seven for Emery’s side, who have three league wins in 11 in 2026.

Villa’s title challenge is absolutely over – if it was ever a thing – and they are in danger of finishing outside the Champions League places. However, you would currently back them over Chelsea, and doing better than one of them, United and Liverpool should be enough, with Brentford and Everton’s involvement in the race nothing more than a fairytale.

Sunday’s defeat at Old Trafford did not push Villa into the same position their opponents and Tottenham Hotspur were in last season, thanks largely to Chelsea being a mess, and it would be surprising to see them feel the need to completely throw in the towel domestically considering how well Emery and his players balanced the Conference League and a fourth-place finish in 2023/24.

For United and Spurs, not throwing in the towel would have been completely pointless, but not for Villa; they actually have a strong chance of winning the Europa League without embarrassing themselves in the league.

Their next four Premier League games look decent on paper as well. West Ham before the international break gives them a chance to head into three weeks on a high, before a trip to Nottingham Forest – another very winnable fixture – and matches at home to Sunderland and Tottenham, with a trip to Fulham sandwiched in between.

Villa will hope Champions League qualification is sorted by matchday 37 because Liverpool and Manchester City in their final two fixtures is far from ideal. By then, being able to completely disregard domestic football to prioritise the latter stages of the Europa League would be fantastic.

But for now, Spurs and United can keep their towels to themselves because Villa do not need one…yet.

Next up in Europe will be Bologna or AS Roma, who have gone to extra-time. Villa have beaten Bologna in European competition this and last season, with their 2025/26 win kick-starting their campaign after a dismal start. Their only meeting with Roma was in a pre-season friendly last summer.

And then we could see Villa face Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals. But that is a team throwing all of their eggs into one basket, and it’s not this competition they care about right now.

Vitor Pereira’s priorities are clear, but Emery has the experience and capability to balance the Thursday-Sunday schedule. He makes an already strong Villa side big favourites to go all the way this year.

According to reports, an exodus from Spurs looks likely even if they survive in the Premier League as Inter Milan ‘close in’ on a transfer.

Tottenham‘s dire performances this season have made it abundantly clear that wholesale changes are required from top to bottom at the floundering club.

Thomas Frank was tasked with steadying the ship after Ange Postecoglou’s chaotic reign, but Spurs declined even further under the former Brentford boss and their situation has not improved since Igor Tudor took over.

Morale at Spurs has slightly improved after drawing at Liverpool and reducing their aggregate deficit by beating Atletico Madrid 3-2 on Wednesday, but this will be undone if they are beaten by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

And no matter what happens as Spurs fight to avoid relegation, there will be a major squad overhaul in the summer.

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A report from Spanish outlet Fichajes claims loanee Randal Kolo Muani will be among those to leave, with the striker having already decided to ‘flee’ in the summer.

The report claims:

‘The striker does not plan to stay at Tottenham after the season ends, despite having had opportunities. A return to Paris Saint-Germain, where he never truly settled, is also not in his plans.

‘His roadmap is clear: to find a destination where he can regain his sense of accomplishment and feel important again within a competitive project.’

And goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario also looks set to leave Spurs in the coming months, with the 29-year-old linked with Serie A giants Inter Milan.

Vicario is among those who have underperformed this season, and Spurs could do with a more reliable shot-stopper between the sticks.

The north London outfit bought Vicario for around £17m in 2023 and a report from The Daily Mail claims Inter Milan are ‘set to sign’ him in a ‘surprise £17m deal’ as they are ‘closing in’ on securing his services.

The report explains: ‘The Italians have been searching for an alternative to Swiss No 1 Yann Sommer and sporting director Piero Ausilio was in London for meetings this week.

‘Ausilio is understood to have met with Vicario’s agent Valerio Giufridda ahead of the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday and they are confident a deal can be done for a fee in the region of £17million.’

Former Italy and Inter Milan star Gianluca Pagliuca thinks a move to the Serie A giants for Vicario would be a great next step.

“He couldn’t make a better decision. If a team that’s just reached the Champions League final calls you, how can you say no?” he said.

“Now he’s had a bad season, he hasn’t performed as well as in his first year, but we’ve seen that the whole team has had problems, they changed coaches, then he was replaced in the Champions League, and whoever took his place has been disastrous.”

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to accelerate their move to sign Belgian wonderkid Nathan De Cat, after it emerged that Manchester United are ready to step up their own interest in the midfielder.

Spurs are gearing up for their must-win clash against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday, and they do so with a little momentum behind them after securing Igor Tudor’s first win as interim coach, having beaten Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie.

Having crashed out of Europe, the focus now switches towards preserving the club’s Premier League status, although that does not mean that Tottenham transfer chiefs are not already looking ahead to signings for the summer.

Indeed, fresh reports claim they are ready to raid the Belgian Jupiler Pro League for teenage defensive midfielder De Cat.

Just to read the words ‘teenage talent’ is likely to tip most Spurs over the edge, given the club’s lack of experienced leaders – some would both on and off the pitch – but the north London side look like they are it again when it comes to the highly-rated Anderlecht youngster.

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The 17-year-old has taken Belgian football by storm this season, earning rave reviews for his defensive midfield performances in his homeland.

Over recent months, it has been widely reported that Tottenham have set their sights on De Cat, although they will not get a free run at trying to secure the signature of a player who continues to be heavily linked with Manchester United as well.

A fresh report in Fussball Daten has revealed that Spurs have stepped up their pursuit of De Cat, with scouts impressed by what they’ve seen on recent visits to Belgium.

They view the youngster as the ‘ideal deep-lying playmaker’ for their system, but will need to act quickly if they want to beat Man Utd to the punch, while there’s also interest from Aston Villa and Brighton as well as Germany.

Indeed, Fussball Daten adds that Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are also watching the Belgium Under-18 international.

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In terms of Anderlecht’s stance over selling De Cat, whose current deal only runs until the summer of 2027, they are not actively looking to cash in.

However, it’s reported that the Belgian giants will entertain offers in the region of €30m-€35m (£26m-£30.2m) for the midfielder, which would make the deal a record transfer for any teenager from the division.