The Mirror

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou admits Son Heung-min was never going to play the full 90 as he produced a rare show of emotion as he was left fuming when he was subbed off.

The north Londoners came from behind to secure a statement win over Aston Villa, but their forward was less than impressed when he was bought off just before the hour mark as Richarlison was introduced.

With the game still in the balance Ange Postecoglou chose to bring off Son, despite Tottenham looking for a winner. Son clocked that it was his number being held up on the substitute board and was visibly stunned that his game had been cut short.

The South Korean, clearly annoyed, was embraced by Postecoglou but then appeared to swear and was visibly angry when he eventually sat down to watch the remainder of the match.

The Tottenham boss said on his decision to bring off his skipper: "He was never going to play more than that. It was around that 60 minute mark where he got fatigued last time."

Just minutes before being subbed off it was Son's cross that allowed Brennan Johnson to equalise - ruling out Morgan Rogers' opener for Aston Villa. The Tottenham captain has just returned from injury after two weeks on the sideline.

Tottenham, without Son on the pitch, didn't struggle for goals as they scored three times in the final 20 minutes to land themselves all three points. Dominic Solanke notched himself a brace with James Maddison adding the final touch with a fourth late on.

Son himself has scored three times in eight outings so far this term and has long been one of Tottenham's most prolific players, hence why the decision to bring him off with the game finely balanced will have come as a surprise.

Postecoglou said after their win: "I thought we had to match them in the first half. We conceded a goal but we made them work really hard in the first half. The thing with us is we have another two or three gears in us. Credit to the players, after a massive effort on Wednesday night physically, to do that."

He also added: "You don't fall off cliffs and climb up mountains within a week. You're going to have to bumps along the way and it's how you address them and learn from them."

Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa meet with both teams aiming to regain their footing in the Premier League. Spurs, fresh from a commanding 4-1 victory over West Ham, faced a setback with a narrow 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace last weekend.

However, under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham showed resilience by securing a notable 2-1 victory against Manchester City in the EFL Cup midweek and securing my over 2.5 goals tip. This win has boosted their confidence, and they are eager to carry that momentum into their upcoming league fixture against Aston Villa.

Aston Villa, on the other hand, have experienced mixed fortunes. A late equaliser from Bournemouth last Saturday added another draw to their recent run, making it three stalemates in four league outings. Unai Emery's squad then suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, adding to their frustrations despite my Jhon Duran goalscoring tip coming in.

As they prepare to visit Tottenham, Villa are determined to shake off these recent disappointments and make a strong statement on the pitch. Both teams are keen to secure three crucial points and gain some much-needed stability in their league campaigns.

The match promises to be an engaging contest as Spurs look to build on their cup success, while Villa strive to turn their fortunes around. Fans can expect an intense battle as both sides seek redemption and aim to climb higher in the Premier League standings.

Tottenham vs Aston Villa Odds

Here are the latest odds:

Spurs - 4/5 (Betfair)

Draw - 11/5 (Betfair)

Aston Villa - 23/10 (Betfair)

Tottenham vs Aston Villa Betting Tips

Tottenham to win and both teams to score - 2/1 (Betfair)

Dominick Solanke to score anytime - 13/10 (Betfair)

Tottenham vs Aston Villa Betting Offer

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Dejan Kulusevski loves playing against Manchester City, claiming he takes it “personally” whenever he locks horns with Pep Guardiola’s champions.

The Swede grabbed two assists in Tottenham’s gutsy 2-1 Carabao Cup triumph on Wednesday night to set up a quarter-final clash with Manchester United.

And the 24-year-old attacker, thriving as a central playmaker under Ange Postecoglou, has registered more goal contributions - three goals and four assists - against City than any other opponent in Guardiola’s tenure. He said: “I knew I had to do something important as it’s an amazing game to play against this team.

“I take it personally to play against City, I promised myself that I was going to have a good game and I think I did.” Kulusevski insists his stunning all-action display wasn’t born from frustration following last Sunday’s disappointing defeat at Crystal Palace.

Instead, he revealed his vendetta against the Premier League leaders stems from his desire to compete with the elite. The ex-Juventus attacker continued: “It wasn’t about Palace, no, it’s just because it’s City. I love to play against the best because it’s extra-motivating.

“It’s a personal thing, everybody that is close to me knows it and I knew that I was going to shine because I prepared for this game for a long time. I knew I had to perform and I did. I’ve played City away three times and scored three times. There is no fear. In fact, it’s the complete opposite of fear.”

While Aston Villa are now in Kulusevski’s crosshairs, he refuses to skate over his team’s defensive frailties after successfully weathering a late City storm. He said in response to Spurs gifting Matheus Nunes a lifeline on the stroke of half-time: “I’m very angry that we conceded the goal in the last second of the half, we can’t do that.

“It changes everything when you’re going to go in at half-time at 2-0 and then it’s 2-1. But we handled it well in the second half, we created so many chances and if we killed the game before it would be all over.

“In the end we stayed strong and everybody contributed.” Now Postecoglou’s indispensable leader wants Tottenham to find some consistency to ensure they make something of their season.

The forward continued: “We don’t want to be up and down. If you want to be a champion you have to be there every game - that’s the main part that everyone has to understand. We have to improve away from home against teams that play physically and don’t play the football that was played against City.”

Kulusevski is adamant Spurs have a real chance of ending their 16-year wait - 17 come March’s Wembley final - for silverware, concluding: “We want to win every trophy and this is a great opportunity to win a cup.

“It will be fun to play against a legendary team next in United.”

Glenn Hoddle insists the decision to sack Jose Mourinho is Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy's biggest error.

The Special One was hired as Mauricio Pochettino's replacement in late 2019 and had just shy of 18 months at the helm in north London. Mourinho arrived in the hope he could end the club's trophy drought having won silverware at all of his previous clubs.

He was 90 minutes away from doing so having led Tottenham to the Carabao Cup final in 2021, only to be sacked in the days leading up to it. The team's Premier League form had dropped off and Levy opted to make an abrupt change in the dugout.

Mourinho had won just over half of his games as Tottenham boss and Hoddle, who played and managed at the north London side, concedes that Levy's biggest blunder was letting go of the Portuguese boss, insisting the Special One's tactics and record against Pep Guardiola could've seen them win a trophy.

He said on the Stick to Football podcast: “I think there is a massive mistake that Daniel Levy made. José [Mourinho] gets him to the [Carabao] cup final and he [Daniel Levy] sacks him on the Monday. That doesn’t make sense to me, and it never will.

"I don’t understand that at all. You bring somebody in to win a trophy, and he [José Mourinho] has a good record against Pep [Guardiola] as well. Then, no disrespect, but putting a young coach instead who has had no experience – is just woah. It would’ve been a stepping stone.

"Who knows if he stayed there might have been another trophy. I don’t think the attitude has been ‘football comes first.’ Daniel has done a brilliant job with the stadium and the running of the business, which is unbelievable. But can we go and get the best players? Everyone wants to play in that stadium.”

Tottenham ultimately lost the final at Wembley as Manchester City edged the contest 1-0. Levy has still not seen the team win a trophy as he continues to cop criticism for some of his on pitch decisions - despite the club excelling of the pitch and from a financial standpoint.

Since Mourinho's exit Levy has hired three permanent managers with Ange Postecoglou now at the helm. The club are still yet to win a trophy and haven't qualified for the Champions League since 2021/22.

Mourinho meanwhile has continued to fire digs at Tottenham following his departure, citing them as a forgettable period in his managerial career.

Ange Postecoglou celebrated his best win as Tottenham manager but shrugged: “We are not there yet.”

Spurs held on to end the last unbeaten record in the country in a Carabao Cup thriller against injury-ravaged Manchester City. And after booking a mouth-watering quarter-final with Manchester United, Big Ange said: “My last win is always my best win.

“I want them to have these moments because I know how it can accelerate the group’s progress. In terms of becoming the team we want to be, nothing really changes - we are not there yet.

“But I’m really optimistic about our potential and that we’ve got a really high ceiling.”

After Timo Werner’s first goal of the season and Pape Matar Sarr’s brilliant second, Tottenham had to withstand intense pressure, but Postecoglou said: “City are always going to push you.

“I believe this team is growing all the time. We’ve had our stumbles but we always bounce back. It’s great for Timo. He’s been going through a tough time.”

Tottenham have not won a trophy for 16 years and man of the match Dejan Kulusevski said: "It is important to win and go through the cup. When you play a great time like City you always want to win - I am proud of the boys.

"I always love this game, playing the best teams in the world, I want to be one of the best players in the world. We have to keep going and win every game. We have to keep focused.”

Beaten City boss Pep Guardiola, whose side suffered their first defeat since the FA Cup final, smiled: “Congratulations! This is the news. The news is not that we lost, it’s how for a long time we didn’t lose it.

“Of course there was the FA Cup final but we we were a bit hungover. I don’t like to lose. But this competition is a bit different. I like to see the team, how we behave, the courage and solidarity of how we play

“I like it. It’s only how many players are able, but we have an academy and if it’s serious, we will do it. We are going to Bournemouth to compete.

“Maybe one day we will arrive and we will all be together. That’s why the guys who are here, making an effort to be with us, playing with pain and focus, and living 24 hours for us - these guys I will not forget.”

Guardiola, who had Brazilian winger Savinho carried off with suspected ankle damage, confirmed Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Kevin de Bruyne will all be out until after next month’s International break. And Manuel Akanji withdrew after the warm-up at Tottenham.

When you're a cut above the rest against Manchester City - that is a glowing reflection of your quality.

And in rejuvenated playmaker Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham truly have unlocked a superstar attacker. The stylish Swede showed huge glimpses of promise under Antonio Conte upon arrival in north London on loan from Juventus when he struck five goals and registered eight assists in the second half of the 2021-22 campaign.

But since then he has blown hot and cold - with the exception of this season - and now there can surely be no doubt about his ability, class and equally, his importance to Ange Postecoglou's rip-roaring revolution in N17.

The £25.6million reduced fee Spurs shelled out to Juve in 2023 to make Kulusevski's loan into a permanent deal looks an ever greater steal with every performance that goes by. While they also paid an £8.3m loan fee in 2021 - they have still robbed the Old Lady blind.

Because not only has Kulusevski grown as a player but he has also grown in stature and here against Manchester City, he was Tottenham's indispensable leader that helped drag them over the line and into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

His daring dribbling spurred Tottenham on and tormented Guardiola's Premier League champions, lifting the crowd while also injecting belief and confidence into Postecoglou's side.

City did not know how to live with Spurs' creative dynamo, who did not stop running and driving at Pep Guardiola's backline. They struggled for answers all evening until the forward inevitably ran out of steam.

This was the kind of dazzling, majestic performance that will not be forgotten anytime soon and it's precisely why Kulusevski is so popular in these quarters.

He is right at the heart of everything that is currently exciting about Tottenham, their aggressive pressing, their speedy counter-attackers, their endeavour and the lingering sense of anticipation that Spurs possess the power to hurt you at any given minute. He also deeply cares about the club and it shows.

Players of the Kulusevski mould are hard to come by and in the modern transfer market, they are also certainly not cheap. He is now surely worth £50m at the very least, if not close to £75m - which effectively means his valuation has tripled in the past year or so, though Juve will now be living to rue their decision to offload the player on the cheap.

First he assisted Timo Werner's thunderous opener before he was also involved in Pape Matar Sarr's second for the hosts.

His link play with Werner before the German attacker got injured was a sight to behold, there was real natural chemistry and Spurs looked dangerous every time the pair collaborated and went through the gears.

Kulusevski could have killed the game once and for all when he raced through on goal after a sensational counter-attack after the interval but Stefan Ortega was equal to his curling effort.

Tottenham may not end their trophy drought this season, they may not make the top-four but they are certainly going to enjoy the ride all the while Kulusevski is fit and firing.

In fairness, at least Tottenham fans actually wanted their team to win this time.

Six months ago, a ludicrous faction found solace in a home defeat by Manchester City because it denied Arsenal the title. The duplicity outraged Spurs messiah Ange Postecoglou, who branded it his “worst experience as a manager.”

But on a stirring night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Postecoglou could have few complaints about the quality of a riveting cup tie. Even the loss of talisman Micky Van de Ven could not diminish the effervescence of Spurs’ attacking thrusts. Storming into a two-goal lead poked the bear, and City’s response was thrilling.

But rich entertainment deserves to be played at a sensible hour, and on their crusade to make sure nobody gets the last bus home, Sky Sports drew a new line in the sand with their absurd designation of an 8.15pm kick-off.

And when the M25 was shut at the main gateway to north London before kick-off, thousands of fans faced another scramble to reach N17 like the chaos before last month’s Europa League game with Qarabag.

City made it through the gridlock, and in a competition which has brought him more joy as a manager (four winners’ medals) than any other apart from the Premier League, Pep Guardiola felt emboldened enough to make six changes.

But the trouble with changing half a team is that you often get a half-baked response, and City had not been allowed to settle before they fell behind after six minutes.

Brennan Johnson’s exquisite flick set Dejan Kulusevski free down the right flank and the Swede’s low cross was swept home first-time by Timo Werner.

It was a superb goal, only the German’s third in 26 appearances for Spurs, and his first of the season. Tottenham’s early momentum was stalled, however, by the loss of defensive kingpin Van de Ven with a hamstring injury.

The crowd favourite was fighting back tears after being forced to retire hurt. Spookily it was a year, almost to the day, that his hamstring gave way against Chelsea in a madcap 4-1 home defeat.

But Spurs, biting in the tackle and moving the ball with purpose, made light of Van de Ven’s setback to surge 2-0 ahead inside 25 minutes. City were slow to close down a short corner routine and Pape Matar Sarr, lurking 25 yards out, whipped his shot inside Stefan Ortega’s near post.

If the City keeper was caught out, let’s give Sarr due credit for immaculate geometry: His effort started a yard outside the post and was only on target for the last 6ft of its flight path.

Phil Foden volleyed over from eight yards - a big chance, and he should have done better - as the champions finally pinned Spurs back around their own box. Tiring and increasingly in retreat, Tottenham were desperate to make it to the break with their two-goal cushion intact - but they fell seconds short.

In the fourth minute of aded time, Savinho’s darting run and cut-back picked out Matheus Nunes at the far post, and the Portugese forward’s assured finish provided Guardiola with a lifeline.

But no sooner had City gained a foothold in the contest than another injury blow landed in Guardiola’s in-tray.

Savinho, who had given Destiny Udogie a guided tour of the visitors’ right flank, was carried off with a damaged right ankle, and Spurs Werner, running half the length of the pitch, fired agonisingly wide and Ortega - surely the best understudy in the country - made alert low saves to deny Johnson and Kulusevski.

Micky van de Ven was left in tears as he was forced off injured early on in Tottenham's Carabao Cup clash with Manchester City.

Van de Ven appeared to suffer a hamstring injury after making a challenge and he was quickly replaced with Destiny Udogie. The Dutchman missed several months of action with a hamstring injury last season and he was absolutely distraught as he left the field.

Van de Ven could be seen in tears as he hobbled off the pitch, before covering his face with his shirt. "You don't take any chances with hamstrings," former Everton midfielder Leon Osman warned on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

"They can't get better, they can only get worse. If you're looking at this Spurs team at the moment Micky van de Ven is arguably the one player Ange will not want to lose."

The 23-year-old was filling in at left-back and an extended absence will come as a huge blow for manager Ange Postecoglou. He has been absolutely delighted with Van de Ven's impact since he joined Spurs from Wolfsburg last summer.

"With Micky, fair to say he developed late but very quickly," Postecoglou said when asked about Van de Ven earlier this month. "Because I think even at Volendam, there was a period when they were unsure about him.

"You could tell once physically he grew and the kind of player he was, his journey went very quickly at Volendam and the year he had in the Bundesliga he adjusted really well. For us last year he was outstanding in his first year in the Premier League.

"Obviously he had an injury which set him back a little bit but he's growing all the time, maturing and I think he will become more of an influence at national team level. He's now played a couple of games at left-back, left centre-back.

"The more he plays with the national team will give him even more belief but he's going very well and I'm sure he'll be an important member of our team but also the Dutch international team."

Antonio Conte maintains he got the "maximum possible" out of Tottenham and pointed to their decline after his departure.

The Italian spent just shy of 18 months at the helm in north London but left after he took aim at the club, its chairman and their culture. Conte arrived and was tasked with guiding Tottenham into Europe and finally ending their lengthy trophy drought.

He was able to lift them into the Champions League in his first season before things rapidly declined in his final weeks. He inherited a team that included the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min but claims he was asked to perform "miracles".

Conte maintains he did all he could to rinse the most out of the squad, enjoying one summer transfer window, but could only work within the limits of his squad and has referenced their failure to make the Champions League following his abrupt departure.

He told DAZN: “I realise there are expectations, but if you go where there are difficulties… I think Tottenham did incredibly well, because they were ninth when I arrived and we got into the Champions League. The two years after I left, which was for personal reasons, they did not qualify for the Champions League.

“I think I achieved a lot there too. If people ask me for miracles, then I can speed them up and get the best out of the squad, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we can win. I think I got the maximum possible out of that Tottenham side.”

In his final weeks Conte became increasingly rattled and looked to blame others. Tottenham were dumped out of the FA Cup by Sheffield United and his frustration peaked when they gave up a two-goal lead at Southampton before drawing 3-3.

The Italian let rip at the club, chairman Daniel Levy and the culture that existed within north London - with his words eventually giving the club no option but no move him on.

He said: “They don’t play for something important, yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress. It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this, 20 years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench."

Conte's first job post Tottenham has been at Napoli, who are currently sat top of Serie A. The club won the Italian title two years ago, but then finished 10th last year and the former Tottenham boss believes they are ahead of schedule with their position.

As Manchester City prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup last-16 tie, the dynamics of priority and opportunity play a significant role for both clubs. For City, the EFL Cup holds a lower priority compared to their Premier League and Champions League ambitions.

Pep Guardiola's side, currently leading the Premier League, has enjoyed a successful weekend by capitalising on their rivals' slip-ups. However, with injuries affecting key players, Guardiola may opt to field a mix of youth and experience, providing academy talents a chance to shine on a prominent stage.

Tottenham Hotspur, on the other hand, view this competition as a vital opportunity to end their prolonged silverware drought. Under new management with Ange Postecoglou, Spurs have experienced mixed fortunes. The recent 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League has added pressure on Postecoglou to deliver results and restore confidence among fans. His earlier assertion of winning trophies in his second season at clubs adds an extra layer of expectation for this cup run.

For Spurs, this match against Manchester City represents more than just progression in the EFL Cup; it’s about regaining momentum and belief. The North London club's recent struggles, including a disappointing loss after leading against Brighton, highlight their need for resilience and composure. A victory over a formidable opponent like City could serve as a catalyst for improved performances across competitions.

Manchester City's potential use of academy players presents Tottenham with both an opportunity and a challenge. While facing a potentially less experienced City side might seem advantageous, it also means dealing with unknown quantities eager to prove themselves. Guardiola's tactical acumen ensures that regardless of personnel changes, City will remain competitive and strategically sound.

Tottenham vs Man City Odds

Here are the latest odds:

Spurs - 13/10 (Betfair)

Draw - 15/8 (Betfair)

Man City - 7/5 (Betfair)

Tottenham vs Man City Betting Tips

City to win to nil - 5/1 (Betfair)

Over 2.5 goals - 1/2 (Betfair)

Tottenham vs Man City Betting Offer

New customers can get £50 in free bets when they sign up to Betfair and place a £10 qualifying bet on any sports market.

Claiming your £50 in free bets with Betfair using this sign-up code is a very straightforward process - you just need to follow these steps and place a £10 stake. All you need to do is sign up using the code ZSKAOG, deposit and bet £10 on any sports market with a minimum 1/2 (1.5) odds or higher within seven days.

Full terms and conditions apply |gambleaware.org | Gamble responsibly | 18+ | UK only

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Reach plc is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over. Odds are subject to change too.