Following Erik ten Hag’s team’s improbable victory over Luton Town, Gary Neville declared that Tottenham and Aston Villa will be “feeling the pressure” from the Old Trafford team [Sky Sports, 19 February].
Despite acknowledging that they are “in the conversation” after a run of good results since the beginning of 2024, BBC Sport analyst Robinson is not persuaded by their case for a Champions League spot based on the entirety of their season.
The former England goalie acknowledges that expectations and reality don’t often match up, so Ange Postecoglou still has work to do to neutralise the threat.
“The top three are obvious, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City, whatever order that finishes in, then I think there’s a real race on for fourth place between Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester United,” he exclusively stated to Tottenham News.
“Yes, I believe Manchester United has arrived, but that’s just on the back end.
They’ve performed well defensively. Although they have begun to score goals, which has been a weakness of theirs, I believe that both the individual and the group performances throughout time need to be demonstrated. Are they in the conversation because they are the team in form and have put together a run of points? Indeed.
Spurs are the only team United hasn’t defeated in the Premier League since the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on January 14. United may have lost all but one of their games since the start of the year, but they have managed to pull off a handful of victories.
There is undoubtedly a fight for the Champions League, and although it may go as far as five Premier League teams qualifying, it is not looking likely at the moment, so Postecoglou and Spurs need to start playing more consistently.
If Villa continues to lose points, it will be a difficult task to defeat them, but at this rate, Ten Hag might lead his team past both teams after ambushing them without appearing overly aggressive.
