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Ange Postecoglou remained defiant and insisted Tottenham were on the path to being “a very good football team” despite a 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa consigning them to a third consecutive defeat. Spurs were without 11 first-teamers but Postecoglou doubled down on his philosophy with a back four containing no centre-backs, several attacking players handed first league starts of the season and no recognised defensive midfielder in the starting line-up. It initially paid off with Giovani Lo Celso firing Tottenham ahead in the 22nd-minute and while the hosts had 18 shots, three goals disallowed and hit the woodwork twice, Aston Villa punished their profligacy to move above them into the Premier League’s top four. Postecoglou reflected: “It is just the situation we’re in at the moment, but we’ll get through it. “It might take a little while, but we’ll get through it and as long as we show the same intent and play the football we did today, I’ve got no doubt when we come out the other side, we’ll be a very good football team. “We had four full-backs out there so we didn’t really have the height, which we knew would be an issue for us today but you kind of take those calculated risks with the flipside of it being that some of our football was outstanding today. “I mean some of the goals we could have scored would have ended up being showreels for us in the way we want to play our football, so for me the positives definitely outweigh the negative of the result. “We’ve just got to make sure the players stay focused on what’s important right now and you need to win games of football to keep yourself in the mix to be in a strong position come the end of the year, but right now we’re still building a side. It might take a little while, but we'll get through it and as long as we show the same intent and play the football we did today, I've got no doubt when we come out the other side, we'll be a very good football team Ange Postecoglou “What’s more important is the way forward has to be with what the end goal is in mind and today was about trying to play the football we want to play. “If we fell short, we fell short but I didn’t think we fell short today. I thought it was just fine margins for us and not getting the rewards.” To add to Tottenham’s growing issues, Rodrigo Bentancur’s first start since February following a serious knee injury was cut short after he was on the receiving end of a poor first-half tackle by Matty Cash. “It is his ankle, I think,” Postecoglou revealed. “It wasn’t a great tackle. I thought he started the game so well and I think it was the reason we got a real good foothold on the game. “He’s such a creative player. It’s the last thing we needed. Another injury, so (I’m) disappointed to lose him, but we’re yet to see the extent of it.” While Tottenham created chances aplenty, it was visiting Villa who clinched an eighth victory from their last 10 matches after Pau Torres’ header in first-half stoppage-time was backed up by Ollie Watkins’ low effort after 61 minutes. It pressed home their case as a genuine contender for Champions League qualification but former Arsenal boss Unai Emery insisted there are seven teams ahead of them. “That was an amazing match,” Emery added. “I think both teams, different ways tactically but very hard, very tough. They create chances, we create chances and we were efficient and clinical. “Really I enjoy it but I lost all my energy. That was an amazing match Unai Emery “Of course we can get confidence when we are winning matches like here at Tottenham, but still in my mind, it is 38 matches that we have to be consistent. “We have to try to get each opportunity with three points and try to get a good position in the table. We are in (the top four) now, but we are not a contender. “There are seven contenders more than us to be in the top seven, to be in the top four but while we are there, we are going to try to keep (there).” Read More Archer, Brook and Rashid join list of England players who will not play in IPL Ollie Watkins hails a ‘massive three points’ for Aston Villa at Tottenham Former England boss Terry Venables remembered as an innovator and inspiration Top two maintain momentum with convincing victories Sheffield United probe alleged racist incident during home loss to Bournemouth Gareth Southgate pays tribute to ‘outstanding coach’ Terry Venables

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Ollie Watkins hailed a “massive three points” after Aston Villa came from behind to win 2-1 at Tottenham. Giovani Lo Celso put Spurs in front after 22 minutes, before Pau Torres headed an equaliser in first-half stoppage time. England forward Watkins scored a second just after the hour which proved enough to take Villa above their hosts and into the top four. “They are where they are in the league because of how they’re playing, so a massive three points,” Watkins told Sky Sports. “It’s unbelievable, a great feeling and we are playing great football, but we’re not getting carried away. “We’re not even at Christmas yet and we have some tough matches coming up, so we have to keep going.” It was a third consecutive defeat for Spurs, whose profligacy in front of goal cost them as Villa went on to secure an eighth win from their last 10 matches. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou told Sky Sports: “A tough outcome, but I couldn’t be happier with the way the boys played. “I’m really proud of them. I thought we played some fantastic football and on another day we would have won comfortably. I can’t fault the effort they put into the game. “There’s no frustration. We played well and as a manager that’s all you can ask for. “Sometimes the outcomes don’t go the way you want, but as a manager I want the players committed to what we are trying to do and they were all totally committed. “On another day we would have had a few goals but it was a combination of outstanding goalkeeping and woodwork. “From my perspective all I can ask is what they gave. The players played an outstanding game of football and as a manager that’s all we can ask for.” Read More Former England boss Terry Venables remembered as an innovator and inspiration Top two maintain momentum with convincing victories Sheffield United probe alleged racist incident during home loss to Bournemouth Gareth Southgate pays tribute to ‘outstanding coach’ Terry Venables How Terry Venables brought football home in England’s greatest summer since 1966 Jurgen Klopp hails ‘super influential’ Trent Alexander-Arnold after Man City draw

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Terry Venables was remembered as “the inspiration of a generation” as tributes flooded in for the former England, Barcelona and Tottenham manager following his death at the age of 80. Venables made more than 500 appearances for Chelsea, Tottenham, QPR and Crystal Palace, but would go on to make his real mark as a coach, also taking charge at Palace and QPR. The nation rallied behind Venables’ England team at Euro 96 in the summer football came home as the team brilliantly blew away the Netherlands 4-1 – Venables himself described the performance as “perfection: my most thrilling experience in football” – only to lose to Germany on penalties in the semi-final at Wembley. The Football Association marked the passing of “a true football icon” and said: “Our modern game mourns the loss of not only a great character but an innovative, forward-thinking manager who was an inspiration to a generation of English players and coaches.” Current England boss Gareth Southgate missed the crucial spot-kick in that game against Germany and led the tributes to his former manager, who made famous the ‘Christmas Tree’ formation. “Any player will have great affinity with the manager that gave them their opportunity, but it was quickly evident playing for Terry Venables that he was an outstanding coach and manager,” he said in a statement. “Tactically excellent, he had a wonderful manner, capable of handling everyone from the youngest player to the biggest star. “He was open-minded, forward-thinking, enjoyed life to the full and created a brilliant environment with England that allowed his players to flourish and have one of the most memorable tournaments in England history. “A brilliant man, who made people feel special, I’m very sad to hear of his passing and my thoughts are with Yvette and all of his family.” Venables’ death on Saturday was announced by his family in a short statement. “We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness,” they said. “We would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly sad time to allow us to mourn the loss of this lovely man who we were so lucky to have had in our lives.” In Spain, Venables, who became known as ‘El Tel’, won LaLiga in 1984-85 and the Spanish league cup and also led Barcelona to the 1986 European Cup final where they lost to Steaua Bucharest on penalties after a goalless draw. On his return to England he lifted the FA Cup with Spurs in 1991, but it was his spell as England boss at Euro 96 for which he is most fondly remembered. Gary Lineker, whom Venables signed for Barcelona from Everton in 1986 and then brought to Tottenham in 1989 after he took the job at White Hart Lane, paid his own tribute. “Devastated to hear that Terry Venables has died. The best, most innovative coach that I had the privilege and pleasure of playing for,” he wrote on social media. “He was much more, though, than just a great manager, he was vibrant, he was charming, he was witty, he was a friend. “He’ll be hugely missed. Sending love and condolences to Yvette and the family. RIP Terry.” Another former England striker Alan Shearer, who was the spearhead of Venables’ Euro 96 side, posted on X: “Extremely sad news the great Terry Venables has passed away. RIP Boss. I owe you so much. You were amazing.” Paul Gascoigne played under Venables for Spurs and England. The former midfielder wrote a brief message on social media. “Such a sad day, cheers boss xxxx,” Gascoigne posted on X, with a picture of his former manager smiling and raising a tea cup. Venables followed through with his decision to quit after his Euro 96 disappointment to focus on a number of court cases related to his business dealings after the FA’s decision to refuse him a contract extension the previous winter. Gary Neville was given his international debut by Venables. The former Manchester United defender wrote on X: “He was someone who the players trusted and had great faith in. “He was someone who was a players’ man, looked after his players, stood up for his players in big situations like the pre-96 trip to Hong Kong and the dentist chair incident. “I sit here today thinking back to my special times with Terry and can say he is without doubt the most technically gifted British coach we’ve ever produced.” Venables went on to coach Australia to within an away goals loss of World Cup qualification before moving on to Palace, Middlesbrough, where he was appointed to mentor a struggling Bryan Robson and successfully escaped relegation, and Leeds. Tottenham’s current Australian head coach Ange Postecoglou, a former Socceroos boss, paid tribute, telling Sky Sports: “If you are asking about a person who embodies everything this football club has always wanted to be, it is Terry. “He was the manager for the (Australia) national team and almost got us to the World Cup, but the biggest testament is that anyone who I have ever come across that has worked with him will say he is by far the best coach, manager and tactician they have come across.” Read More Ollie Watkins hails a ‘massive three points’ for Aston Villa at Tottenham Top two maintain momentum with convincing victories Sheffield United probe alleged racist incident during home loss to Bournemouth Gareth Southgate pays tribute to ‘outstanding coach’ Terry Venables How Terry Venables brought football home in England’s greatest summer since 1966 Jurgen Klopp hails ‘super influential’ Trent Alexander-Arnold after Man City draw

He's right, but should he have said it out loud?

Aston Villa has come from behind to win 2-1 at injury-hit Tottenham and move two points off the lead in the Premier League