Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has rejected claims that his team selection could undermine the Premier League's competitive balance ahead of their clash with Aston Villa - and says he will not be risking any more injuries at Villa Park. Spurs' own bid for European glory hangs in the balance and he will field a weakened side in their next top-flight match.
They travel to Bilbao next Wednesday for the Europa League final against Manchester United. But injury woes have intensified for Spurs with Dejan Kulusevski now sidelined for "months" after featuring in last Sunday's tussle with Crystal Palace. Postecoglou starkly pointed out that victory in the final would bring an end to their 17-year trophy drought and secure a coveted spot in Europe's elite club competition.
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That underscores the importance of the final for the north Londonders. With Aston Villa ambitiously eyeing Champions League qualification alongside Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle, the outcome of Tottenham's fixture will be scrutinised if Spurs are understrength as expected.
Unwavering, Postecoglou said: "Villa are obviously going for Champions League football and you see how important it is to them and we're doing the same. Look, in a normal world you'd be using this to sharpen up but we're not living in a normal world.
"That's the reality of our existence at the moment where we can't lose another player to an injury. It's just too finely balanced for us considering what's at stake.
"That seems to be our lot at the moment and even with the best planning, we're still getting hit with these setbacks and from my perspective I've got to take that into account when considering the game tomorrow night."
Postecoglou has hit back at critics questioning the "integrity" of his team's performances, particularly in light of last season's clash with Manchester City where some fans hoped for a loss to thwart Arsenal's title chances.
The Aussie hit back: "I'm not sure what people are talking about when they talk about the integrity of the game - I don't know what that means.
"We have certainly put out teams this year that because of our injury situation were not the strongest we needed to put out there but we still needed to play those games and it's the same with other clubs.
"I don't even know why that question is being asked if I'm honest because if anyone thinks we are going to go out there and not do our absolute best to win - that's the only time when integrity is questioned.
"When we played Man City last year and apparently I was in the wrong for trying to win a game of football that's where integrity comes into it, that's why I was so strong on it."
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"When you put a line-up out there you are trying to win a game of football but at the same time every club has got its own interests and you have to prioritise what's important for your club.
"Champions League is very important for all those clubs fighting for it at the moment, I can see how important it is and every game and every decision is crucial but we are in exactly the same boat. We have got Champions League qualification plus a trophy to win.
"It would be negligent of me if I wasn't doing the best thing for our football club to make sure we achieve that."