Unai Emery expressed his thoughts on a 2-1 defeat for Aston Villa against Tottenham.
The Villans were slow to start on home soil as Conor Gallagher and Richarlison netted twice in the first 25 minutes of the match while Joao Palhinha smashed the inside of the post from long range.
Emiliano Buendia halved the deficit in second half injury time, but that strike was not enough.
‘We are still being in advantage’
It has been a bad week for the club, beaten 1-0 by Fulham on the previous Premier League matchday after losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-final first leg.
But they are still six points clear of Bournemouth with only three topflight fixtures to go in the schedule, and qualification for Champions League football is still more likely than not.
“Disappointed, but we must accept. Today, Tottenham, especially the first half, they played better than us. They were so, so focused and they scored two goals so quick.
“After, it was more difficult. We tried to react. The second half we played more or less reacting, but we couldn’t get really clear chances. We scored the last minute with Emiliano Buendia. But now is the moment I can feel overall how we are doing the season and accepting. We lost, and today they deserved to win, Tottenham, and keep going in the Premier League to fight for the positions we are.
“We had consistency, a lot of very good things getting points. Now, especially the last match in Fulham and today, we didn’t get the points, but we are still being in advantage of other teams.
“Next match is in Burnley on Sunday, and another opportunity. My priority now is to recover players, mentally as well, try to support the players and try to get a good mood again during the week.
“Of course, we are going to play on Thursday (a) match here I didn’t play before – one semi-final at home, second leg in Europa League, and of course, it’s something we must be so, so motivated (about) and focusing now.
“In the league is 38 matches and we finished today – the day 35 – with 58 points. Other teams, it’s not easy for them to get points, and we are still being in front of them to achieve the top-five position.”