Tottenham face Aston Villa five days before their Europa League final against Manchester United
Unai Emery has predicted that Ange Postecoglou will start his strongest team against Aston Villa ahead of their Europa League final next Wednesday.
Villa host Spurs on Friday evening, hoping to claim a third successive Premier League victory, which could lift them into the top five by the end of the night.
Spurs, meanwhile, are gearing up for their European final against Manchester United, with both sides struggling in the league, sitting 17th and 16th respectively.
Tottenham have only won one of their last 10 league matches, but Emery spoke of his respect for Postecoglou and made it clear that he is expecting a difficult challenge.
“I respect them a lot, massive respect for Tottenham, for the players, for the coach,” Emery said. “Last year this coach was really doing a fantastic job and everybody was so focused on how we could beat them because they were performing tactically and individually fantastic.
“And this year of course in the Premier League they are not being consistent for different circumstances, but analysing them in the Europa League, they are doing a fantastic job, fantastic how they are performing and playing.
“Their style is still being so, so threatening for the opponent playing in the Premier League, playing in the Europa League and performing of course better in the Europa League.
“I think tomorrow they are going to try to get the best performances, maybe with different players. My expectation is that they will play their starting players because they will feel fit for the match in the final and as well because every team with my experience here in the Premier League they are respecting the Premier League.
“And this is my respect for everything, the coach, Tottenham, the Premier League, the moment we are, the moment they have, how they are playing, their style is really in the Europa League a very difficult team to stop them in the Europa League and they have very good players.”
He added: “They are trying to manage to play in the Premier League and to play in the Europa League. How they are performing in the Europa League is really fantastic and they are in the final. How they can prepare as well as possible for the final, of course, maybe their first objective tomorrow.
“I think they are going to play with their better players. They are going to try to compete and get their best performances to be ready for the final. As well, because to play in the Premier League each match for their supporters, for the league, is always important.
“I expect from them the best preparation for tomorrow and for the final. They are going to play with the best players they have and maybe some players are coming back after being injured or someone is not available for tomorrow.
“But I know tomorrow we have to get our best and we have to play our focus 100 per cent in our game plan, 90 minutes, respecting them.”