Tottenham are the favourites: BBC Sport pundit dismisses Manchester United after Gary Neville claim
Paul Robinson has dismissed Manchester United’s chances of surpassing Tottenham and Aston Villa to finish in the top four.
Gary Neville claimed after Erik ten Hag’s men recorded a scrappy win over Luton Town that both Tottenham and Aston Villa would be “feeling the pressure” of the Old Trafford side [Sky Sports, 19 February].
But BBC Sport pundit Robinson, while accepting they are “in the conversation” following a surge of form since the start of 2024, is not convinced by their claim for a Champions League place on the balance of their season as a whole.
The ex-England keeper admits that expectations and reality aren’t necessarily always the same thing, so there is still a job to do for Ange Postecoglou to see off the threat.
He exclusively told Tottenham News: “The top three are clear, 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.
“Yes I think Manchester United have come to the table but that’s only on the back of recent form, not historical form through the season.
“Defensively they’ve been good. They’ve started scoring goals, which has been an Achilles heel of their’s, but I think still individual performances and the collective over time is still to be proven. They’re the team in form and they’ve put a run of points together so are they in the conversation? Absolutely.
“For me Villa and Tottenham are the favourites. But to get it over the line is a different matter.”
Aston Villa are real Tottenham rivals for Champions League spot
United arguably could have lost all but one of their Premier League fixtures since the turn of the year but have dug out a number of results, and Tottenham are the only side they haven’t beaten in that time after the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on 14 January.
There is clearly a battle on for the Champions League, and while it could yet stretch to five Premier League sides qualifying that is currently not set to be the case, so Postecoglou and Spurs need to find some more consistent form.
Overcoming Villa is going to be challenge enough if points keep being dropped, but at this rate Ten Hag could take his side past both having snuck up on them without looking particularly formidable either.
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