April 2nd 2024.
Joe Cole shared his thoughts on the race for the top four spots in the Premier League, predicting that Tottenham Hotspur will "nick" the final spot despite their recent draw with West Ham. The Spurs took an early lead with Brennan Johnson's goal, but were unable to secure the win as West Ham's Kurt Zouma equalized in the 19th minute. Both teams had their chances, but ultimately had to settle for a draw, leaving Tottenham in fifth place, just two points behind Aston Villa. However, with eight games left in the season, there is still a chance for them to catch up.
Manchester United, currently in sixth place, are also in the running for a top-four spot and could potentially close the gap to just six points if they win their game in hand. While finishing in fifth place could still lead to qualification for the Champions League, the top four teams are guaranteed a spot in Europe's top club competition. When asked about his thoughts on the top-four race, Cole expressed his belief that Tottenham has what it takes to secure the final spot.
"At the start of the season, Spurs were a surprise package for me," Cole said on TNT Sports. "They brought in Ange and we all saw what he did at Celtic. We wondered if they had the capability to climb up the table, but the signings they made were great and have really improved the team. Despite a small setback, I think they can catch up to Villa."
Cole also pointed out that Aston Villa's involvement in European competitions could potentially affect their performance in the Premier League, giving Tottenham an advantage in the race for top four. "Aston Villa's campaign in Europe will take something from them," Cole explained. "It's a squad that's not used to that. Although they have talented and exciting players, they'll have the added challenge of balancing European and domestic competitions. I can see Tottenham catching up to them."
West Ham, on the other hand, remains in seventh place after their draw with Tottenham, and their manager David Moyes was satisfied with the result. "Both teams put in a lot of effort to try and get the winner," Moyes said. "It was a tight game, a London derby, and Tottenham is a very good side. I thought our team did a good job."
Looking ahead, Aston Villa will face Manchester City on Wednesday, while Manchester United will take on Chelsea on Thursday. With the race for top four heating up, it remains to be seen who will come out on top in the end. Sign up for Manchester United news, exclusives, and analysis to stay updated on the latest developments.
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