Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has told Tottenham that qualifying for the Champions League is far tougher than it was before. Villa host Spurs on Saturday with the two sides still in the hunt for European football next season, but with hopes of claiming a top-four Premier League place all but over for both. Tottenham – Champions League finalists in 2019 who reached the round of 16 this season – are sixth, six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United having played a game more. Eighth-placed Villa’s late bid to break into the top four was ended by successive 1-0 away defeats to United and Wolves over the last fortnight. “Their expectation in the beginning was to be in the top four,” ex-Arsenal boss Emery said of his former North London neighbours. “It’s now more difficult than it was five to 10 years ago. There are now seven teams trying to be in the top four. “Maybe Aston Villa now as well. It’s more difficult.” Tottenham’s search for a first trophy since League Cup success in 2008 has seen them turn to Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte since Mauricio Pochettino’s departure in November 2019. Neither Mourinho nor Conte, both perennial winners, could sprinkle their stardust on Spurs and caretaker boss Ryan Mason now has the task of trying to secure European football next season. Mason’s three matches in charge so far have produced a win, a draw and a defeat, with the latest game being a 1-0 home victory over Crystal Palace. Emery said: “Tottenham have had some problems in the last month but they have very good players. “The last match they played against Palace they kept good balance tactically and they have very powerful players in the transition, being strong defensively. “They have very good players who can make different tactical decisions. “The last matches against them at home here, (Villa) have struggled and it’s now a challenge to get a good performance at home. “We have to believe in our players, in our tactical way we are progressing. That is the match on Saturday. “To play a great match, spirit and playing and trying to get at them. They have a three-goal difference with us but our mind is to be very competitive and to get better.” Villa quartet Boubacar Kamara, Leon Bailey, Matty Cash and Philippe Coutinho are all available. “It’s the first time in the last month we have everybody ready to be in the squad for Saturday,” Emery said. “Only Jed Steer is out but Cash, Kamara, Bailey, Coutinho – in the last match they were in the squad but not ready 100 per cent to play. “Some players are still not ready to play 90 minutes, but they’re ready to be in the squad and ready to play.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Steve Cooper not interested in Chelsea’s problems ahead of Forest’s trip Josh Cobb shocked to be replaced by David Willey as Northamptonshire T20 captain Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson named National League manager of the season

'I’m a good swimmer, but the water was just really rough because of the wind and the turbulence,' Shawn Dougherty said

August 2023 has arrived, and it’s bringing with it a more light-hearted approach to navigating this thing we call life. The month begins with a revolutionary full moon in Aquarius on August 1st, encouraging all zodiac signs to learn the art of healthy emotional detachment. With Venus, the planet of love, and Chiron, the asteroid of inner wounds, both retrograde in the Fire signs of Leo and Aries respectively, this Leo season will be atypical as we’re being asked to learn from our inner wisdom rather than needing to be outwardly flamboyant.

In the year 1054 CE, astronomers saw a strange bright light appear in the sky.

The United States is set to roll out a powerful new weapon in the long fight against sexually transmitted infections: a decades-old antibiotic...

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 16, 2023--

The Yankees dropped another series that they had no business losing. Just don't ask manager Aaron Boone if they're still a championship-contending team.In a season of lows, the New York Yankees continue to find way to drill through the bottom with their latest defeat to the Colorado Ro...

The Spanish football federation has apologised for the “enormous damage” caused by the actions of its suspended president Luis Rubiales. The 46-year-old has been provisionally barred from all football activity for an initial 90 days by FIFA while it investigates his conduct at last month’s Women’s World Cup final in Sydney. Rubiales kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation, something Hermoso has said she did not consent to. However, Rubiales has refused to resign over the matter. Now, the current president of the Spanish federation (RFEF), Pedro Rocha, has written a letter distancing the organisation from Rubiales’ actions, saying he is “ashamed” by them. “The damage caused to Spanish football, to Spanish sport, to Spanish society and the values ​​of football and sport as a whole have been enormous,” Rocha’s letter said. “Mr Rubiales’ actions do not represent the values ​​defended by the Spanish federation, nor the values ​​of Spanish society as a whole. “His actions must be attributed solely and exclusively to him, since he is the one solely responsible for those actions before society, before the sports governing bodies and, if applicable, before justice. “To be clear, this position was that of Mr Rubiales, not that of the RFEF. We feel especially sorry and ashamed for the pain and additional distress this has caused.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Dolly Parton has spoken about her surprising connection to none other than Keanu Reeves. The legendary singer made history as the first female country artist to appear on the cover of Playboy in 1978 where she wore the iconic black bustier, bow tie and bunny ears. In a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Dolly revealed the costume was actually made by Keanu Reeves's mother costume designer Patricia Taylor. And so Dolly has some memories of little Keanu who would tag along with his mum at work. “She did a lot of sewing for me. She did a lot of my clothes,” Dolly said. “I remember Keanu when he was just little, and she would bring him over to my house when we were fitting or when I would go to the shop where she worked.” Years later, Keanu Reeves would become a household name known for films such as Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Point Break, The Matrix, and John Wick and paid a visit backstage to one of Dolly's shows where he asked if she remembered him. “He said, ’Do you remember me? I’m the little boy that used to sit at your feet when my mum was [working],’” she recalled. “Of course I knew he had become a star. But it didn’t connect to me that that was who that was.” Keanu himself has spoken about his mum's working with Dolly when he appeared on Red Table Talk in 2021 where he confessed to wearing the Playboy outfit as a Halloween costume one (unspecified) year. “I put on the ears and the bustier,” he said. “I wore sneakers with fishnet stockings and the bowtie. I had some pretty long hair, and I was Dolly Parton as a Playboy Bunny.” Drew Barrymore told Dolly about Keanu’s Halloween costume, which she sounded pretty chuffed about. “Aw, that’s sweet,” she said. “He’s great. He’s the sweetest guy.” How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The NFL rumors surrounding Ezekiel Elliott returning to the Cowboys haven't gone away for good reason. One NFL insider says the idea has real legs.When the Cowboys cut Ezekiel Elliott earlier this year, it felt like the end of an era.But it doesn't have to be.Even though Elliot...

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -U.S. CIA Director William Burns said on Saturday that the armed mutiny by mercenary leader

Rory McIlroy finally is a winner in Scotland