Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has insisted that he and his players are focused solely on strengthening their bid for a Champions League finish when they face Tottenham on Sunday, rather than being distracted by the looming Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
A victory over Spurs could be enough to seal a top five finish for Villa come the end of the month as Brighton would need to win all of their remaining matches to overtake them if Emery's side collect just three more points from the 12 still available.
Villa head into the match following a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. The return leg at Villa Park takes place on Thursday after Sunday night's clash with Tottenham.
"We are now focusing on the match on Sunday against Tottenham. Yesterday, everything that happened is now done and it was the first part of the two legs we are going to play," Emery said in his pre-match press conference. "We are analysing, but we are going to have a break from analysing and focusing on the second match at home against Nottingham.
"It is going to be very important, but now we have to focus in the league. Yesterday, everything that happened with the referees and the decision of VAR, those issues, I spoke about it yesterday in the press conference. I think it is done."
He continued: "Each match is very, very important in the Premier League. We are on matchday 35. We are completely focusing on it as a priority," he said.
"Of course, the priority yesterday was Forest in the Europa League, but the priority is the Premier League - to be consistent and demanding there, to achieve our huge challenge this year: to be again in the Champions League."
Asked how many more points Villa need to achieve Champions League qualification, Emery said: "It depends! When we won in the last minute against Sunderland two weeks ago, I was positive. Last week against Fulham, I was not too positive about everything we are doing and about the points we need to get the fifth, fourth, or third positions.
"There are some teams behind us and they are performing well, like Brighton or still Chelsea, with their potential and capacity to win a lot of matches at the end of the season.
"We must get our own matches, focusing on those matches and trying to get points. The first one is against Tottenham on Sunday.
"I am positive and delighted with how we are arriving at the moment we are in now, playing in a semi-final and being in the position we are in the league.
"It is really fantastic, with the consistency we are achieving. Still, the last challenges are here to play."
