Unai Emery: Budget makes Tottenham favourites against Aston Villa

Unai Emery claims Tottenham’s bigger budget makes them favourites to beat Villa both on Sunday and in the race for the Premier League’s top four.

Villa have finished above Spurs the past two seasons, have won on both previous trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium under Emery and currently sit five points above their rivals in the table.

But the Spaniard believes the north London club’s greater revenues - and therefore larger scope to spend under profit and sustainability rules - means it is entirely fair to cast his team in the role of underdogs.

“I am speaking about the gap between their budget and our budget,” he said. ”It was big. Then we are trying to be competitive on the field and trying to be consistent, building a strong structure in everything. 

“We are improving and of course we are trying to increase our budget through Champions League, Premier League, through being intelligent in our capacity to buy and sell players.

“But the budget the others have is more than us. That is the big gap between them and us. I do not speak a lot about it but I think it makes sense, everything I am saying.”

Emery, who will be without midfielder Ross Barkley until after the international break due to injury, agrees money does not guarantee success but described Villa maintaining their position in the top four and again qualifying for the Champions League as the “greatest challenge” they could face.

He said: “The budget is not enough to be favourite, but the difference between them and us is still a big gap. 

“Of course, we are not thinking of it but I have to tell everyone that there are other teams in front of us at the beginning. 

But we are competing and progressively getting better, keeping the same level we are trying to set as a target. The players, the club each day we are sending the same message inside.”

Emery, meanwhile, revealed he is talking to Leon Bailey “every day” as the winger looks to rediscover the form which made him a key part of Villa’s success last season.

The Jamaica international is yet to score this season after netting 14 times last term.

Emery said: “Every day I am speaking with him about it. Of course, I am very, very demanding with him.

“He is accepting my challenge to get to his best, like he did last year, because we will need him.

“It is very important and he is working, trying to recover in everything his confidence, getting minutes and getting a good feeling and trying to get to the level he played last year or two years ago as well.

“Leon Bailey is a very specific player for us to play on the right wing and as a threat in behind. We will need him and hopefully he can recover as soon as possible.

“He is aware of the distance between himself and how he was playing last year. He is trying to recover those performances.”