Tottenham have helped boost Aston Villa's UCL hopes as ticket prices make mockery of Damian Vidagany fan concern

Tottenham wound up getting their way in their bid to get their Premier League fixture with Aston Villa moved ahead of a Europa League final they expect to be playing in. Spurs are currently 3-1 up against Bodo/Glimt head into Thursday’s semi-final second leg, and if they see out the tie, they will advance to the Bilbao final on May 21.

The issue was that Spurs were set to face Aston Villa on Sunday, May 18 in the Premier League, giving them little rest, especially given they would have to travel to Bilbao in that time. Meanwhile, their likely opponents Manchester United, who are 3-0 up heading into their second leg, play their Premier League fixture on Friday, May 16, offering them an extra period of rest, although with noting to play for in the league, they would be wise to rest their starters in any case.

The same can be said of Tottenham, but that doesn’t mean it’s any more convenient to play less than three full days before a final, and especially not away from home, as they were scheduled to do so. The clubs have been making their cases to the Premier League in recent days, and the final word from the league is that the game will be moved to Friday, May 16.

Villa’s complaint

Villa's director of football operations Damian Vidagany has complained on the back of that decision, writing on X: “Fixture changed and honestly, not happy. But it could be even worst (sic). We really pushed - everyone in the club at different levels - with solid and fair grounds to protect our fans ( our main task and duty) and keep the Spurs match on Sunday. Nothing against Spurs.

"Hopefully in the future all of them (the Premier League and the Football Association) would remind the clear prejudice in this case to Villa fans and will be consistent and equally supportive if we need changes to help us in Europe (if hopefully we are there). We didn't feel this support last season or this one. European football is not only demanding for English clubs on the verge of the finals."

Villa already agreed to fixture flexibility

The reality is that Villa have been misguided in their complaints, and not least because they had already agreed to not set a date for this fixture. When the fixture change was announced, with the game being provisionally moved to Sunday so that it could be broadcast on Sky Sports, Villa’s very own website confirmed to supporters that it could be moved if Unai Emery’s men reached the FA Cup final.

So, in the case they would benefit from the moving of the fixture, they were happy to keep it flexible. Convenient. In the end, Villa fell short of a final appearance, but the game remained subject to change because Tottenham had reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Is that ideal for travelling supporters? No, it’s not. It’s not idea for Villa fans travelling from further distance, and it’s not ideal for Tottenham fans making the trip, who seem to have been overlooked in this whole argument just because they might have a big occasion to look forward to in the North of Spain a few days later.

But it’s well worth remembering that Villa already agreed to keep this fixture in the wind, and it is hypocritical to now have an issue with the change because it doesn’t benefit them.

Villa suddenly care about their fanbase

Another angle to this is that Villa are now presenting themselves as a caring club to their fanbase. Make no mistake, Villa aren’t happy with this arrangement because they lose a competitive advantage they might have had if the fixture remained on the Sunday. This is a club that outraged its fans just a few months ago when they decided to charge extortionate prices for Champions League fixtures at a time when they should have been rewarding their fans for their support. Let’s not try to assume the mantra of ‘we love our supporters’ now Mr Vidagany. You, sir, love your balance sheet.

Tottenham have aided Villa’s European hopes

Lastly, and perhaps more importantly, Villa are currently battling for a Champions League spot, sitting in seventh place and three points behind the last Champions League spot, which is being occupied by Chelsea, who are fifth. As things stand, Villa will head into the Europa League, and if they finish where they currently are, they have Tottenham to thank that they would be heading to the Europa League and not the Conference League.

Spurs’ performances in Europa have contributed directly to the Premier League getting an extra Champions League spot, and by consequence, the Europa League spots covering sixth and seventh, while the Conference League goes to the team who finishes in eighth. The extra Champions League spot goes to the two countries with the best performance in Europe in the previous season, and the most points are handed out for a country’s team advancing to the final stages of a competition.

The fact that Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United have reached the final four in their respective competitions has aided that process significantly, a process Villa are almost certain to benefit from one way or another.

So, while it’s important to have sympathy for fans and the difficult logistical issues they will face on the back of this late change, Villa, and most of all, Mr Vidagany, don’t have a leg to stand on as they attempt to milk credit back from their supporters.

Your next Tottenham read, QPR and West Brom boost in pursuit of Tottenham coach Ryan Mason