Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi says Conor Gallagher’s standout display against Aston Villa made it feel as though Spurs were “playing with 12 men” as they climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone.
Goals from Gallagher and Richarlison sealed a crucial 2–1 victory at Villa Park, lifting Spurs clear of the bottom three. For Gallagher, who joined on loan from Atletico Madrid, it was his most influential performance for the club since arriving in January.
The 26-year-old not only opened his scoring account for Spurs, but delivered a relentless, energetic display that caught the eye of his manager.
De Zerbi praised Gallagher’s versatility and work rate, saying:
“When Gallagher plays like this, it feels like we have an extra player. You see him everywhere — up front, in midfield, even helping at full-back. His passion and qualities are incredible.”
Gallagher: “It’s been a difficult few months”
Speaking after the match, Gallagher admitted the journey has been challenging but said he was proud of how he performed in such an important fixture.
Asked if this was his best Spurs performance, he told Spurs TV:
“I think so, definitely. It’s been a tough few months for me and for the club, but I always try to work hard off the ball. That’s what I’m best at.”
He added that scoring his first goal didn’t bring relief — only focus:
“Normally your first goal feels like a weight lifted, but tonight I didn’t feel that. I just wanted to keep going because the points were so important. I’m proud to help the team and I’ll keep giving everything for the club.”
Villa Struggle as Emery Prioritises Europe
While Spurs enjoyed their best display of the season, Aston Villa delivered one of their worst. Unai Emery’s side suffered a third straight defeat in all competitions after the manager rotated heavily ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest.
Villa supporters voiced their frustration with boos during the match, but Emery defended his approach.
“I’ve been here more than three years and I don’t forget everything we’ve built,” he said.
“We can play better or worse, but the process remains the same. Today we lost because Tottenham performed better. They are a strong team, even if circumstances mean they’re not where they want to be in the table.”
