Ryan Mason reflects on 'difficult moment' for Tottenham after Aston Villa defeat
Acting Tottenham head coach Ryan Mason has reiterated that there is unity at the club despite Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
Villa delivered a significant blow to Tottenham's hopes of securing European football next season in the thrilling encounter at Villa Park, with the result seeing Unai Emery's side drawing level on points with their sixth-placed opponents, intensifying the race for a coveted European spot.
Speaking after the match, Mason addressed the team's current predicament, saying: "The outside world is the outside world. When you are consistent and strong inside, that transfers outside. It is a difficult moment, but everyone is pulling together. The environment you try to set within is the most important thing."
The 31-year-old continued: "To go a goal down so early again, it's happened too many times this season. We need to be better. It's a very disappointing day."
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However, the interim coach highlighted Tottenham's improved performance in the second half, acknowledging the potential game-changing moment that Aston Villa's goalkeeper thwarted.
"I felt we were more of a threat in the second half, and their 'keeper has pulled off an outstanding save at 1-0 which could have changed the flow of the game," Mason reflected.
"We've come here against a good side, and you have to understand you have to suffer as a team, and then the game changes, like we saw in the second half. But you can't get to that point being a goal down.
"We understand we have two important games, and it's still in our hands. What we want to achieve, we need to learn and try to be better."
With the race for European places heating up, Tottenham will look to end the season on a strong note, with their final Premier League matches of the season against Brentford and Leeds United.
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