Fabian Delph: Mission accomplished for Aston Villa

The midfielder underlined the claret and blues' No.1 priority was survival after it was secured this week.

Villa go to Tottenham for Sunday's season finale and could finish anywhere between 12th and 17th, with the difference in prize money for the positions £6m.

And Delph said the team achieved their goal and are already focused on next season.

"We are still in the league, we did what we needed to do in terms of staying there. Villa fans have been great all season with us," he said.

"They have been frustrated and so have we. But we did what we needed to do in terms of staying the league and now it's all about next season.

"It's been a rollercoaster, we have had some good wins this season and we've had some bad losses but it is what it is, we are a group of young players and we are learning with every game. The fans have stuck with us, fair play to them. Believe it or not every game we play we put in 102 per cent for them and the club in general."

Villa's 4-0 defeat at champions-elect Manchester City on Wednesday left them 15th in the table during another campaign of struggle.But Delph said he was not ready for the season to finish.

He said: "On Wednesday we were playing with freedom. Nobody expected us to do anything and we'll go into the Spurs game with the same grit and determination. We have a lot of enthusiastic players who will run all day.

"I'm not physically tired and I'm not mentally drained. I feel fine.

"I love what I do, I'm a professional footballer and I'm lucky to be that. I train hard and I live well.

"When you are playing an athletic game like this it's vital to be like that."

Callum Robinson and Jack Grealish could feature on Sunday after coming on at the Etihad with Grealish making his Villa debut.

"It is great for them. I remember being their age and getting the opportunity to play. You are full of excitement and enthusiasm," Delph added.