Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has claimed that fifth place 'may be the best' for his side following their 2-0 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa.
The Lilywhites had the chance to move back above Manchester United into fourth place in the table, but they produced a toothless performance against Unai Emery's side.
After a goalless first half, Villa took the lead when Hugo Lloris spilled a long-range effort from Douglas Luiz, and Ollie Watkins pounced on the follow-up to set up Emiliano Buendia.
The Lions added a second through Luiz in the 73rd minute, as the Brazilian midfielder latched onto a delicate chipped pass from John McGinn and finished calmly.
Tottenham's total of 30 points from 17 games leaves them in fifth place in the rankings - two points behind Man United, who have a game in hand - and Conte has admitted that Spurs may not be able to hope for a better position in the table.
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"I want to be honest, I want to be very clear. I have said this to the club, I have said my opinions. The fans deserve the best. Maybe to stay in 5th is the best. Maybe 6th, 7th, 5th or 4th is the best," Conte told BBC Sport.
Tottenham conceded first for the seventh Premier League game in a row in North London, while they have also shipped two goals in the same number of successive matches for the first time since 1988.
None of the injured quartet of Lucas Moura, Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski or Rodrigo Bentancur was able to play on New Year's Day, and Conte has warned fans that the remainder of the league season will be "very difficult" for his crop.
"We have conceded the first goal and for sure we try to play to score goals. There is an opponent like you that can score during the game. We understand very well that the league will be really really difficult for us," Conte added.
"We have to try to recover all the [injured] players and then we have to know that in every game we have to fight and show that we are strong. The league will be very difficult for us."
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Due to injuries, Tottenham were devoid of attacking options on the bench, with Ryan Sessegnon and Pape Sarr the only players capable of featuring in more advanced roles.
Conte highlighted a lack of creativity as the January window opens for business, adding: "In the first half we played with good intensity. We didn't concede anything and we found a team that defended too deep and then we conceded this goal and then the confidence dropped for my players.
"We have to know that our life is this. We have to fight every game for one point or for three points. This is the truth, especially when you are without two or three important players and have difficulties.
"We have different characteristics. We don't have many players who are really good to beat the man. We don't have many creative players in our team. For sure today was really difficult to find space in the first half."
Tottenham resume top-flight action away to London rivals Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening before taking on Portsmouth in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday lunchtime.
Ben Knapton
