Villa’s Top-Four Hopes Continue to Slip

It was only a few months ago that some Aston Villa fans were talking about a possible title race. But after a four-match winless streak in the Premier League, including a 3-1 defeat to top four rivals Manchester United, Villans are less optimistic. What’s gone wrong for Unai Emery’s side, and can they still qualify for Europe’s elite competition for the second time in three years?

The top four race

United look the team most certain to finish in the top four, other than Arsenal and Manchester City who all but guaranteed their places months ago. Michael Carrick has only lost one match since his appointment in January.

Another new manager, Liam Rosenior, helped Chelsea improve their form after a tricky spell in December. In his first couple of months in charge, Chelsea only lost to Arsenal (twice in the League Cup), but have not had the best start to the spring. Chelsea were booed off after their 0-3 home loss to PSG in the Champions League. The French side won 8-2 on aggregate. Chelsea also fell to Newcastle in a game that might have dented their own top four hopes.

The current football odds suggest that Villa are behind Man United and Liverpool in the race for a top-four place. Chelsea are not far off Villa but those further astray, including Brentford, Newcastle, and Everton, are considered hugely unlikely. Villa may benefit from the top five all receiving a Champions League place, depending on UEFA coefficients going their way. English clubs’ performance in the Champions League round of 16 didn’t help their case.

Second best manager

Ex-United right-back and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville recently called Emery the Premier League’s “second best manager”. But Neville said his former team were unlikely to employ Emery because of his record at Arsenal.

Many feel Emery was unfairly treated at Arsenal during a difficult transition period after Arsene Wenger’s retirement.

Following his sacking from Arsenal, Emery went to Villarreal and led The Yellow Submarine to their first ever European final, beating Arsenal in the Europa League semi-finals.

Emery said Villa started well against United but after going behind they opened up and struggled with the home side’s “very good” transition play.

Still points to play for

After the United game, Emery said there were still “points to play [for]”. He acknowledged the need to get better.

For much of the season, Emery had played down Villa’s hopes of a title and even a top four place. But now he seems to be urging his players to keep fighting for Champions League qualification. Of course, that might have been the message behind closed doors all along. Emery likely didn’t want too much media attention when some pundits were saying Villa were likelier challengers to Arsenal than Man City.

Villa have to juggle the Premier League with Europa League commitments. They have looked good in Europe, qualifying automatically for the knockout phase and beating Lille away in the round of 16.

Neville was unsure if Villa could recover from the defeat to United. He predicted they would end up in the Europa League places, but perhaps qualify for the Champions League through winning the Europa League this season.

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