Aston Villa just continue to go from strength to strength under Unai Emery.
It has been two years to the day (October 24) since Aston Villa appointed Emery as their manager following the disaster spell of Steven Gerrard.
If anything has summed up Emery’s reign in the Midlands so far, then you should look no further than the Champions League table.
It’s not the holders Real Madrid, the genius of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City or even the French champions PSG sitting at the top of the tree.
But Aston Villa are top of the Champions League table after winning three games out of three and not conceding a goal – Liverpool are the only side to do the same.
Villa’s 2-0 win over Bologna on Tuesday night was another example of how this train is moving forward and heading towards one direction only.
After returning to Europe’s elite competition last season, many thought the team would probably wobble or stumble somewhere, but so far, it has been smooth sailing.
Jamie Carragher reacts to Aston Villa sitting top of the Champions League table
The new Champions League format has confused some, but excited others because it’s something new and unpredictable.
You now have this huge table of 34 teams, separated into three, the top eight who automatically qualify for the round of 16, then nine to 24 are those who will reach a two-legged play-off and the rest who will be eliminated.
Working for CBS Sports, added with a bit of humour and Caribbean music in the background, Carragher brilliantly went through the Champions League table after game week three and stated that it’s an ‘amazing story’ Villa are on top.
“Last night, we did a little thing on the Spanish teams and how successful they have been in the past,” said Carragher. “But right now, it’s the three English teams at the top there. Dominating table time.
“Aston Villa, amazing story (sitting at the top). Liverpool and Manchester City, as you would expect, doing really well (in second and third).”
Aston Villa’s remaining Champions League fixtures
There is still a long way to go, with three Champions League games played and Villa’s standout win coming against Bayern Munich.
There is no doubt that they will reach the play-off stages, it’s now a case of trying to finish in the top eight and making life easier for themselves.
It’s a trip on the road for Villa next because they face Club Brugge at the start of November, before Douglas Luiz returns with his Juventus side on November 27.
As of this moment, RB Leipzig are sitting on zero points and they will welcome Villa for game week six on December 10, with the final away trip coming on January 21 against Monaco.
And then, it’s the battle of Britain between Aston Villa and Celtic for game eight of this league phase on January 29.
