There are times when it feels like Aston Villa are getting patted on the back and disrespected like they shouldn’t be in their current position.
Unai Emery has done a remarkable job and it’s fully deserved that the team is sitting fourth in the Premier League table.
The proof is in the pudding, go back to Aston Villa’s back-to-back wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in December, it was deserved and they were well-fought.
And whilst some parts of the media have completely forgotten about that, a certain Pep Guardiola hasn’t, as he alluded to in his pre-match presser.
Manchester City host rivals Manchester United on Sunday for the bragging rights of the City, but there is a lot more on the line.
This starts a possibly crucial run-in for Manchester City, which might just decide the fate of the Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola reminds journalist of Aston Villa
The Spanish coach was told and asked in his presser by a journalist: “The game on Sunday starts a run where you face Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, with Champions League and FA Cup in between’.
That’s when Guardiola was quick to interrupt and remind the journalist ‘And Aston Villa’.
Aston Villa’s season so far
Given that Emery has had to work with 50% of his defence and midfield for large parts of the season, added with European football, then it’s an outstanding job he is doing.
It needs to be noted, going into this next run of games, only the top three are going to be in Europe with Villa.
Tottenham haven’t been in Europe all season, whilst Man United finished bottom of their Champions League group.
Starting with Ajax on Thursday, this begins a huge week for the club and one of the biggest in a very long time, if we went to finish in the Champions League places and win the Europa Conference League, then winning the next three matches is paramount.
