Aston Villa fans will have to get used to comparisons between Unai Emery’s side and Newcastle United given both sides upset the ‘Big Six’ to secure Champions League football.
Aston Villa achieved that feat via a top four finish last season under Unai Emery, whilst Newcastle pulled off the same achievement a year prior under Eddie Howe.
What makes Villa’s Champions League qualification all the more remarkable is the fact that they beat the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea to fourth place alongside a run to the Europa Conference League semi-final last season.
Newcastle struggled to deal with the increased workload associated with European football last campaign and finished bottom of their Champions League group in disappointing fashion, but Villa will be hoping to avoid a similar fate in the new format.
Aston Villa fan rebuke’s Jamie Carragher Newcastle United comparison
Jamie Carragher was joined by Paul Scholes on The Overlap’s Fan Debate season preview to discuss each of the 20 Premier League clubs.
When discussing the campaign ahead for Villa, Carragher asked the Villans fan present if he thought Villa’s top four finish was a flash in the pan in a similar way to that of Newcastle two seasons ago and Everton 20 years prior.
The Villa shut this notion down with aplomb, refuting the Newcastle comparison by saying: “That’s the objective now, to stay there and remain there.
“I think Newcastle found that difficult last season, but Emery has come in, first season seventh, second season fourth. We’ve got a real stacked out squad of good players and I think that’s the aim: to mix it and remain there.”
“A lot of people wouldn’t have expected us to qualify for the Champions League last season. I think we had a lot of injuries that I don’t think a lot of people talk about – Mings, Buendia, Ramsey, Kamara – those players coming back now as well.
“Our squad is better than last year and I think a couple more signings and we should be able to remain there.”
Unai Emery has players ready for Champions League to Aston Villa this summer
As highlighted by the Villa fan, the key difference between Villa and Newcastle is depth.
The Magpies had a strong starting XI but little beyond that once injuries took their toll.
Villa faced similar struggles last season as their lack of depth threatened to end their top four hopes but limped across the line with a fatigued squad.
This is something Emery has addressed this summer, adding eight players who bring not just more options but real quality too.
Ross Barkley, Ian Maatsen and Samuel Iling-Junior all have Champions League experience, whilst Amadou Onana, Jaden Philogene and Enzo Barrenechea improve the squad further.
It will not be easy for Villa to compete on all fronts this season, but they have put themselves in a good position to give it a really good go.
