ESPN pundit has backed Unai Emery to repeat extraordinary feat at Aston Villa after admitting that he is ‘in love’ with the Claret and Blue side.
Villa’s start to the Premier League season couldn’t have gone much better. The club have won seven of their first nine games in all competitions, including six points from a possible six in the Champions League.
Their recent success accumulated on Wednesday night as they overcame Bayern Munich 1-0 at Villa Park thanks to another Jhon Duran goal.
With the fans now dreaming of further success, one pundit has backed the club to repeat their achievements from the 2023/24 campaign and reach Europe’s most prestigious competition once again.
Aston Villa backed to beat Chelsea to a top four finish
While finishing in the top four was a massive success last year for Villa, given the start other teams have had this campaign, it could be a big ask this season.
Both Chelsea and Newcastle have started strongly as well as Fulham who have been an early surprise package.
This combined with the addition of Champions League football might make the repeat of this success a tough ask.
However, former Newcastle and West Ham ‘keeper Shaka Hislop has backed Villa to successfully finish in the top four.
He told ESPN UK: “I don’t think I had Aston Villa in the top four. The reason being Champions League exertions and an expander field at that, and Chelsea have the luxury of being able to rotate as we saw last night, but for all my praises around Chelsea and Maresca, I am in love with Aston Villa and the job that Unai Emery continues to do.
“So maybe I am following my head or I am following my heart more than my head in seeing Aston Villa above Chelsea.”
Champions League qualification is a must for Aston Villa
While it would no doubt be a sensational feat, Villa must qualify for the Champions League again if they want to maintain their momentum.
Toppling the ‘big six’ is a feat that has never been sustained in the Premier League. Even Leciester who won the title and an FA Cup have fallen down the table.
Therefore, it could be more vital than ever that Villa repeat last year’s success to show that they are here to stay.
Thankfully, the club are on the right track to achieve this and are arguably performing better than they did in the 2023/24 campaign.
