Gabby Agbonlahor says ‘it wouldn’t shock me’ if Aston Villa are fighting for Champions League places under Unai Emery for the 2023/24 Premier League season.
After taking charge of Aston Villa in November, only Pep Guardiola’s Treble-winning Manchester City earned more points than Unai Emery last season, which was a testament to the job the 51-year-old did, even though he spent very little money in January and also came in midway during the campaign.
That was pointed out by Agbonlahor, who stated that his former side would have ‘finished in the top four’ had Emery taken charge from August and he is now backing them to do that again next season, as he told talkSPORT.
“Since Unai Emery came into Aston Villa,” said Agbonlahor “If you look at the league table, Villa would have finished in the top four if he’d have started the season off.
“So he’s got a pre-season now, he’s got to bring in players, he’s already signed [Youri] Tielemans and Villa have got money to spend. It wouldn’t shock me if Villa are fighting for the top four.”
Emery’s coaching…
One of the best things Emery did after taking over from Steven Gerrard is improving the current players within the squad.
Many of them were on the floor form wise and there were some calls, from the fans, to sell these players, but Emery turned all of that on its head.
Captain John McGinn was a prime example. Under Gerrard, not only was he struggling, but he was continually getting subbed as he just couldn’t get his engine going, before he started to produce the best form of his career during the second half of the campaign.
Add in a certain Ollie Watkins to that. He scored only one goal before November, but ended the season with 15. You can also include Tyrone Mings to that party also, there are so many examples to use.
All of this comes down to Emery’s coaching, bringing simplicity to the game and improving the footballing brain of these players who have soaked up every bit of information their world-class coach is giving them.
Villa in Europe
As mentioned above, Youri Tielemans is already through the club’s doors, but more depth is needed as Villa make a return to Europe.
If the players, most of whom will be playing on the European stage for the first time in their careers, can cope with such pressure and level of games, then it will serve them well in the Premier League.
There is every chance they can push for the top-four, to finish in the Champions League places in itself is a different story, but start the season well, then things might become interesting.
But just maintaining that European adventure for the following seasons will be the first aim, and then the team should go from there.
