Aston Villa have become used to proving the doubters wrong since Unai Emery took charge of the club in October 2022.
At the point of Emery’s arrival, Aston Villa were fighting towards the bottom of the Premier League table following a difficult period under Steven Gerrard.
The four-time Europa League winner was brought in to steady the ship and perhaps drag Villa towards mid-table.
However, Emery instead masterminded an incredible second half of the season, which saw them finish in seventh place and qualify for the Europa Conference League.
Villa then carried that momentum into the following as they kickstarted an early title challenge before falling away and qualifying for the Champions League in fourth place.
Aston Villa are now out to prove the doubters wrong once more by doing what Newcastle couldn’t; finish in the Premier League’s top four while juggling Champions League football.
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Jamie Carragher admits writing Aston Villa off at the start of the season
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher belongs to a crowd of people who believe Villa can’t replicate their heroics season after season, predicting them to finish 6th in 2024/25.
The Birmingham giants spent so long away from the top end of the table that it’s weird to some seeing them cement their place as one of the Premier League’s best sides.
Carragher has been open about his prediction for Villa this season and wasn’t afraid to admit he never puts them in the top four, though after watching them make a strong start, he’s starting to eat his words.
Speaking on the Overlap’s Fan Debate, Carragher said: “But what Aston Villa have done over the last couple of years… It’s funny because I start every season and I think, Villa can’t do the same again.
“And then they start the season again and it’s like… Brilliant. I never put them in the top four.”
The 46-year-old also had some very nice words to say about Emery, who he places behind Pep Guardiola as the second-best manager in the league.
“You could argue, and I’ve said this, that besides Pep, he’s probably the next best manager because he’s won more,” Carragher added. “You know, you think of maybe Arteta and maybe Slot or different managers in the league, but he’s actually had big success. You know, the European trophies, he’s won at lots of different teams.”
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Aston Villa’s Champions League aims
Villa kickstarted their Champions League campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Young Boys.
Next up is a home clash against Bayern Munich on October 2nd, in what is a repeat of their infamous 1982 European Cup final.
Opta’s supercomputer predicts there is an 11.3% chance Aston Villa finish in the top eight of the table while they’re more likely to finish between ninth and 24th to land in the play-off round (55.3%).
Emery will, of course, want to win his maiden Champions League crown with Villa but the chances of that are slim.
Any campaign that sees his side progress into the round of 16 and beyond can therefore be regarded as a success, with Villa looking to cause a few upsets along the way.
