Stephen Warnock says he has been ‘very impressed’ by the work of Unai Emery at Aston Villa ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The former Aston Villa left-back has predicted Unai Emery’s team to finish fourth this season, after their seventh-placed finish last time out, as he told BBC Sport.
When looking at the Premier League table when Emery took charge, the team would be sitting in fifth spot.
There is a real possibility that the fifth spot will also equate to Champions League football this term, which would severely boost the team’s chances of returning to the big time and playing against the best players in the world.
One thing is for sure, Villa have stuck their chest out during the 2023 summer transfer market by backing their manager in the dugout, with Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby and Youri Tielemans all arriving.
And more could yet come through the doors with less than a month remaining before the summer window slams shut, as Warnock backed them to go to the next level.
“I’ve been out in the United States covering the Summer Series and I was lucky enough to go down and watch Villa train and speak to Emery,” said Warnock.
“When you see what he’s about and how he works, it’s very impressive. Looking at that, and the form they were in under him last season, I think they might sneak in (to fourth).”
Trophy over Champions League football
If you offered the fans two choices – Champions League football or a trophy, then many would pick lifting silverware.
It has been far too long since we did win anything – over two decades – and there isn’t any point in having a trophy-winning coach in our dugout if we aren’t going to aim for it.
Perhaps winning a trophy, either a domestic or a European one, is more likely than finishing in the top four.
But there is also nothing wrong with aiming for the top and wanting to go to the next level.
The fans are going to be patient with it all because they know that these are the most exciting times at Villa Park since the early 80s’.
