Aston Villa are preparing for a season in which they will compete in the Champions League alongside their domestic exploits.
Unai Emery has overseen a busy summer of change at Aston Villa with eight arrivals and the significant departures of both Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby.
The Spanish coach knows all about what it takes to be successful in Europe having won four Europe League trophies and will be leaving no stone unturned with the Premier League season kicking off in less than two weeks.
Villa gained invaluable experience of juggling domestic football with European competition last season as they went deep into the Europe Conference League before suffering defeat at the semi-final stage.
That will stand Emery’s players in good stead for the Champions League as they look to recreate the heroics of last season in the new campaign.
Aston Villa predicted to miss out on top four Premier League finish
Villa finished above the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle United last season; all of whom are expected to improve this season.
That makes thing difficult for Villa, who capitalised to earn a fourth place finish last season to end what was an incredible campaign.
The Guardian are this month posting a preview for each Premier League side in which they assess the season ahead for each club and predict their place in the table come the end of the season.
In Villa’s edition of this series, The Guardian’s football writers have collectively predicted that Emery’s side will finish 6th in the top flight, thus missing out on the Champions League.
Champions League football provides Aston Villa with ‘obvious concern’
The fact that Villa fans will likely be disappointed with this prediction is testament to just how far the club have come in a short space of time.
Before Emery’s arrival in late 2022, Villa were under a real threat of relegation under Steven Gerrard but have now finished seventh and fourth in the past two seasons.
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Speaking on the reason Villa might suffer a slight drop in league position, The Guardian’s preview said: ‘The obvious concern is how they will cope with at least eight high-powered midweek games being added to the calendar’.
However, it was added that: ‘Emery, who has transformed Villa into a dynamic force, will relish the challenge.’
The challenges of Champions League football will really stretch Villa’s squad, with the superior quality associated with the competition when compared to the Europa Conference League meaning Emery will be unable to rotate in the early stages as he did in Europe last year.
If anyone can manage the intense schedule, Villa fans will be confident that Emery can.
Whatever happens, it is sure to be another fascinating season at Villa Park.
