Explainer – Why Europe Conference League success is crucial to Aston Villa’s Champions League hopes.
In a highly successful campaign, Villa are aiming to achieve two things, qualify for the Champions League and win the Conference League.
As it stands, the Birmingham side are in a good position to do both. The side sits fourth in the Premier League and are still in the Conference League.
Much of this is down to Unai Emery. Since the manager came into the club in late 2022, he has completely turned the first-team squad around.
This has seen multiple records broken this season including a 15-match winning streak at Villa Park.
However, the ambitions this season took a blow on Sunday as Spurs hammered the Villans 4-0. This closed the points gap between fourth and fifth to two points with Tottenham still possessing a game in hand.
Many now believe that Spurs will finish fourth with the Londoners also out of all other competitions.
With the potential that Villa do slip into fifth place, we explain why Europa Conference League success could be crucial to Emery’s season.
Europa Conference League key to Champions League for Aston Villa
On Thursday night, Villa will play the second leg of their round of 16 tie against Ajax. Emery’s side are considered one of the favourites of the competition and are arguably the strongest side left.
However, a Conference League title does not reward you with the Champions League, instead a Europe League place is given to the winner. This can be this season as the Hammers are in the Europa League despite finishing 14th last campaign.
The difference this time is the restructuring that UEFA have done to their European competitions. From next season, all three of the cups will have a league format before the knockouts instead of group stages.
On top of this, the top two nations from the previous season are rewarded with an extra Champions League spot. This is done via a coefficient points system. In essence, the further more teams go from one nation, the more points they rack up.
As it stands, Italy and Germany are both ahead in this campaign meaning they will be rewarded with the extra spots. This means that in order to get the extra Champions League spot, more English clubs need to go further in their European competitions.
Emery’s side have a great chance of doing just that. However, with teams such as Bayer Leverkusen and Inter Milan still in Europe and on great form, England may have to rely on Villa to get the extra points needed.
Europa Conference League should be Aston Villa’s
Despite a poor last two matches, this competition should be in Villa’s trophy cabinet by the end of the season.
Emery’s side should overcome Ajax with the home advantage which would put them into the quarter-finals.
Here, depending on who goes through, only Italian side Fiorentina, who lost in last year’s final, would be a significant threat.
With multiple other English sides struggling in Europe, this competition might not only be the key to a first major trophy in nearly 30 years, but also regaining a position in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
