Unai Emery maintains that Aston Villa are ‘not contenders’ for the top five this season and has warned that any slip-ups from his side will be capitalised on by the Champions League chasers behind them in the Premier League table.
Ahead of their clash with Wolves, Villa are sitting in fourth position, three points ahead of Tottenham and nine ahead of Manchester United.
“We are in the 30th matchday and we are fourth and we are fighting now to be in the top five, top four … top three is very, very difficult,” Emery admitted. “Of course, we are respecting the teams who are behind, like Manchester United, like Newcastle, like Chelsea. Some teams have matches in hand or two which could be six points.
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“We have to respect them because every team who is behind us, they have the potential to win matches in a row. We have to try and focus on each match, tomorrow is three points and try and keep the fourth position.
“We are not contenders. We are not contenders even now to be in the top five.”
Villa will play eight games in all competitions in four weeks, starting with their West Midlands derby with Wolves on Saturday. If Villa side reach the Europa Conference League final at the end of May, they’ll have played 57 games across the campaign, which will be 15 more than Tottenham. But Emery is welcoming a busy end to the season.
“The biggest teams in the world are playing a lot of matches,” Emery said. “If we want to take the next step and step up to the next level we have to play as many matches as those teams.
“That is the only way I know – and I like to play matches – I like to play a lot! To increase our level we have to accept we might play 55, 56, 57 games – hopefully, more and more.”
Gary O’Neil’s side have accrued 22 points since Christmas Eve, with only Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal faring better. Wolves have lost just one of their eight Premier League visits to Villa Park, while Emery hasn’t beaten Wolves in six attempts.
“Before when I played against them with Nuno Espirito Santo it was very competitive and last year with Julen Lopetegui, two times,” Emery said. “This year with Gary. Really, I respect them a lot.
“The last five matches Villa have played against Wolverhampton we didn’t win and myself as a coach, with Wolves or Villa, I didn’t win. I know it. Tomorrow is a big challenge for everybody.
“I was asking [Leander] Dendoncker when he was with us about the situation, the derby more or less. Of course it is a very great match for those supporters, for them and us. When I played against them here, I felt it in the stadium, the good atmosphere and the fans being excited.
“Analysing on the pitch, they played against us being very competitive and it is very difficult to beat them. Tomorrow we will have to do a lot of things very well to beat them.
“Their transition is very good, their organisation with the ball as well is strong. They have very good players in the duels and it is difficult. Their midfielders I like a lot. I respect them a lot.”
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Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
