Unai Emery recently stated that Aston Villa is not among the top contenders for honors this season, with seven English sides ahead of them in the race.
Despite leading Villa to a top-four Premier League finish last season, Emery believes his team is not in contention to repeat that feat this season and ranks them eighth among contenders.
Unai Emery addressed the media ahead of the upcoming match against West Ham.
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Speaking at a press conference before Villa’s first game against West Ham, Emery mentioned, “The expectations have changed this year as we will be competing in the Champions League.”
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us, providing new motivation at the highest level of football,” he added.
Emery emphasized that Villa will strive to remain competitive across all competitions but noted, “We are not aiming for a top-four finish or even the top five. There are seven other teams ahead of us in contention.”
He listed Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Newcastle as stronger contenders than Villa.
“Our goal is to narrow the gap with these teams and continue progressing in every aspect,” Emery stated.
Regarding their Champions League participation, Emery stressed the importance of maintaining the team spirit that got Villa into the competition and being competitive against the best teams.
“We have made changes to the squad to improve and strive for better performances each year,” he added.