Unai Emery Maintains Focus as Aston Villa Eyes Premier League Contention

Unai Emery has stated that he will only consider Aston Villa as contenders for the Premier League title if they remain in contention with three matches remaining.

Following a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Newcastle, which marked their first win at St James’ Park since April 2005, Villa secured third place in the league, sharing points with Manchester City and trailing leaders Arsenal by four points. However, Emery, who downplayed their status as top-five contenders following a previous 1-0 defeat to Everton, is cautious not to get swept up in the excitement.

Emery remarked, “Next week we are playing against Brentford at home. After our loss last week, no one asked me about title contenders. Now, after a win, it’s a different story. We must remain calm. My primary objective is to maintain balance. The only way to achieve this is through consistent hard work. Perhaps, by matchday 35, we can have a different discussion.”

He acknowledged the formidable competition they face in Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Tottenham, stating, “We are competing, and we are earning points.”

In their recent win, Villa scored first with a remarkable strike from Emi Buendia that left goalkeeper Nick Pope with no chance, after Newcastle failed to apply defensive pressure. Although Newcastle had opportunities to equalize, including a header from Lewis Miley that was skillfully saved by Emi Martinez, Villa sealed the match with a late goal from Ollie Watkins.

Emery now shifts his focus to the upcoming Europa League clash against RB Salzburg, while also revealing that midfielder John McGinn could be sidelined for up to two months due to a knee injury. He expressed pride in his team’s response following their defeat to Everton, highlighting the importance of their recent performance.

On the other hand, Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe reflected on his team’s mixed performance, noting that despite some positive individual displays, a 2-0 home loss is disappointing. He is now concerned about the fitness of key players Bruno Guimarães, who missed the match due to an ankle injury, and Joelinton, who suffered a groin problem during the game, as they prepare for a vital Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain.