Aston Villa ambitions clear as Emery speaks out on Champions League chances
Unai Emery has fixed his sights on a top-four finish for Aston Villa.
The club’s boss admitted for the first time that he is gunning for a place in the Champions League as Villa look to go level on points with leaders Liverpool with a victory over the Clarets.
Emery has spent the first half of the campaign playing down his club’s chances of gate-crashing the party at the top of the Premier League table.
But after setting a new club record for successive home league victories and missing out on the chance to be top at Christmas after Manchester United staged a stunning second-half comeback at Old Trafford on Boxing Day, the Spaniard is re-adjusting his target.
He said: “I want to keep being in the top four position in the table. I want to keep it because if we are keeping it, we could be contenders. That’s what I want to do. It’s still in my plans to win a trophy, play in the Europa League and the Champions League with Aston Villa.
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“But, in two months, I could change. It depends on what we are doing. I also want to get something more from the Conference League. Today, I want to enjoy. Then, I want to beat Burnley.”
Villa have been backed by owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens since they returned to the top flight four years ago. Emery has good options in every outfield position - bar up front where an injury to Ollie Watkins could leave him short. Jhon Duran shows promise but has not provided any evidence so far that he is a capable understudy should the England international suffer an injury.
Aston Villa have broken records for home wins as they sit in the top four (Getty Images)Villa are also understood to have one eye on financial fair play - all of which leaves the club’s hopes relying heavily on Watkins staying fit. He said: “The owners are always helping - always. They are very involved with me, with us, with Aston Villa. They want to support us. They ask how we can improve - but it’s not easy. If we can improve, we will do it.
“We are watching everything. To improve upon our two strikers in the current circumstances is very, very difficult. Watkins is in a very good moment. When I arrived here, one year ago a lot of people doubted Ollie Watkins. He was very demanding of himself. Now, he has finished those doubts about him.
“We have added a young player - he needs time - Jhon Duran. He is getting better, getting confident, playing minutes. We are trying to support him. But it’s not easy to improve in those circumstances. If it is, you tell me names.”
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