Aston Villa aims outlined as focus returns to Premier League
Unai Emery has reminded Villa’s players they still have plenty to play for this season after the disappointment of last weekend’s FA Cup exit.
Villa’s fight for success is down to two fronts after they were beaten 3-1 at home by Newcastle in the fourth round but Emery is keen to focus on what remains ahead.
His team remain on the fringes of the Premier League title race, seven points behind leaders Arsenal with 12 matches to play, while they are also through to the last-16 of the Europa League.
Emery said: “Accepting the FA Cup now, we are out.
“But of course we are analysing some of the circumstances we had, some improvements we made and how we can recover our energy for the rest of the season with two competitions we are going to face, in really good positions in the Europa League and Premier League.
“We lost on Saturday but we competed and I can’t say anything to the players.”
Villa are back in Premier League action when they host Leeds on Saturday, looking to at the very least strengthen their grip on a top-four position.
Emery’s men then travel to Wolves for the West Midlands derby on Friday week before back-to-back league matches against Chelsea and Manchester United, their two closest challengers in the race for Champions League qualification.
In between those matches they will also play the first, away leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on March 12. One small positive of the weekend’s Cup defeat is the eight-day break between matches they will have heading into that fixture.
Emery made clear his ambition to end Villa’ long trophy drought when he first arrived at the club but it was perhaps telling the manager declared himself only a “little bit disappointed” by Saturday’s defeat.
After missing out on the Champions League on goal difference last season, the importance of returning to Europe’s elite competition is not lost on anyone.
The two competitions in which Villa are still fighting both offer a route.
Much as Emery would have liked to win the FA Cup, he has always been consistent in listing it third on the club’s list of priorities.
“Overall we are building the team,” said Emery. “The Premier League is the priority.
“Why? Because in 38 matches it is giving us the consistency of achieving the main objective, to play in Europe.
“Now we are third, to keep this position we are being fantastic. The Europa League is another competition to try and share with our supporters good moments.
“We tried in the FA Cup but only one team is winning it at the end of the season and it is very difficult, with the teams we are facing.
“Overall, we will recover again our good mood like we showed in the first half (on Saturday). We must keep going and be motivated for the next two competitions we are going to face.”
