Unai Emery pulled off one of the shocks of the season when he guided Aston Villa to fourth in the Premier League title, ensuring their return to Europe’s elite for the first time since 2002. While Villa may arrive as outsiders in the Champions League betting and not many will expect them to get out of the group, the competition’s new format and Emery’s experience in European football will go a long way to helping the West Midlands outfit pull off another miracle.
Indeed, the new Champions League Swiss style of group stages means Villa will play eight games across September and January, giving them plenty of chances to pick up points.
They managed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League last term, falling just short of the final to Olympiacos, and fans will be hoping for another fairytale run this season.
However, balancing European ambitions with domestic commitments has been the downfall of many teams in the Premier League over the years, and Villa will need another strong season if they want to ensure a regular place amongst the Big Six.
In this article, we assess the key things Villa will need to get right in order to cope with the demands of England’s top flight alongside some big games in the Champions League. Read on to find out more.
Recruitment
A big part of Villa ensuring they can compete in the Champions League is down to the quality of their squad. Injuries almost derailed their pursuit of the top four when Emiliano Martínez missed key matches, but steps have been taken to ensure there is sufficient depth across the side, bringing in players with experience in Europe as well as good quality.
Ian Maatsen arrives from Chelsea, having spent last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund. The Dutchman started in the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid at Wembley and offers pace and versatility, capable of playing both left and right back.
While the loss of Douglas Luiz will hurt Villa fans – the 26-year-old Brazilian joined Juventus for £21 million – the deal involved winger Samuel Iling-Junior and midfielder Enzo Barrenechea swapping Turin for Villa Park, while Ross Barkley is a senior figure and demonstrated his quality in a loan move to Villa back in 2020.
Tactics
Despite being sacked by Arsenal in 2019, Emery has showcased that he is one of the most tactically adept managers across all of Europe.
Before joining Villa, he helped Villarreal win their first-ever piece of European silverware when they beat Manchester United on penalties in the 2021 Europa League final.The following season, they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, narrowly losing to Liverpool on aggregate with a side comprised of very low-budget transfers.
The Spaniard’s ability to get results against the big teams means you can never rule Villa out. They were a thorn in the side of his old side Arsenal, effectively preventing the Gunners from winning the Premier League when they won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, and the same will be expected when their Champions League games commence.
Too many games?
The only issue that could prove to be Villa’s downfall is their busy calendar. Last season, their run in the Conference League meant that they played a total of 56 games across all competitions, and a similar number is expected this time around.
Pressure will be on Ollie Watkins, who scored 19 goals in the Premier League, to once again hit those heights.If he can continue to perform, expect Villa Park to be a fortress in Europe, and Emery’s side to cause some headaches.
