Alan Hutton: League Cup run will be massive for Aston Villa
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park.
Alan Hutton believes Aston Villa should be looking to prioritise the League Cup with the Villans set to face Manchester United in the third round.
Unai Emery’s team host the Red Devils in the Premier League at Villa Park on Sunday (6 November) before they then travel to Old Trafford for a midweek cup encounter.
Hutton feels that cup runs and looking to qualify for Europe should be Villa’s main aims at the start of each campaign, with the Premier League becoming so hard to compete in.
“I think it’s massive for them because we know at the start of the season that Aston Villa aren’t going to win the league at the start of the season,” Hutton exclusively told Villa News.
“We know they want to try and get into the European places and they want to go on cup runs. That’s what the fans demand, that’s what they want. They want to see their team progress as far as possible.
“They want to get to Wembley, they’ve been there in the past and they know how good it can be. It’s a big ask going to Old Trafford and getting the victory.
“The new manager coming in will be looking to get a bounce from the players. It’s a huge job and there’s no tougher task than a double fixture against Manchester United, but it’s something Villa should be looking at, especially at the start of the season.”
It’s a tough start to life for Emery, who will be looking to get some points on the board before the Villans face a month off Premier League football due to the World Cup.
Although the Spaniard will be eager to get going, the extended winter break will give him plenty of time to work with his players and repair the damage which was left from the Steven Gerrard era.
In other Aston Villa news, the new boss has been given the longest managerial contract in club history.