Peter Schmeichel: Aston Villa ‘most underperforming’ team in the Premier League
Following the 4-2 defeat at Manchester United, Peter Schmeichel gave a damning summary of Aston Villa in the Premier League era.
Unai Emery suffered his first defeat as Aston Villa boss on Thursday night as Manchester United avenged the league defeat at Old Trafford with a 4-2 victory in the EFL Cup.
It allows Emery to turn his full attention towards the Premier League, where Villa currently sit 13th in the table. It’s been an underwhelming season for the Villans, and former Villa shot-stopper Schmeichel insists that underperforming has become a theme at his former club.
“There’s a big difference between Manchester United and Aston Villa,” Schmeichel told Sky Sports after the full-time whistle, as quoted by Birmingham Mail.
“Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world and they’ve proven that time and time again but in terms of viewing figures, the stories that are in the newspapers, every day about Manchester United.
“Aston Villa are not there, it’s a massive football club. For me in the Premier League era, it’s probably the most underperforming club in terms of what their potential is.”
Ouch
As hurtful as Schmeichel’s statement is, in a way it’s a constructive line from the Dane. Villa have underperformed in the Premier League era, but only because of the club’s huge stature and history.
Recent years have been tough for the club, but Villa have been in ascension since their promotion back to the top flight, and although there’s been bumps along the way – things are starting to come together with the new owners and Unai Emery at the helm.
Investment is there in the background, and with an elite manager at the helm Villa’s squad will only improve more. European ambitions are still a long way down the road, but if the club set the foundations right behind the scenes then there’s no reason the club can’t eventually become a powerhouse of English football once again.
Breaking into the ‘top six’ has proved a problem in the Premier League, but Villa are definitely among only a handful of clubs that have the potential to rock the boat.
Hopefully, Villa’s underperforming years are behind them now and under Emery the club can push its way back up to the top end of the Premier League table.
In other Aston Villa news, here are three things we learned from Aston Villa losing 4-2 at Man United.