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Aston Villa backed to stun Top 6 with Champions League charge
We’re delighted to welcome Aston Villa podcaster Ty Bracey as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Ty Bracey has backed Aston Villa to challenge for the Champions League spaces next season, provided Unai Emery can replicate his exceptional form from last season.
Villa’s form since Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in the dugout was good enough to see them earn a spot in football’s ultimate club competition [The Guardian]. Unfortunately for Villa fans, the season starts on Matchday 1, not Matchday eleven, so they will have to settle for Europa Conference League football.
While achieving Europe would have been nothing short of a pipe dream when they saw Mason Mount’s double seal the final nail in Gerrard’s Villa coffin, Emery’s impact on the club has seen expectations change quickly.
Bracy claims that Unai Emery is intelligent and committed enough to continue their change of fortunes into next season, and even clinch themselves a Top 4 finish.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bracey said: “He’s a guy who does his research. He gets involved and every opponent we come up against we give them a game. He really puts a lot of time and effort into everything, every opponent and everything that’s happening.
“I’ve got a lot of time for that, they really put in the work in the back end.
“I’m really keen to see how we do in Europe; I think it’s going to be massive for us and really exciting. We can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the competition.
“I think we finished third in points from when Emery took over, which is massive.
“If we can replicate that form again in the Premier League this year, then there’s no reason why we can’t push for Champions League spaces.“
In other Aston Villa news, Bracey claims next season may be ‘perfect’ for an under-21 European champion to have his say in the Villa front line.