Aston Villa: BBC Sport pundit reacts to Premier League title chances
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 has joked that anyone who thought Aston Villa had a shot of winning the Premier League title at the start of the season must have taken “a knock to the head”.
The Villans sit third in the table with exactly half of the campaign played, one point off Arsenal in second and three points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Unai Emery’s side have not been in the best of form of late, however, having followed up a 1-1 home draw against bottom side Sheffield United with a 3-2 loss at Manchester United.
Villa led by two goals at Old Trafford before chucking away the points, but they have a chance to swiftly respond when a struggling Burnley side rock up at Villa Park on Saturday (30 December).
Speaking to Villa News, Hutton admits he would happily have accepted matching last season’s seventh-placed finish if offered to him this time around.
Asked what his reaction would have been had he been told Villa’s position after 19 games, Hutton said: “I wouldn’t have laughed, because that would have been harsh, but I’d probably say you’ve had a knock to the head.
“I think they’re really progressing under Unai Emery. They were excellent last season as they finished in the European positions.
“I thought finishing around about there again would be ideal, but if you’d told me they’d be sat third, a few points off top at this point, I just wouldn’t believe it.
“It’s been a real whirlwind this season, and now the question is whether they can keep it going? Can they put their foot down? They just need to keep going.”
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton says he cannot believe what one player did earlier this week.