Ian Darke details question that’ll be asked of Emery’s Aston Villa as things continue to go well
Ian Darke has challenged Aston Villa to navigate the Premier League and Champions League simultaneously in what will be a demanding season.
The TNT Sports commentator does however believe Unai Emery is an expert in managing the workload and utilising his squad in the correct way, having reached five Europa League finals, winning four.
Emery steered Villa to the top table of European competition for the first time in over 40 years in this calendar year, finishing fourth in the Premier League.
Gary Shaw was the team’s top scorer in their last season in the European Cup, a man whose recent passing was honoured by the Spaniard after their maiden league phase win over Young Boys [Aston Villa FC on YouTube, 18 September].
Darke exclusively told Villa News: “Unai Emery will be very happy with the way they’ve started, up near the top of the table. They’re playing some good stuff with players of high quality.
“The question that will be asked is how much of a diversion the Champions League will be, particularly with eight group games. Emery will have to rotate his squad cleverly, but he knows his way around European football.
“The players and fans love him to death, it’s nearly all good, isn’t it? Tick, tick, tick.”
Aston Villa fighting on four fronts
Aston Villa will hold out hope of lifting a major trophy this season, considered to be the next step after qualification for Europe’s top competition.
The Villans showed no sign of apprehension as they swept aside Young Boys, and have enjoyed a fruitful start in the league while advancing in the Carabao Cup – in which they host Crystal Palace next month for a spot in the quarter-finals.
The FA Cup campaign will also begin in January at the third round stage, although this is when demand will be high in the fixture list as European group games continue over the turn of the year, following the introduction of the new format.
The distraction of the transfer window will also rear its head once more, at a time when Emery will be happy with the squad at his disposal at Villa Park and the club will have to keep a huge eye on PSR concerns after a lucky summer escape [Daily Mail, 3 September].
The challenge continues, as Ipswich Town in the league precedes Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday – the Holte End could be a tad lively.
In other Aston Villa news, Joe Gauci cements his role at the club.
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