Gary Neville makes new Unai Emery claim as big question marks emerge at Aston Villa
Aston Villa have been incredible this season, but their recent form has raised a few question marks about their chances of reaching the Champions League.
Unai Emery’s side still sit third in the Premier League table, but they are now being caught quickly by the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea behind them.
Villa drew 1-1 with Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, meaning they have now won just one of their last four top-flight games.
Morgan Rogers smashed the Midlands side into the lead at the Vitality Stadium, but Lucas Digne’s poor defending allowed Rayan to equalise, as the visitors dropped another two points.
Aston Villa have big Champions League problem
Aston Villa were firmly in the Premier League title race at the beginning of January, but there are now concerns emerging that they won’t even make it into the Champions League.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have won each of their last four top-flight games, picking up 12 points across a period of time where Emery’s side has managed just four.
It’s not all bad, though, as Villa are still eight points clear of Liverpool in sixth, and the top five in the Premier League are likely to get Champions League football next season.
However, Gary Neville believes that there are still some questions that the Midlands side need to answer.
Speaking via his Sky Sports podcast, the former Manchester United right-back highlighted the current injuries Villa have, adding that it is a big ask for them to perform without three key midfielders.
He said: “They’ve got their three midfield players out, (John) McGinn, (Youri) Tielemans and (Boubacar) Kamara, and they’re out for quite a while.
“It’s a big ask for Villa to miss their engine room. That’s the big question on them.”
Neville is confident in Emery’s ability, though and acknowledged that the former Arsenal boss could still find a way around the issues.
“Unai Emery is someone that you wouldn’t put it past to find a way.”
Unai Emery has the quality Aston Villa need
With Kamara expected to miss the rest of the season, and McGinn and Tielemans in the middle of a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Villa look to be in real trouble.
However, Emery has shown time and time again that he has the managerial nous to navigate tough situations.
Villa didn’t score a single goal in their first five games of the Premier League season, and were firmly in the relegation zone, but the Spaniard stayed strong.
With a lot of noise around him and even calls for his dismissal, Emery turned Villa’s form around, and there is no reason why he can’t do that once again.