Richie Mills

Wed 8 April 2026 16:59, UK

Aston Villa have been told they have become “addicted” to the riches of the Champions League as questions over their sustainability come to the fore.

That is according to ex-Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, who exclusively told Aston Villa News that Unai Emery‘s side could be in big trouble if they don’t qualify for next season’s Champions League.

The thought of finishing in the top five in the Premier League seemed like a distant pipe dream after Villa failed to win any of their opening five matches as they languished in the relegation zone.

But a remarkable upturn in form, which included an 11-match winning streak, has lifted Villa into Champions League contention, with the West Midlands outfit currently sitting fourth in the table.

Ahead of the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Bologna on Thursday, Wyness has turned the microscope on Villa’s finances as they bid to end the season on a high.

Champions League is a non-negotiable for Aston Villa

Emery has worked wonders at Villa since replacing Steven Gerrard in October 2022. The Villans were hovering above the bottom three when he took over but now they are becoming an established top six side.

A big part of that is down to Emery’s astute management, in addition to the club offering big wages to attract some top talent and making some excellent signings, too.

Indeed, according to Capology, only Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea have a higher wage bill than Villa.

They have achieved all this success despite having the 13th biggest net spend in the Premier League since the 2022-23 season, as per Transfermarkt.

But Villa are still trying not to fall afoul of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, something Champions League qualification can help with.

However, UEFA’s financial rules restrict spending on wages for players and coaches, transfers, and agent fees to 70 per cent of a club’s revenues – which is not ideal for Villa. And former Everton and Aberdeen CEO Wyness thinks Villa are too reliant on that Champions League windfall.

“Champions League is crucial for them, and for Villa they’ve got to solidify things and stop this downward trend at the moment, and they’ve got to get back in the Champions League places,” he said.

“I hope they do because this is desperate for them. If they don’t get that Champions League revenue, I’m afraid a lot of the house of cards starts to fall down, but they’ve still got a chance, but it just shows the importance of it.

“The trouble is, of course, as we all know with Champions League revenue, is that it’s not dependable. You’ve got to keep on doing it.

“You get addicted to that Champions League money, and it’s difficult for Villa but they’ve got to just arrest this decline, finish really strongly this season because this means so much for Villa right now, the Champions League.”

Will Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League?

Before Emery’s players return to Premier League action, Villa have to focus on taking on Bologna on their own patch on Thursday night.

Villa’s last major trophy was the Intertoto Cup in 2001, so Villans fans would love for Emery’s men to go all the way in the Europa League.

While the Spaniard considers which players will face the Italian outfit, Villa have a mixture of difficult and winnable games on paper in the league.

Away games at lowly Nottingham Forest and Burnley, mid-table Fulham, and title-chasing Manchester City are to come.

And at Villa Park, Villa host Sunderland, struggling Tottenham, and an out-of-sorts Liverpool.

They hold a five-point cushion over the Reds in fifth, which is likely to be the last Champions League qualification spot, whereas sixth-placed Chelsea are six points behind Villa. So, it’s still all to play for.