Aston Villa: Champions League development raises stakes at Villa Park
Dan Plumley believes the stakes have been raised for Aston Villa in their pursuit of Champions League football following a blow to the English coefficient.
The chances of the Premier League being handed a fifth spot in next season's competition suffered a blow when Liverpool and West Ham were comfortably beaten in their Europa League ties against Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen.
The football finance expert has admitted the financial rewards would be "really lucrative" for Villa if they manage to finish in the top four this season.
“It raises the stakes a little bit,” he exclusively told Villa News.
"Villa have had a fantastic season and, perhaps, they never expected to be in a Champions League qualification battle and Emery said that at the weekend. After that result, I think he is starting to even say it verbally that they are in the mix.
"It’s obviously more beneficial if that fifth spot is available for England, but it’s looking like that could go the other way now. It does raise the stakes a little bit.
"I’m sure Villa will say ‘Look, we’re overachieving this season no matter what’. But if you can stay in that top four now, it becomes really lucrative for them.
"If you can stay in that fourth spot, then it doesn’t matter what happens with the fifth spot, it’s somebody else’s problem.”
Champions League football would hand Aston Villa financial boost
If Villa manage to qualify for the Champions League this season, it would provide them with a huge boost after their difficult financial situation has been well-documented.
It could also open up the opportunity to sign higher-calibre players as they look to strengthen their squad further this summer.
But as Plumley points out, it looks as though they will need to finish in the top four to secure their place in the competition due to the recent results of the other English sides.
In other Aston Villa news, a journalist has raged at the “unfair” criticism he’s seen aimed at a Villa star.
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