Unai Emery
Unai Emery (Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa suffered a fifth defeat in eight games in all competitions on Sunday as they fell victim to a dominant Chelsea, looking a shell of what Unai Emery had them playing like just months ago.
Goals from Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernández and Cole Palmer inflicted the damage as Villa made it eight games without a win, extending what has been dubbed somewhat of a crisis for the Villans.
It is the longest run without a win in Emery's successful two-year tenure which has come just before the run-up to a busy Christmas period that includes both Premier League and Champions League action.
Here is how the national media has reacted to Villa's struggles after the defeat at Stamford Bridge...
Villa have been 'worked out'
The Telegraph has stressed that Emery's Villa side have been 'worked out' after two seasons of a romantic underdog tale which has propelled them to back-to-back European qualification.
The Lions boss admitted that his side have lost the element of surprise that has helped them climb the table and secure Champions League football and The Telegraph has highlighted the fact that Emery thinks teams are treating his side differently this campaign.
In their two total previous visits to Chelsea under the 53-year-old, Villa had come away with three points on both occasions, however it was a different tale last weekend with Chelsea asserting dominance early on with their seventh-minute opener.
'Mid-table scrabblers'
As Villa's struggles continue, The Guardian has labelled their downturn in form as a fall from 'top-four contenders to mid-table scrabblers'.
The news outlet determined that Chelsea were better-equipped to combat Emery's tactics in this encounter between the two sides, describing Villa as 'slow to read the room' and 'startled'.
Despite the Claret and Blues having their moments over the past weeks of negative fortunes, almost earning a valuable win in midweek if not for a controversial VAR call late on against Juventus, Villa have been questioned as to whether the Champions League has worn them out.
And are they now just a shadow of their former selves?
Starting to crack
The Daily Mail delivered an honest verdict on the West Midlands giants' current state.
'Once so sure of themselves, they currently have the look of a side never too far from an error,' was how Villa were described as they silly decisions made them pay in the Blues' rout.
Self-sabotage proved decisive in West London, however there was credit for the chances that Emery's men did create with the best of their few chances coming when substitute Jhon Duran had an effort cleared off the line by the hosts' Levi Colwill.
Martínez injury issues
Going off at half time to be replaced by Robin Olsen after a rollercoaster of a first half, Emiliano Martínez's absence could prove to be another big issue on top of Villa's already troublesome fortunes.
Sky Sports has called it another 'headache' for Emery to deal with, adding that if the winless run continues past the next two games against Brentford and Southampton at home, the Spaniard will no longer be calm.
Needing to rediscover their confidence, Sky described Villa as 'deflated' as they suffered a fourth league defeat.
Struggling to cope
The Independent has called the Villans out for 'struggling to handle' the burden of a busy season after qualifying for the Champions League last campaign.
With Villa now 'languishing' in the bottom half, they have been criticised for playing 'kamikaze' football in their own box at time against the Blues.
It was added that the lack of rotation - just two changes were made - since the Juventus game just four games prior had an impact on the away side's performance, particularly in the early stages.
Limp Lions
TalkSport supposedly held some sympathy for Villa as they were described as 'uncharacteristically limp'.
The Lions' bluntness in front of goal was also labelled as a key factor in the current crisis with Emery's men failing to find the back of the net in four of their last five matches.
Villa's boss said after the game that he is not yet too worried about the lack of goals as he believes his side are still creating chances; if they were not then it would be a different story.
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