Gary Lineker - plenty of Match of the Day memories
Gary Lineker has spoken out about the consequences of PSR on Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s squad is ‘suffering’ due to the twin demands of Premier and Champions League football.
That’s according to Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer who have been discussing the club’s run of eight games without a win and their most recent performance at Chelsea.
Unai Emery’s side lost 3-0 at Stamford Bridge and while they could have worked their way into the game had they taken key chances, the contrast in intensity between the two teams was clear for all to see.
Not least because while Chelsea were able to field almost a completely different team to the one which played in the Europa Conference League on Thursday evening, Villa were able to change only two players from their 0-0 draw with Juventus the day before.
The pair trace Villa’s lack of options to the Profitability & Sustainability Rules which dictated they sell Douglas Luiz to Juve in the summer.
Shearer told the Rest is Football podcast : “They (Chelsea) had too much energy for Aston Villa, they just pressed them all over the pitch at every opportunity, he’s got them well-drilled...obviously it helps they are playing a different 10-11 in Europe and having them really set to go at the weekend – that you can tell.”
Lineker: “Aston Villa can’t, can they? Because they are in the Champions League.”
Shearer: “Exactly. They haven’t got the bodies to do that. They can’t do it because of the quality they are up against. It showed with Aston Villa. It reminds me a bit of what Newcastle were last season when they got into the Champions League.
"The energy they had to put in on a Tuesday and a Wednesday. It’s bound to take it out of you at the weekend and that affected their league position. That’s what’s happening to Aston Villa at the minute.”
Lineker: “Villa now are in the bottom half. They are suffering because of the nature of the matches. They have been going well in the Champions League as well. Coming from those huge games that they have been playing. Bayern Munich and Juventus etc… It is difficult. I remember when Leicester sneaked into the Champions League and it was so difficult to perform week in week out. It’s difficult for clubs who haven’t got the strength in depth that Manchester City, Liverpool that Arsenal have.”
Shearer: “Makes it even worse when you get there (Champions League) and then the following summer, you have to sell one of your best players because of financial rules. That makes it difficult as well.”
Lineker stated: “We have made our point clear on that. We think it’s a tad unfair.”
Do you agree with Lineker? Have your say here