Aston Villa were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brentford on Tuesday night - leaving Unai Emery's men in need of a pick up
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on the touchline during the Carabao Cup third round match at the Gtech Community Stadium, London
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery on the touchline during the Carabao Cup third round match at the Gtech Community Stadium, London
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Unai Emery could be targeting the Europa League as Aston Villa’s most likely route to Champions League qualification.
That’s according to former Villa defender Curtis Davies who noted the Spaniard didn’t seem unduly ‘agitated’ by Tuesday night’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Brentford.
Villa, who scored for the first time this season when Harvey Elliott put his new team ahead at the Gtech Community Stadium, are yet to win this term.
That has prompted a series of questions about Villa’s struggles, with some pointing to a lack of depth after a restricted transfer window, and whether they can challenge for a top four spot again this term.
Instead winning the second-tier European event would give Villa a seat at the top table - and all the revenues that come with it - and a chance to return to the most prestigious club tournament in the sport.
It was a strategy that worked for Ange Postecoglou last season as his Tottenham side qualified for the Champions League despite finishing 17th in the Premier League.
“I think under lights, Villa Park, European nights, especially against a Bologna side, I think Unai Emery's history with that competition, having won it five times, it could be that he doubles down on that competition,” Davies told Sky Sports.
“That's not to say he's going do it in the Spurs way where he lets the league totally fall by the wayside, but I think he maybe sees a realism in his squad that's going to be his best way to get into that Champions League.
“Does he fancy them for the top five as much as he did last year? Maybe not.
“So maybe he'll go down the Europa League, where he didn't actually seem, and it sounds silly to say, but he didn't seem that disappointed after the game.
“We've seen Unai really agitated after a loss and really edgy. He didn't seem that agitated.
“So I think it might be something that may be a relief and he'll go into Europa over the next couple of weeks quite happy they're out of this competition.”
Do you think Villa should prioritise the Europa League? Have your say here
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