Aston Villa take on Sunderland on Sunday still seeking their first win of the 2025/26 Premier League season
Jamie Redknapp has criticised Jadon Sancho of Aston VillaView Image
Jamie Redknapp has poured cold water on Aston Villa's chances of challenging for Champions League qualification.
Unai Emery's team are yet to win this season - and have scored just one goal, with Harvey Elliott's strike at Brentford earning nothing more than a penalty shoot-out loss to Brentford in midweek.
Redknapp watched that game and saw a side low on confidence, lacking energy and a shadow of previous Emery teams.
Indeed the former midfielder says Villa aren't capable of reaching the Champions League.
"I think there's still a hangover from last season when they didn't make Champions League football," Redknapp told Sky Sports. "I can see it in their performances.
"I don't look at the players they've brought in, look it's still early, we have to be very respectful of that, but I don't get the excitement that I have done over the last sort of year and a half under Unai.
"We've waxed lyrical about how his team's set up, how good they are, how much energy they've got.
"Sancho's not an upgrade from what they had with Rashford and Asensio, obviously both gone.
"I look and think 'It's going to be one of those seasons' Are they going to be competing for the top 5?
"Not when I look at that squad, I don't think they're capable.
"I think it's going to be one of those seasons where they're still going to do well, but to push on and get Champions League football...and they've not won a trophy in however many years.
"Looking at what Newcastle did last year, you look at this one and think, what an opportunity to go and do something.
"Whereas now, obviously he's a master in European football, he's been well known for that, that's why he's got the big jobs in the past - but I look at the Villa team and the squad and I think it's going to be one of those sort of long seasons where it's going to be a lot of ups and downs.
"Right now they're devoid of confidence and belief, you look at Watkins and he's going to score goals.
"End of last season he was obviously left out with Rashford and that is there still a little hangover with that because he's lost that belief that the manager had in him and that trust and that can affect you for a long time.
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"Morgan Rogers is a world class player, I think the world of him, he's the sort of player that can carry the team forward, but he needs a bit of help as well.
"I look at the team and the energy isn't quite there and it's going to be a really interesting season."