Season-defining Chelsea clash, Emery's take on recent form, Christian Purslow's thoughts on Harvey Elliott and pre-season plans
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery(Image: PA)
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Aston Villa must respond on Wednesday night after a woeful display and result against Wolves last Friday.
Becoming only the second club to lose to Wolves in the Premier League this season, Villa were embarrassed at Molineux as Joao Gomes and Rodrigo Gomes struck in the second half.
After Chelsea’s loss at Arsenal, Villa remain six points ahead of the Blues, but their gap to Liam Rosenior’s side could shrink to three points - or increase to nine - on Wednesday evening.
Villa won’t play this coming weekend, as they return to action against Lille in the Europa League next Thursday, before travelling to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
Chelsea clash could be season-defining
After a drop in form, partly due to the absence of a key midfield trio, Wednesday night is hugely important.
For some fans, it may feel more like a ‘must not lose’ than anything else, even if Villa have a big opportunity to move further away from Chelsea. Recent form, however, hardly puts Unai Emery’s side among the favourites.
If Villa avoid defeat to Chelsea, they will need just one more point from matches against United and West Ham to guarantee remaining above Chelsea over the international break.
After the break, Chelsea face both Manchester clubs at home, while Villa travel to Nottingham Forest before hosting Sunderland.
The good news for Villa is that this Chelsea match could be the last without captain John McGinn, while Youri Tielemans is set to return after the March break.
Following their 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, Villa are looking to complete a league double over Chelsea for the first time since the 1989-90 campaign. They are also aiming for three consecutive league wins against the Blues for the first time since a run of four between 1978 and 1984.
Emery: Better than previous poor run
Comparisons can be drawn between Villa’s recent form and their first five matches of the season.
Although they have managed to score goals, only one has come from open play in six matches, with just one victory in that period - thanks to a late Jack Hinshelwood own goal against Brighton.
Worryingly, Villa scored just two goals from 76 shots (a 2.6% conversion rate) and 6.0 expected goals in their last four league matches at Villa Park.
Emery, speaking after the defeat to Wolves, insisted he does not believe Villa are in as bad a place as they were at the start of the campaign.
“We need to try to be positive and try to go forward,” he said. “Everything we did before today is now done, but still we have an advantage in the table.
“Of course, the power of the teams behind us is massive. I am excited and motivated to keep the position we are in. We are losing some opportunities, but we are still being in there [top five].
“We have, as well, the Europa League to create a strong atmosphere and emotions to continue in the way we are in.
“We were in February, now in March, and this is a key moment for the season. We were so, so poor in September. Now we are much, much better - even after losing today.”
Purslow has his say on Elliott's struggles
We know that Harvey Elliott won’t be influencing Villa’s league form any time soon, as it was explained last month that he can only feature in European games without triggering the appearance-based obligation-to-buy clause.
Liverpool are unlikely to allow him to play for Villa in the league - even with the obligation removed - as it could affect their own chances of qualifying for the Champions League.
Villa’s former CEO, Christian Purslow, made this point on talkSPORT.
“It seems to me that, once this situation started to kick in with Villa having a huge injury crisis very recently, that there was an obvious opportunity to recut the deal and say, ‘How about we let him play more games and we’ll pay you a fee for that’, but the non-negotiable for Villa would’ve been, ‘We cannot buy the player in the summer’.
“Liverpool weren’t playing ball, and they weren’t playing ball because of what has been hanging over the last few weeks, which is the top-five outcome. The stakes on Champions League qualification are so high, probably £90m to £100m of revenue next year in or out.
“Frankly, the £5m to £10m you might lose if Harvey Elliott doesn’t kick a ball and bounces back in the summer is peanuts compared to whether Liverpool are fifth or Villa fifth, so that’s why Liverpool aren’t playing ball.
“There’s one ‘but’. I’ve noticed they’ve briefed out that the 10 games [for making the transfer permanent] is Premier League games, so I think there’s a decent chance we see Harvey Elliott playing in the Europa League.”
Pre-season plans being drawn up
It’s that time of year when news of Villa’s pre-season plans begins to surface.
According to Sing Tao Daily, Villa could travel to Hong Kong in August for an exhibition match against a Bundesliga team.
The report suggests that the likely opponent is Bayern Munich, though this is far from confirmed at this stage.
If Villa do make the trip, it would mark their first appearance in Hong Kong in 15 years.
In recent seasons, Villa have spent their summers in the USA, while also heading to the Middle East for warm-weather training camps during the winter.
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