Aston Villa are losing ground in the Premier League title race but the season can still have a silver-lining with Unai Emery in charge
Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Aston Villa FC and FC Salzburg at Villa Park
Unai Emery has been frustrated by the restraints on Villa's transfer activity
View 2 Images
Lee Hendrie has told Unai Emery he should emulate Ange Postecoglou’s policy at Tottenham Hotspur last season by prioritising the Europa League over the domestic title race.
Indeed the former Aston Villa man is adamant Emery’s team are way behind favourites Arsenal, after another low-key transfer window left the Spaniard with limited options.
The ex-midfielder, who made more than 300 appearances over a decade in Claret & Blue, noted how Villa’s recent home struggles have ended their hopes of winning a first English title since 1981.
Instead, he says, Emery should channel his resources to ending Villa’s 30-year wait for a major honour and doing what Postecoglou did by targeting European glory. The Australian guided Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years when they beat Manchester United in a low-quality final in Bilbao, while finishing 17th in the table.
Speaking exclusively on the Footy Accumulators No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, in partnership with BOYLE Sports, Hendrie was clear in his advice to Emery.
“Having watched Arsenal recently, Villa are streets behind. I look at the last two home games that Villa had against Everton and Brentford. They're games that they should be winning. And that's why I said that I feel that they've just run their course.
“Villa have got one of the best managers around for me in the world at this moment in time in Unai Emery. What he's done and achieved, I do believe that they'll finish in the top four or five.
“I feel that we'll win a trophy as well. The Europa League is there for us. Unai is a serial winner in that competition. With the way that the seasons have gone since he's taken over, the Europa Conference League, where we had a great run, the Champions League, where we had a superb run.
“They've got the sort of a bit more experience in that squad, and having played in Europe now in the different stages, this gives them a real platform to go and get that trophy.
Unai Emery of Villarreal CF
Unai Emery at Villarreal CF(Image: Getty Images)
View 2 Images
“You've got to sacrifice something, you've got to look logically and realistically. Winning games, obviously, the more you're ticking those teams off, and you're still in the mix for the title.
"But realistically, you’re looking at a top four or five finish and really going for a trophy, which the European one looks like a really big opportunity. It's all about trying to focus on making sure that they're in the Champions League.”
Hendrie also claimed Emery will be disappointed with Villa’s January transfer window, which saw Tammy Abraham, Leon Bailey and Douglas Luiz all return to Villa Park.
“The squad depth, when you compare it to City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, even Manchester United, they haven't been able to bring the sort of calibre of player and the squad depth of player to obviously compete.
“Unai Emery has been so frustrated. He hasn't been able to go, ‘Right, I can bring in three or four players, we are sitting third in the table, we're only a few points behind Arsenal. We can go and have a good go at this, so this is our chance to actually shine’. And he hasn't been able to do it because of the financial fair play situation.”
Do you agree with Hendrie? Let us know
Content Image
Content Image