Yahoo News Unai Emery reminds Aston Villa what they've lost in Champions League pursuit
Unai Emery has reminded Aston Villa that claiming positive results in the Premier League run-in is all the more critical now that England's top flight has all but lost out in the battle to earn an extra Champions League place.
Villa remain the only English team in Europe at any level. Liverpool and West Ham have bowed out of the Europa League at the hands of Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, while Real Madrid knocked out Manchester City and Arsenal were dumped out by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Those results contributed to the strengthening of the hands of Italy and Germany in the UEFA coefficient rankings. They sit in first and second in the table. With Villa the sole side left, it means that those aforementioned countries - who have six sides between them still in European competitions - are expected to claim the two extra Champions League spots. For Villa, it takes away the safety net of finishing fifth as they bid to reach Europe's top table.
Now, if they wish to play in the Champions League, only fourth will do - and Tottenham, six points behind them but with two games in hand, are the only side who can deny them their highest top flight finish since 1996. Emery is fully aware of the permutations and knows what is at stake.
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"It's a very big challenge we are going to face in the last part of the season, because we have lost the fifth position to play in the Champions League last year - the two countries, I think, Italy and Germany are going to get them [the extra co-efficient places]," Emery outlined to beIN Sports Asia.
"After this, we have to fight. It's another challenge to play for fourth position in the table and we are going to face it with Tottenham. It will be very difficult, but hopefully we are going to get it. If not, and it's Europa League, and it's another very good competition. I don't know exactly the new Champions League looks."
"It's a surprise," he added, when discussing the fact that Villa are the only English representative remaining in European football this season. "The English teams are contenders to win in Europe - the teams in the Champions League, the Europa League and the Conference League - but I think the most difficult league to mix, or share, with a competition in Europe is the Premier League.
"Every match is a strong match, a tough match, there are lots of good players, coaches, tactical work and it's very difficult to be competitive and to be a winner in Premier League and then in Europe. That's a consequence, it means we are the only team in Europe."
