Thanks to Unai Emery, there is a buzz around Villa Park again. Aston Villa will play European football in 2023-24, and the Villains will also aim to break into the top six in the Premier League.
• Manager: Unai Emery
• Stadium: Villa Park
• Last Season: 7th
Having registered their highest Premier League finish since 2009-10 last term, Aston Villa head into the new campaign with a spring in their step.
Can Unai Emery build on last season’s achievements and take Villa to the next level in 2023-24?
When Steven Gerrard was sacked in October 2022, Aston Villa found themselves just outside the relegation zone after starting the season with a record of two wins, three draws and six losses.
Unai Emery was appointed as Gerrard’s successor, and the Spaniard swiftly led Villa up the table.
Thanks largely to a 10-game unbeaten streak between January and April, the Villains went from relegation candidates to European chasers in a matter of months.
Villa finished their season with victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as a draw against Liverpool. As a result, Emery’s side finished seventh – one point clear of Spurs and one point shy of Brighton.
Ollie Watkins was the star of the show for Aston Villa last term, bagging 15 goals and six assists in 37 league outings.
The 27-year-old even managed to score 11 goals in 12 games after the turn of the year.
Douglas Luiz also enjoyed a standout 2022-23 campaign, contributing seven goals and six assists from midfield, while rising star Jacob Ramsey chalked up six goals and eight assists before his 21st birthday.
Having already signed Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres this summer, Villa will only be stronger in 2023-24.
Plus, Diego Carlos will feel like a new singing, as the Brazilian centre-back missed most of the previous campaign due to injury.
In addition to keeping pressure on the top six in the Premier League, Aston Villa will aim to make a deep run in the Europa Conference League in 2023-24.
Thankfully, Villa have the perfect manager for balancing domestic and continental commitments, as Emery has won four Europa League titles, and he also led Paris Saint-Germain to multiple trophies between 2016 and 2018.
With a proven manager at the helm and a group of hungry players ready to take the club to the next level, Aston Villa look set to enjoy another successful season under the guidance of Emery.
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