Final Day Loss Costs Villa UCL Place: 3 Major Implications

Going into the final round of English Premier League matches yesterday, the top three and the bottom three places were decided. But the last two Champions League places remained up for grabs. Chelsea FC, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest were gunning for a place in Europe’s premier club competition. The outcome of yesterday’s games would determine which two of these four would join Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur in representing England among Europe’s elite next season. 

With Chelsea beating Forest and Newcastle losing at home to Everton, Villa only needed a draw to compete in the UCL for the second successive season. With their opponents, Manchester United, still reeling from their Europa League final loss, this didn’t seem like an impossible mission. But United weren’t going to let Villa waltz into the Champions League. They were desperate to give their fans something to cheer about following a calamitous season.

How Did the Game Unfold?

In the first half, the Red Devils created a flurry of chances, some of which were saved by Emiliano Martinez and others that were narrowly off target. But just before halftime, Villa turned into their own worst enemies. A sloppy Matty Cash back pass forced Martinez to race off his line and flatten Rasmus Højlund, earning the Argentine a straight red card. Even a man-light, Villa almost took the lead in the 72nd minute when Morgan Rogers slotted the ball into an unguarded net. 

But the goal was controversially ruled out for a foul on Manchester United Keeper Altay Bayindir. A few minutes later, United took the lead on an Amad Diallo header. They later extended the lead from the penalty box after another debatable referee decision. Needing just a point to secure their UCL access, Unai Emery and his men left Old Trafford empty-handed. These are the implications of that crushingly disappointing result.

Aston Villa Is Slipping

When asked about the disappointment of missing out on Champions League football, Emery downplayed the gravity of the result, highlighting his team’s ‘consistency’. Qualifying for European competition for three successive seasons was proof that they were maintaining high standards. This is true to an extent. Before the Spaniard’s arrival, the Villans were regulars in the bottom half of the EPL standings. 

But compared to last season, the Birmingham club has finished with two points less and two places lower on the table. This has not only locked them out of the big boys’ league but also robbed them of substantial resources. 

Squad Depth

A key factor in Villa’s deep Champions League run was the rich influx of January loanees. The arrivals of Marco Asensio, Axel Disasi, and Marcus Rashford breathed new life into Villa’s campaign. Paris St-Germain Midfielder Asensio and Man U want-away Rashford were particularly influential. Between them, they contributed nine goals and four assists, helping Villa obtain the dizzying heights of the Champions League quarter finals.  

Hanging on to these players will be a challenge without the promise of UCL football. Attracting top talents to bolster squad depth will be equally complicated. The millions of dollars they’ve missed out on could have helped them meet the buy-out clauses of players like Rashford.

Emery’s First Trophy?

In his second season at Villa Park, Emery helped the Villans reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League. This season they reached the UCL quarters, which can be considered massive progress in terms of continental competition. Perhaps next season could be the one Aston Villa wins its first European honors since 2001’s Intertoto Cup. Unai Emery is a known specialist when it comes to the Europa League. No other coach has won it more times than him.

If he’s able to add a bit more quality to his squad, Emery can add to the four Europa League wins he enjoyed with Villareal and Sevilla. There still must be enough of that Jhon Durán cash left to give the Villa boss the tools he needs to create a side that’ll mount a strong challenge.

Misery Loves Company

This Premier League has produced more than its share of plot twists. Yesterday’s unexpected turn ended in heartbreak for not just Aston Villa but also Nottingham Forest. Nuno Espiríto Santo and his men were in the top three for a few weeks and seemed to be casually cruising into UCL qualification. But their failure to collect any points at home against Chelsea yesterday condemned them to the same fate as Villa. Only that they’ll be playing in the Conference League, not Europa.