Dean Smith, the former Aston Villa head coach, suggests that Aston Villa could secure a place in the Champions League this season, drawing a parallel with Newcastle United’s success in the Premier League last season. He made these remarks after witnessing Unai Emery’s team convincingly defeat European aspirants West Ham 4-1 at Villa Park.
In 2023, only Manchester City and Arsenal have accumulated as many Premier League points as Aston Villa. Their victory over West Ham marked their 11th consecutive home league win. After the match, Smith commended Villa’s owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, for their significant investment in the club, which has reignited the dreams of the fans.
Smith stated, “They have a few injuries with Buendia and Mings, but they believe they have a squad that can compete both in Europe and at home. You can sense that something promising is in the making. The owners have made substantial investments in the football club, including the infrastructure and the playing staff. Their aspirations are for success, both domestically and internationally.”
He further pointed out the team’s remarkable achievement of 11 consecutive home wins, emphasizing that their progress is undeniable. Smith also commended Unai Emery for his excellent work and the impressive statistics that support Villa’s upward trajectory.
In conclusion, Smith believes that, just as Newcastle did last season, Aston Villa could aspire to achieve remarkable success in the current season, including a potential qualification for the Champions League.
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