Unai Emery has admitted that it will be ‘very difficult’ for Aston Villa to finish above Newcastle United again.
Aston Villa followed in Newcastle’s footsteps last season by disrupting the established order and qualifying for the Champions League. Aston Villa, in the process, ended the campaign eight points clear of Newcastle, who slipped to seventh place in the table following an injury-ravaged season.
However, Aston Villa have faced a real challenge to fight on multiple fronts – just as Newcastle did last year – and Emery’s team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest at the weekend despite leading in the 86th minute. Now, as we approach the halfway point of the campaign, Newcastle are just two points off Aston Villa in sixth and Emery clearly has a lot of respect for the black-and-whites ahead of the sides meeting on Boxing Day.
“Two years ago, we arrived here,” he told Sky Sports. “We were progressing. Chelsea and some teams were behind us.
“Last year we got to fourth in the table and another three teams contended more than us like Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United. Even Newcastle were behind us, but to fight and be in front of them every year is very difficult.
“Why? Because they have more capacity to be in front of us with everything, but we want to be there and we want to try to reduce the distance. We reduced the distance last year because we were in front of them, but, this year, again, we have to reduce the distance they have with us.”
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