Aston Villa

It says a lot about Aston Villa’s season that their qualification for next season’s Europa League has hardly registered or been celebrated by the fanbase.

Villa, however, are aiming for an above-par finish to the season, seeking both qualification for the Champions League and to lift the Europa Conference League.

Their recent draw against Chelsea extended their lead over Tottenham to seven points, with the north London team now under pressure with just two games in hand.

Everything seemed to be going well until the team received its latest injury curveball. While Unai Emery has emphasised a no-excuse culture at Villa, they now face the absence of two key players in their high-stakes run-in.

Emi Martinez is expected to be sidelined for two weeks with a minor hamstring injury, while Youri Tielemans could be out for three weeks, potentially ending his season.

In mitigation, Martinez was already set to miss the Europa Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiakos because of suspension. However, his return is crucial for the team in coping with a white-hot and intense atmosphere in the second leg in Athens.

If Villa make it to the final in Greece, they will be hopeful that Tielemans can recover in time. In recent weeks, the Belgium international has superbly covered both the injury loss of Boubacar Kamara and suspensions to Douglas Luiz and John McGinn.

It will be a cruel final act of the season for Villa if both injuries compromise Emery putting the final touches on an excellent campaign.

David Michael can be found at My Old Man Said, external

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering your questions.

Drummond asked: Who gets your vote for manager of the season? Surely Unai Emery is the favourite with what he is achieving?

Simon replied: Emery has to be right up there Drummond. He has done a superb job at Aston Villa, taking them to the brink of a Champions League place and also still in contention for the Europa Conference League.

Pep Guardiola could become the first manager to take a team to four successive top flight titles and could be the first to do the domestic double in successive seasons, which is not without merit. And Mikel Arteta could win the title.

Looking further down the list, if either Luton or Burnley stay up, that would reflect really well on Rob Edwards and Vincent Kompany while, given they have been battling with clubs receiving parachute payments, Kieran McKenna has done phenomenally well to take Ipswich to the brink of promotion.

Image source, Getty Images

Premier League clubs have voted in favour of adopting an anchoring economic model, which will be linked to the earnings of the bottom club (tv and prize money).

The proposed system would operate like a spending cap.

The next stage is final analysis and drafting of rules, which will potentially be put to clubs at an AGM in June.

The model will be presented to clubs and - should clubs vote in favour then - it will replace the Profit and Sustainability Rules currently in place, from the 2025-26 season onwards.

Any new element of the financial system would come in shadow next season, to fully replace PSR in 2025-26.

“We will obviously wait to see further details of these specific proposals, but we have always been clear that we would oppose any measure that would place a ‘hard’ cap on player wages," said the PFA

“There is an established process in place to ensure that proposals like this, which would directly impact our members, have to be properly consulted on.”

Aston Villa, Manchester City and Manchester United opposed the vote, with Chelsea abstaining.

We asked for your views on Saturday's match between Aston Villa and Chelsea.

Here are some of your answers:

Villa fans

Dave: Were we guilty of trying to pace ourselves too much with Thursday on our minds? Are we struggling to manage a march for fourth place and a European trophy, with a catalogue of injuries? Maybe it's both, but Emery has still brought hope, excitement and our best season for a very long time. At least fifth place is guaranteed and we are above three of the 'big six'. I will take that!

James: We were very lucky to come away with a point there. If I was a Chelsea fan, I would be fuming. Villa must stop this low intensity attitude when they think a game is won at 2-0. It has hurt us many times. It's going to be a nervy end of the season.

David: It feels harsh to criticise a threadbare and exhausted squad, but this was a really disappointing performance. Sitting back so much made no sense when Bailey and Rogers' pace had Chelsea scared. A massive fortnight for the club is coming up, a real potential 'sliding doors' moment.

Stephen: Qualified for the Europa League and we can't finish worse than sixth, so it is objective achieved for Villa! An improvement on last season, we cannot complain about that, but we have to stop giving up two-goal leads. It has happened four times this season! The pressure is on Spurs - we have the points!

Chelsea fans

Nick: A much improved performance after the insipid shambles at Arsenal. With 12 players injured, the team picked itself and showed great character and determination to get back into the game, after presenting Villa with two soft goals. It feels like two points dropped, given Chelsea's domination in the second half.

Fossie: A game of two halves again. Whatever Pochettino said at half-time did the trick. Why he persists with using Mudryk I don't know. VAR has a lot to answer for after denying us the third goal and the Chelsea players were quite right to protest at the end of the game, even if some do get fined or banned.

David: Chelsea have the ability to be a very good team in most areas of the pitch, except in defence. However, with the return of James, Fofana, Colwill and Chilwell that deficiency would be solved. However, it would still leave the goalkeeping position unresolved. Against Villa they showed all of their qualities, both bad and good, but the spirit showed through in a promising performance.

Bry: It's about time they came to life as a team. In the second half, the process started and they fought for each ball, as a team should. It has been a hard season for Chelsea supporters to take but, in any team game, this bonding comes in time as the manager has said! You cannot produce this in a few weeks with all of the changes in personnel. It is a time thing.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

• Man Utd 1-1 Burnley

• Everton 1-0 Brentford

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to TNT Sports after the draw: "We are very happy because today we achieved the first thing: improving.

"We wanted to play in the Europa League last year, and now we have a new challenge which is to play in the Champions League.

"Chelsea today showed the power, but we are being consistent in 35 matches. So to draw at the end is a very good result. I want more, of course.

"Chelsea have very good players. The result was amazing in the first half. We were defending well and we didn't concede a lot, but of course we needed to keep more possession and it is difficult against Chelsea."

On Morgan Rogers: "He has been very quick [to learn and develop] and after we needed him to play more minutes - of course he is helping us out."

On whether injuries are effecting Villa's form: "We have to try to keep being consistent with the players we have. I believe in the players.

"After this draw, we are now thinking on Thursday against Olympiakos. It will be tough. In the Premier League, we are fighting with Tottenham for fourth position."

Image source, Reuters

At 2-0 up Aston Villa were cruising.

They were on track to open up a nine-point lead on fifth-placed Tottenham and rack up a 21st win in the top-flight for the first time since the 1992-93 season.

They showed a softness in the second half that has not been evident in Unai Emery's side very often this season.

The loss of Emi Martinez at half-time was a big blow and Villa lack his presence as they came under pressure in the second half.

Midfielder Morgan Rogers was a positive, with the 21-year-old now scoring in three successive home games.

But, with a home game against Liverpool sandwiched between trips to Brighton and Crystal Palace, the dropped points may end up being damaging for Villa.

Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers has been speaking to TNT Sports following the draw: "We are disappointed. They controlled the game, most of the game.

"We should probably see the game out. We might look back on it as a good point because they are a good team.

"There was a mountain of pressure. They are good players and they are going to score goals."

On Cole Palmer's standard goal celebration: "He definitely copied me. It is my celebration. Check the timeline, I did it first.

"He is one of my closest friends in life. I couldn't be more proud of him. He is showing everyone what I knew he could do two or three years ago."

Here are the key facts and figures following Saturday’s game between Aston Villa and Chelsea in the Premier League.

• Chelsea avoided defeat for just the fourth time in 51 Premier League games in which they were two or more goals behind at half-time, also drawing 3-3 with Sheffield Wednesday (August 1992), 2-2 with Tottenham (May 2016), and 3-3 with West Bromwich Albion (September 2020).

• Aston Villa have scored 73 Premier League goals this season, their most in a single top-flight campaign since 1976-77 (76 goals).

• Chelsea have won just one of their past 19 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the top four (D7 L11), winning 4-1 at Tottenham in November this season.

• Marc Cucurella’s own goal after 03:44 was the second earliest Chelsea have conceded an own goal in a Premier League match, after David Luiz put through his own net after 03:08 against Manchester United in October 2012.

• At 21 years and 276 days, Morgan Rogers is the youngest Aston Villa player to score in three consecutive Premier League home appearances. He has been involved in four goals in his past five league games for the Villans (3 goals, 1 assist).

Axel Disasi had a stoppage-time winner disallowed, but Chelsea came from two goals down to dent Aston Villa's top-four hopes in Birmingham.

Disasi thought he had sealed victory after he nodded home Benoit Badiashile's cross, but the video assistant referee (VAR) recommended an on-field review and referee Craig Pawson decided the latter had barged a Villa defender before the cross.

Chelsea's players were incensed and crowded Pawson at the full-time whistle, while manager Mauricio Pochettino had a passionate discussion with Villa defender Ezri Konsa.

Villa, whose top-four hopes are now not in their hands as a result of the dropped points, had taken an early lead after John McGinn's miscued effort deflected off Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella and into the bottom corner.

The visitors responded well with Nicolas Jackson having an effort disallowed by the video assistant referee for offside, before the Senegal international planted a header against the base of the post.

Morgan Rogers doubled the home side's lead after finding space on the left and tucking the ball into the near post through the legs of Trevoh Chalobah.

Chelsea found a route back into the game after catching Villa in possession high up the pitch, with Noni Madueke sliding a clever finish into the far corner.

The visitors pressed for an equaliser, without creating too many opportunities, until Gallagher worked a shooting opportunity on his left foot and curled into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Both sides had chances to win the game before the disallowed goal, with Ollie Watkins slicing a cutback over the bar and Cole Palmer having a shot saved when dribbling through one-on-one.

Unai Emery's side are seven points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, but Ange Postecoglou's side have three games in hand, starting with Sunday's north London derby against Arsenal.

There was further concern for Villa too, with goalkeeper Emi Martinez withdrawn at half-time after appearing to struggle with a thigh injury in the first period, and any period of absence could damage them with their Europa Conference League semi-final this week.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Aston Villa fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Chelsea fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on Andy Bell and Steve Queralt from Ride, who support Arsenal and Tottenham.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

I just don't understand how Chelsea can go from pushing Manchester City close in three games this season to the inept level of performance we saw from them against Arsenal on Tuesday.

I think they should stick with their manager Mauricio Pochettino regardless of what happens in their remaining games, but another walloping here will obviously damage his cause.

Chelsea won at Villa Park in the FA Cup in February, and I am actually expecting a response from them - but Aston Villa will still be too good for them.

Tottenham can move level with Unai Emery's side in fourth place if they win their games in hand but I'd much rather be in Villa's position. They have all the momentum at the moment, and look full of confidence too.

Andy's prediction: 2-2

I've gone for a draw here.

Steve's prediction: 3-0

Villa are kind of steamrolling their way to fourth spot now, and I also could not wish anything but the worst for Chelsea.

Read the rest of their predictions here

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and we will bring you every moment.

Follow live text updates and listen online here

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

Manchester United v Burnley - Listen on BBC Sounds from 15:00

Everton v Brentford - Listen on BBC Sounds from 17:30

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery says he is "very grateful" to the club's owners who continue to support him and his vision.

The Aston Villa boss recently extended his contract until 2027 and told the media he "is very happy" and "motivated" to continue his progress at the club.

Villa were 16th in the Premier League and fighting relegation when the Spaniard took over from Steven Gerrard in November 2022.

"My objective is always to develop myself as a coach and the people around me," said Emery. "We do not have the availability to spend a lot of money, but we have tried to be intelligent and we have always been positive.

"I am very grateful because the club are supporting me a lot.

"We are realistic with the work we have to do. It was about increasing the confidence levels of the players and they have done that. They feel comfortable now with the new demands that we are trying to push on to them."

Last season, Emery guided Villa to seventh in the table and Europa Conference League qualification and this season they sit fourth in the Premier League with the Champions League in their sights.

But a top-four finish was not his main aim at the beginning of the season.

"It was to be consistent across 38 matches and to focus," added Emery. "Even when we lost our first match [against Newcastle], we were focused on the next match with the same idea and mentality.

"My objective was to learn. This is the process and the team are getting better in this area."

Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Chelsea.

Here are the key lines from the Aston Villa boss:

• Emery said he is "very happy" to sign a contract extension and is "motivated" because "there is still a lot of work to do."

• He said he is "very proud" of his players for being on the cusp of Champions League qualification and added, "We deserve to be a contender."

• On whether a long-term aim of his is to win a Premier League title: "My objective is always to develop myself as a coach and the people around me. We do not have the availability to spend a lot of money but we have tried to be intelligent and we have always been positive."

• This season his aim has been quite simple: "To be consistent across 38 matches and to focus. To be demanding and always focusing on each match with the same mentality. The only way I know about developing is through mentality. The team are getting better in this area."

• Despite Chelsea's heavy defeat to Arsenal in midweek, Emery expects them to be "100% competitive" at Villa Park because "they have very good players."

• He said the reverse fixture, which Villa won 1-0, was "a very tough match" so he respects the opposition completely.

• He also confirmed Alex Moreno and Nicolo Zaniolo are unavailable for the game.

Follow all of Friday's live Premier League news conferences here

Here is a selection of the key facts and figures before Aston Villa host Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

• Aston Villa are looking to complete their first league double over Chelsea since 1989-90, when the Blues were a newly promoted side and the Villans eventually finished in second place.

• Chelsea won 3-1 against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the FA Cup this season – the last team to beat the Villans twice on the road in the same campaign were Tottenham in 2013-14.

• Having lost his first Premier League meeting with Chelsea in just his second game in charge in the competition in August 2018, Villa boss Unai Emery has won his past three against the Blues without conceding a goal.

• Chelsea have won just one of their past eight Premier League games outside of London, with that victory coming at Luton Town in December.

• Ollie Watkins has scored in his past two league games against Chelsea, though both have come at Stamford Bridge. No Aston Villa player has scored in three in a row against the Blues in the competition.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa will be heading to the United States for a three-game tour across three cities in preparation for the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.

The pre-season trip will kick off in Ohio, as Unai Emery's side take on MLS champions Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field on Saturday, 27 July.

The squad will then travel to New Jersey to face Bundesliga side RB Leipzig at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, 31 July.

Villa will round off their Stateside tour in Chicago, with a match against Liga MX champions Club America at Windy City's Soldier Field on Saturday, 3 August.

On their return from America, Unai Emery's squad will wrap up their pre-season with a showpiece friendly against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park in Germany on Saturday, 10 August.

As usual, there is the annual pre-season opener at Walsall which this year will be on Wednesday, 17 July.

The club says on their website they also retain hope of confirming an "additional domestic fixture" for pre-season.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is pushing for the club to sign 21-year-old Athletic Bilbao and Spain winger Nico Williams. (GiveMeSport), external

Villa are also closely monitoring Leeds United's 22-year-old Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville. (Football Insider), external

Finally Arsenal are still interested in Douglas Luiz as a possible replacement for 30-year-old Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey who could leave for £20-25m. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

You would like to think it took only a short conversation to get the deal done. News that Unai Emery had agreed a contract extension with Aston Villa was - not surprisingly - very warmly welcomed by fans and it is not hard to see the attractions for both parties.

Villa's astonishing progress since Emery's appointment only 18 months ago ensured his name was – and will no doubt continue to be - brought up in discussions as top-level managerial posts around Europe become vacant this summer.

There was no suggestion Villa seemed particularly worried about that, but extending his contract serves clear notice they would be ready to fight off any suitors should that situation arise.

Gossip suggesting Emery's name for other jobs also rested on the dubious assumption that the man himself might want to go. When vacancies open at clubs in the current European elite - Liverpool and Bayern Munich, for example - it is often taken as read that any coach working outside that group would immediately want to take that chance.

No doubt many do, but there is more to it than that.

The traditional idea of the manager, or head coach, as the most important figure at a football club is arguably still true, but that no longer ensures they are the most powerful - at least on the playing side. They might be the most visible, and the one most often called to account for results, but they are only one part of a complex structure and their influence has limits.

Perhaps that was Emery's experience at some of his previous places of employment, but at Villa there is no question that he is much more than just a figurehead.

His early success clearly validated the trust placed in him by the owners when they hired him and, rather than working within an established system, it is now clear Villa work to Emery's requirements.

Moving away from a made-to-measure set-up like that, at a club of Villa's heft and potential, would be a very difficult call. Would he really be granted similar authority somewhere else?

Elite-level football is a sharp-edged environment. Finding a combination of investment and talent that works so well so fast - especially to break into an established bracket of high-achieving clubs - is difficult and rarely achieved.

Clearly, both Villa's owners and Emery know when it feels right.

Listen to BBC Radio WM commentary of Aston Villa v Chelsea at 20:00 BST on Saturday

And tune in to The West Midlands Football Phone-In at 18:00 on weeknights

Following the news that Aston Villa boss Unai Emery had signed a new contract to keep him at the club until 2027, we asked you to have your say on the deal.

Here are a selection of your thoughts:

Ade: Excellent news. Pay Emery whatever he wants. No other manager in the world could do what he has done in a short period.

Dave: This is arguably the biggest result of this week in football for Villa. Emery has transformed the team but also so much more of the club. He conducts himself with humility and consideration and has reignited a bond between club and supporters that has been missing for far too long. Long may it continue.

Chris: I've been a Villa fan since 1976 and Emery is right up there with Ron Saunders. He has taken essentially the same players as Steven Gerrard and made them a team, not a collection of individuals. Exciting times ahead.

Steve: The man is a genius - he literally lives, eats and breathes football. I would love to pick his brains over a nice steak dinner. Surely only Barcelona or Real Madrid would be enough to tempt him away from the Villa now? And if that was the case we would have to give him our blessings, he is a passionate Basque after all. Best Villa manager ever!

Ben: Who would have thought from16th when he took over we could be competing in Europe in such a short time! Hats off to the man, in fact, the whole club!

Stephen: If only contracts meant anything these days! All it means is that Villa will get a decent bit of compensation if he does go, and let's face it - if Barcelona, Real Madrid, and maybe even Liverpool came knocking, I'm sure Emery would be sorely tempted. But for us Villains it's a joyous bit of news, knowing he is happy to stay and try to succeed.