Villa Park almost was the new PSG nightmare. The road to victory in the Champions League could have stopped during this quarter -final return to his former coach, Unai Emery. Without the pacho knee on this last strike from Maathsen, the two teams would have gone into overtime. What would have become the future European champion in this reversing scenario, he who led 2-0 after half an hour of play (3-1 on the outward journey), before seeing the English lead 3-2 to half an hour from the end of the match? We will not fall into uchronia here. The only reality that is essential is that of the Villans, 19th of the Premier League with two small points on the clock only.
5 months after this crazy match, the Birmingham club went from the dream to the nightmare. Beaten in the FA Cup semi-finals by Crystal Palace, he finished 6th in the Premier League hanging a qualification in the Europa League. The objective of returning to the Champions League has not been achieved. However, it was the only condition to ensure your excessive lifestyle. Bad news never arriving alone, the transfer window has passed by and rather weakened the team. The catastrophic start to the season reflects this fact. After 4 days of the Premier League, Aston Villa still has not scored the slightest goal. This is the only team in this case through the first 8 divisions in England!
A poor game and injuries that accumulate
To make sure, the League Cup was fatal to him as soon as he entered the 3rd Tour in Brentford on Tuesday evening. The Lions certainly scored their very first goal of the season, but they were eliminated in penalties (1-1, 4-2 TAB). The supporters even celebrated this first achievement: “We scored a goal». A room singer quickly turned sour. “We scored a goal, it's positive. But we died and lost on penalties, so we are disappointed ”summarized Emery after this new disillusionment. One more after the injury of Youri Tielemans on the last day of the championship against Everton. The Belgian joins Bouba Kamara and AndrĂ© Onana, both absent since August.
The setbacks accumulate for this club, programmed to obtain a good place in the first part of the Premier League table. It is also the result of a transfer window marked by the recession. Without qualification in C1, Villa lives above its means. It is also in the viewfinder of the English and European bodies. For example, UEFA inflicted a fine of around € 12 million to have violated certain rules of financial fair play. This time, you must play with the rules of profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) which prohibits recording losses greater than € 105 million in sterling books (€ 120 million) over three years.
The huge problem of the wage bill
It is above all his imposing payroll that worries. 96 % of the revenues generated go directly to wage financing, an incredible quota alongside 46 % of Tottenham or 51 % arsenal and Manchester United. Result after years to chain expensive mercatos, the wing had to be reduced this summer. Evann Guessand was the only major acquisition (€ 30 million). The others are either loans (Harvey Elliott, Jadon Shancho), or free arrivals (Victor Lindelöf) or inexpensive (Marc Bizot at 500,000 euros). Conversely, Jacob Ramsey was sold for € 45 million and Kaine Kesler-Hayden at € 4 million. Leo Bailey and Enzo Barrenechea were loaned (€ 3 million each). The ends at the end of the contract of Philippe Coutinho, Alex Moreno, Robin Olsen or Leander Dendoncker made it possible to lighten the expenses but Emiliano Martinez remained.
The time is not yet alarm door but the team level is frankly worrying. The services are not good and do not allow you to consider a quick rebound. UNAI Emery is not much at present at present. He still has a very good rating with his management and supporters, and is protected by a very large contract up to 2029, not to mention the fifteen people who brought him with him into his technical staff. In other words, his dismissal, more that of his accompanying people, would cost a real fortune. “”There is still a lot of work, a lot of training and matches. We see improvements. Not enough, but a lot will be positiveThe Spaniard persuaded himself to Brentford. The sooner the best will be, starting to Sunderland this Sunday.
