Unai Emery. (Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Just after Christmas, Aston Villa looked like genuine title contenders. Unai Emery’s side had won nine Premier League games in a row and were riding a wave of momentum that had them firmly among the league’s elite.
However, the picture has changed dramatically in recent weeks.
Injuries and a dip in form have slowed Villa’s charge, and while they remain inside the top four for now, their grip on Champions League qualification is beginning to loosen.
With rivals closing in, there is growing concern that the club’s entire project could face a serious setback if they fail to secure a place in Europe’s top competition.
Villa Risk Losing Rogers Without Champions League
Aston Villa could face losing both manager Unai Emery and midfielder Morgan Rogers if they fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.
The warning comes from talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, who believes Villa’s lack of reinforcement during the January transfer window may ultimately prove costly. The Midlands club have won just three of their last 12 Premier League matches, a run of form that has put their top-four ambitions under increasing pressure.
Crook suggested that Rogers, who has been one of Villa’s standout performers in recent seasons, may begin to consider his future if Champions League football is not on offer at Villa Park next term. The 23-year-old playmaker — previously described as “fantastic” by Emery — signed a six-year contract extension in November, seemingly securing his long-term future at the club.
However, the midfielder had already attracted interest from other Premier League sides last summer, including Chelsea and Tottenham, and that attention could quickly return if Villa fall short of their targets.
Discussing the situation, Crook said: “If you don’t get Champions League football, not just him.
“If Aston Villa somehow don’t get Champions League football, I think the manager goes, Morgan Rodgers is sold and Aston Villa could end up a mid-table club, like Fulham.”
He added: “I really do think it’s that important. If they do get Champions League football and the manager stays, the next four or five years will look so good for Aston Villa.”
Champions League qualification could therefore prove pivotal for Aston Villa’s future. Securing a place among Europe’s elite would likely strengthen Emery’s long-term project and help keep their top talents at the club. Failure to do so, however, could trigger a difficult summer in which both their manager and one of their brightest stars begin to look elsewhere.
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