Newcastle United remain contenders for Champions League qualification, according to Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery remains cautious about ruling out Newcastle United from the race for Champions League qualification, despite their significant 15-point deficit from the fourth spot.
Following Newcastle’s 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, which narrowed the gap to 12 points, Villa swiftly restored their advantage with a late 3-2 triumph against Luton Town in Saturday’s teatime fixture.
While Villa currently hold a five-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur in fifth and are 11 points ahead of Manchester United in sixth, Emery believes the race for the top four is still open with 11 games remaining. He even referenced Chelsea, who are situated 11th in the table and 19 points adrift of the top four.
“I can’t rule out Tottenham, Man United, even Chelsea or Newcastle from the possibility of catching up with us,” Emery stated. “And I want to convey the same message. Until we reach game 32, 33, or 34, we will focus on each match and strive to accumulate as many points as possible. We cannot consider ourselves contenders until we reach that point.
“If we manage to reach that stage, then we can reassess our objectives. While we are pleased with our current position and aim to maintain it, we understand the importance of remaining humble and continuing to work diligently.”
Notably, Newcastle has emerged victorious against Aston Villa in both encounters this season, securing a 5-1 win on the opening day and claiming a 3-1 victory at Villa Park in January, marked by a brace from Fabian Schar and an own goal by Alex Moreno.