Are Aston Villa Premier League contenders? Owen Hargreaves says 'trophies are there' for Unai Emery's side
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Published 23/10/2024 at 00:05 GMT+1
Could Aston Villa make a bid for the Premier League title? That is the question that Owen Hargreaves posed during the TNT Sports Goals Show after watching Unai Emery's side beat Bologna 2-0 for their third straight UEFA Champions League victory - and an impressive one at that. "Aston Villa are more than serious," Hargreaves said, adding that "they don't have a weakness".
‘Can they win the Premier League?’ – Hargreaves says ‘trophies are there’ for Aston Villa
Video credit: TNT Sports
Owen Hargreaves has considered whether Aston Villa can make a bid for the Premier League title as he believes Unai Emery’s side “don’t have a weakness”.
Villa continued their superb start in the UEFA Champions League by beating Bologna 2-0 on Tuesday to make it three wins from three in Europe’s flagship competition.
Unai Emery also has his side competing fiercely on the domestic front, where they sit in fourth place in the Premier League standings, four points behind leaders Liverpool.
Former England international Hargreaves explained on the TNT Sports Goals Show why he thinks Villa should be in the conversation around potential contenders for domestic and European silverware.
“I think Aston Villa are more than serious,” he said.
“When you have a leader like [Emery], who has been there and done it, he can control the dressing room. He went in with a clear identity of how he wants to play.
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‘The team is progressing’ - Emery hails ‘really brilliant’, ‘mature’ Villa display
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“The impact on Ollie Watkins has been remarkable. The impact on the whole team: Emi Martinez, defensively, through midfield. I look at Villa and I think they don’t have a weakness.
“They have a manager who is ruthless and is a winner with a clear identity. That’s why they are going up and up and up.
“The question is, can they win the Premier League with that squad? Could they win a European trophy?
“The trophies are there; the only question is with the talent of the other teams, can they win the biggest ones?”
Carney: Villa have 'incredible team'
Former Birmingham City and England midfielder Karen Carney gave credit to her former rivals, particularly in-form strikers Watkins and Jhon Duran.
After witnessing another raucous atmosphere at Villa Park, she highlighted how making their home ground a fortress has helped Emery’s side make huge strides.
“Football is defined by both 18-yard boxes and Villa have two amazing strikers pushing each other,” Carney said.
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Highlights: Duran and McGinn score as Villa continue perfect start
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“I think that’s a good ego battle as well, and then in goal, [they have] one of the best goalkeepers in the world. The rest of the team is pretty solid as well.
“They have built an incredible team there and I have to say the stadium is phenomenal. Anyone going there would be intimidated, as I have been many times by how good it is. People don’t want to go to Villa Park.”
Stream the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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