Home of football statistics and historyAston Villa suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend, dropping more points in the race for a UEFA Champions League place.
Villa were favourites to clinch third place weeks ago, but they have managed only one win in their last five Premier League matches.
Manchester United have since usurped third place on the log, and there are serious fears that Villa could miss out on elite European football next season if other giants hit their stride.
However, it speaks to the remarkable work that manager Unai Emery has done that they are still in this position with 10 league games left to play.
The Villains had a terrible summer transfer window, failing to bolster the squad with the quality they desperately needed.
They signed Evann Guessand, Yasin Ozcan, Marco Bizot, Victor Lindelof, Harvey Elliott, and Jadon Sancho.
Guessand has struggled to adapt to English football and has since moved to Crystal Palace on loan.
Ozcan is out on his second loan after a disastrous short stint at Anderlecht. Bizot was always going to play second fiddle to Emiliano Martinez, while Lindelof arrived to make up the numbers.
Further forward, Sancho has blown hot and cold, while Elliott has struggled, with the club refusing to play him to avoid activating his purchase clause.
After such a disastrous window, it was no surprise Villa endured a miserable start to the season.
Villa picked up just three points from their first five games this term and sat in the relegation zone. They had scored just one league goal. The manager could have lost his job.
Instead, Emery dusted himself, rolled his sleeves, and turned the tide. The win over Bologna late in September spurred a terrific run that saw them climb into the upper echelon.
For a brief moment, they were even title contenders and favourites to clinch the Europa League.
Unfortunately, things have started to unravel in recent weeks. Despite making key additions in the winter transfer window, they are looking out of sorts.
Still, Emery has urged the fans to stick with the team through this downturn, and they should listen to him.
Emery said (via AVFC.co.uk), “But now is the moment – the supporters and everybody to be together and we need them.
“At the beginning, we weren’t favourites, we weren’t contenders, and we’re fighting with those great teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool.
“They have huge power, and they need to be in our position. It’s their target, clearly.
“But we are competing fantastic, we are being consistent, even now when we are losing here, we must react, and we must as well tell our supporters we need them and we must be together.”
Villa will now be striving to bounce back against listless Chelsea in midweek action.
If they can steady themselves against a faltering Chelsea and then take the fight to United in the days that follow, the narrative shifts instantly.
Momentum is everything at this stage of the season. Emery’s side has shown they can string results together. Now, they must do it when the pressure bites hardest.
Even if they stumble, perspective is essential. Considering the limited investment last summer and the constraints of SCR and PSR, Emery has performed miracles to keep Villa in the mix.
Some managers would have thrown their toys out of the pram after that window, not Emery.
Tied down until 2029, the Basque tactician has restored pride, identity and ambition at Villa Park.
The supporters want him there long-term, but the hierarchy must find solutions in the market to match his vision and keep their Spanish mastermind fully backed for the next step.
Long-term contracts mean little if ambition is not matched. Top managers operate on cycles of progression, and stagnation, particularly after a failed window, can quickly breed frustration.
If Villa are serious about becoming a permanent force in the top four rather than admirable overachievers, they must act decisively in the summer transfer window.
It is essential to protect the progress he has built and to ensure their most valuable asset on the touchline remains convinced the project can reach the next level.
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