\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unai Emery\u2019s side have fallen off this year after running Arsenal close for the top spot in the Premier League for most of 2025.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Richard Keys is currently being proven right with his prediction that Aston Villa would not be in the title race come March<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Villa, currently fourth in the Premier League, can achieve qualification for next season\u2019s Champions League by winning the Europa League or through a domestic finish in the top five.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Agbonlahor cautioned the Aston Villa players that this season might be the last chance for the club to partake in Europe\u2019s premier competition for a number of years.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Fearing that Morgan Rogers might have to be sold to balance the books, while Emery might no longer fancy the challenge of being the underdogs, Agbonlahor stressed that the ramifications of missing out on the Champions League could be wide-ranging, with Villa at risk of becoming a mid-table club again.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT<\/a> (9:00): \u201cBut you see what I don\u2019t want to happen, the players need to understand that like if they do not have Champions League football next season, you could see Aston Villa become a mid-table club again.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou really can, because you\u2019re not going to have the money to spend.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to have to sacrifice maybe Rogers and the manager might not stay because he doesn\u2019t want to not be fighting in the Champions League and be able to bring in the players he wants.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what the players need to understand.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey need to take this chance this season because it might be the best chance they have for a number of years to get into the Champions League.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Aston Villa are fourth in the league standings, level on points with Manchester United<\/a> on 51, after both sides lost their respective fixtures on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Chelsea<\/a> gained ground by beating Villa 4-1, and are now level on points with Liverpool<\/a> on 48.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has backed the Reds to finish in the top five despite their loss to Wolves<\/a>, claiming that none of Aston Villa, Chelsea or Manchester United have been playing well.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Villa have had some injury concerns in midfield with John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara all sidelined, but they might have missed a trick by not convincing Donyell Malen to stay, with former Italy international Daniele Adani praising the Dutch international for changing Roma after his move<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Aston_Villa_Tammy_Abraham_620_ofg.webp.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n Manager
\n Time at Club
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n Unai Emery
\n November\u202f2022 \u2013 ongoing
\n
\n
\n Steven Gerrard
\n November\u202f2021 \u2013 October\u202f2022
\n
\n
\n Dean Smith
\n October\u202f2018 \u2013 November\u202f2021
\n
\n
\n Steve Bruce
\n October\u202f2016 \u2013 October\u202f2018
\n
\n
\n Roberto Di\u00a0Matteo
\n June\u202f2016 \u2013 October\u202f2016
\n
\n
\n Last five permanent Aston\u202fVilla managers
<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Aston_Villa_Rogers_Senesi_620_ofg.webp.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n