Aston Villa manager Unai Emery makes bold claim that his side are targeting qualifying for European places.
Unai Emery revealed that Aston Villa had the possibility of qualifying for European places at the back of their minds following the win over Nottingham Forest that now sees them sit 6th on the Premier League table.
Aston Villa beat the Tricky Trees 2-0 at Villa Park, and following Brighton's loss to Tottenham, the Villains moved to sixth place on the Premier League table.
Villa overpower Forest
Following a first-half marred by injuries to both sides, forcing substitutions from both benches, Aston Villa found the opener a few minutes after the start of the second-half thanks to a Bertrand Traore strike.
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On-form striker Ollie Watkins confirmed his side's three points thanks to a late 95th-minute strike to help his side step the challenge posted by Steve Cooper's side.
What Emery said
The former Arsenal manager was elated by his side's performance and result, and he had things to say about his side's season ambitions.
He made sure to note that their priority is finishing in the top 10, suggesting that a final league position in any of the places at the top half of the table would be satisfactory.
He, however, revealed that they had their eyes on European competition qualification as well, as an additional target, and says his team will continue to improve to achieve their goals.
"Those three points can help us to be in our target, which first is really the top 10,” he said, according to the BBC.
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“Then there's the more options to be a candidate to play for Europe. Getting points like today then we can be. Playing with big teams like next week against Newcastle, if we want to get it we have to improve more than what we are [currently] doing.
It's going to be a top match, more difficult today and we will need to win if we want to keep the position for Europe."
Aston Villa face a team that also have qualification for European places in Newcastle in their next Premier League clash next week.
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