The ‘perfect’ 2023 of Emery’s Aston Villa: 26 wins, ‘runners-up’, best home in the Premier…
En 2023, Unai Emery has updated all Aston Villa brands. “The objective is to create and build, progressively, a strong mentality. We want to be competitive, win and try to improve every day,” said the Guipuzcoan coach when he completed one year in office.
Everything has rushed. Emery, who set winning a title as his “dream” and qualifying the Birmingham team for Europe as his “second objective” when he appeared at Villa Park in November 2022, has fulfilled half of the deal. Last year, Villa rose from sixteenth to seventh place, qualifying for the Conference League. He ended 11 years of drought in continental competitions, accumulating a wealth of points that has not decreased this campaign.
When we are on matchday 30 or 32, if we continue in the same position, maybe I can talk about us being candidates for the title.
“At the beginning there were seven main teams, but we are going to fight to be there. We are in the top four and that is what we must try to maintain until the end. “When we are on matchday 30 or 32, if we continue in the same position, maybe I can talk about us being candidates for the title,” afirm Emery after completing 20 Premier matches with champion figures.
The best Villa after 20 games ever
It has been 25 years since the ‘Villains have been second at this point. Then, the team led by John Gregory was the leader with 39 points… although it later fell and finished sixth. However, never before did they total 42 units like now. They are two behind the leader Liverpool and look in the rearview mirror at Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham… All thanks to a ‘perfect’ 2023.
The 85 points and 26 wins added up in 42 Premier games last year were only surpassed by champion Manchester City (93 and 29). A record of units and victories in a calendar year in the history of the ‘Villains’ that Liverpool and Arsenal did not even come close to (81 points), Manchester United (74), Tottenham (69)…
The Villa Park fort
In Villa’s 149 years of history they have never had a better 12 league months. ‘Giant’ figures hardened in the Villa Park fort. The 15 consecutive victories that the Birmingham club chained between March and December are also a record for the club. No team in the Premier in 2023 has added more wins (17) or points (53) on their field. In Birmingham, ‘coconuts’ fell like City, Arsenal…
“We are focusing on each game and on the hard work we have to do. The players are responding very well,” Emery said after win (3-2) against Burnley and sleep colderes on New Year’s Eve. 2024 will be another story. But from the rooftop of the Premier the horizon looks clearer. You can even dream of winning a title that you haven’t won since 1996 (League Cup) or a title that you haven’t won since 1981! With Unai everything is possible.
