Unai Emery with surprising Newcastle United claim

3 months ago 27

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Unai Emery has been talking ahead of the new season.

Aston Villa kicking off their Premier League season on Saturday, away at West Ham with a 5.30pm kick-off.

After a fourth place finish and Champions League football to look forward to, Villa fans with seemingly plenty reasons for optimism.

Whilst they have sold a number of players, plenty signings have arrived, with well over £150m invested in new players.

However, Unai Emery claiming a different reality to what many of the Villa fans are seeing…

Unai Emery talking about the Premier League season ahead, as quoted by The Athletic:

“We are not contenders to be in the top four or top five.

“There are seven teams better than us.

“(Man) City, Arsenal, Tottenham, (Man) United, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea.”

Interesting to see how it all turns out, for Aston Villa and especially Newcastle United.

Obviously, Unai Emery doing his best to take pressure off himself and his team when it comes to expectations this season. Especially with many people making comparisons to what happened with Newcastle United last season, in terms of the challenges of competing in the Champions League as well as the three domestic competitions. However, in my opinion, it was absolutely the ridiculous number of injuries (and Tonali’s suspension) that was the massive factor in preventing Newcastle reaching the CL knockout stages and/or finishing top four in the Premier League.

Also of course, Unai Emery will have fresh in his mind the 8-2 aggregate thrashing Newcastle United dealt out to Villa last season. A 5-1 hammering at St James’ Park on the opening day when Eddie Howe had a very good first team out and such a strong bench, before then going to Villa Park with a team/squad missing so many players and yet still strolling to a dominant 3-1 win.

Newcastle United schedule to end of October 2024:

Saturday 17 August 2024 – Newcastle v Southampton (3pm)

Sunday 25 August 2024 – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Week commencing Monday 26 August 2024 – Carabao Cup round two matches will be played

Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.

Sunday 1 September 2024 – Newcastle v Tottenham (1.30pm) Sky Sports

(The first international break of the season)

Sunday 15 September 2024 – Wolves v Newcastle (4.30 pm) Sky Sports

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)

Saturday 21 September 2024 – Fulham v Newcastle (3 pm)

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)

Saturday 28 September 2024 – Newcastle v Man City (12.30 pm) TNT Sports