Unai Emery Downplays Aston Villa's FA Cup Chances Despite Strong Form

Unai Emery, the manager of Aston Villa, has tempered expectations by stating that his team is not a contender to win the FA Cup this season. This comes despite Villa's impressive performances in recent rounds, including victories over Premier League rivals West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, and the exit of heavyweights like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea.

Villa is set to face Championship strugglers Cardiff City on Friday for a spot in the quarter-finals. Emery emphasized that while they are not favorites, the competition presents an opportunity to compete for a trophy and potentially secure a place in Europe. "We have three ways to qualify for Europe - the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup," he said.

Currently sitting 10th in the Premier League, Villa faces stiff competition with six teams above them still in the FA Cup. The fifth round will see at least four top-flight teams eliminated, as there are four all-Premier League ties. Interestingly, one Championship team is guaranteed a spot in the last eight, with Preston hosting Lancashire rivals Burnley.

When asked why he doesn’t consider Villa as contenders, Emery pointed out, "There are other teams with more options than us to win this competition." This statement comes amid a grueling schedule for Villa, who are playing their fifth game in 14 days. The team is also dealing with several injury concerns.

Key players like Emiliano Martinez, Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara, and Amadou Onana are all doubtful for the upcoming match. Emery mentioned that Martinez’s participation will be decided after training on Thursday, while Donyell Malen is recovering from an illness. Pau Torres and Ross Barkley, however, remain out of action.

Despite the challenges, Emery remains focused on the FA Cup as a potential pathway to European qualification. "Every club, players, and coaches like trying for prestige," he added. The upcoming match against Cardiff City will be a crucial test for Villa’s ambitions in the competition.