No jacket required for Unai Emery as Aston Villa dream of title glory

LONDON – Unai Emery insists that Aston Villa will not win the English Premier League, but his ecstatic celebration of Morgan Rogers’ decisive strike against Manchester United on Dec 21 revealed his true feelings about their surprise title charge.

Usually a composed figure on the touchline, the Spaniard put his emotions on display for all to see after Rogers produced his second fine finish of the match to clinch a pulsating 2-1 win at Villa Park.

The England midfielder’s 57th-minute goal prompted Emery to roar in delight before ripping off his jacket and hurling it into the air.

It gave fascinating insights into Emery’s mindset in the midst of his team’s remarkable 10-match winning run in all competitions.

Villa sit third in the Premier League standings, just three points adrift of leaders Arsenal and one point behind second-placed Manchester City as they chase a first English title since 1981.

As he has in the past when Villa have flirted with title contention, Emery preferred to play the underdog, claiming his side cannot overhaul clubs of Arsenal and City’s experience and quality despite already beating both teams at home this season.

“We are not contenders,” Emery said. “Of course we beat Arsenal and Manchester City here, but they have massive things tactically with players on a high level.

“We have as well but to be a contender in front of them is not our reality.”

But Emery’s coy approach to Villa’s growing title ambitions cannot obscure the facts.

Villa are on their best winning run in all competitions since 1914, when they secured 11 successive victories.

They have won seven consecutive top-flight matches for the first time since finishing second under Graham Taylor in the 1989-90 season.

Emery has turned Villa Park into a fortress, with just one home league defeat in 2025, fewer than any other team.

Villa’s rise into the title race is even more impressive as it comes after their worst start to a league campaign for 28 years, featuring just two points and no goals scored in their opening four matches.

“Of course we are being consistent in more or less three years, and getting into European positions, but we must continue to be humble,” Emery added.

“Understanding how we can get points like we did. We want to keep the same level by being intelligent, competitive, consistent and demanding.”

When Villa return to action after Christmas Day, they face two trips to London that will serve as defining moments in their season.

They meet fourth-placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Dec 27, before a seismic clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium three days later.

If Villa are to maintain their title bid, Emery will have to coax more eye-catching performances from star man Rogers, whose first-half opener was a sublime curler into the top corner from just inside the penalty area.

United manager Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, was left cursing his side’s misfortune, compounded by the loss of his ​captain Bruno Fernandes to what looked like a hamstring injury.

“I think we were the better team today. We were unlucky, even with the injury of Bruno, but during the game even without him we were the better team,” said the Portuguese, whose side scored via Matheus Cunha just three minutes after Rogers’ first goal.

On Fernandes, he added: “I think he’s going to lose some games. I don’t know for sure, so let’s see.” AFP, REUTERS