FA Cup: Aston Villa not a contender to win trophy – Unai Emery
Manager Unai Emery said Aston Villa’s FA Cup win this season is “not a contender”.
Cardiff City, where Villa held the championship battle, won a spot in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have been eliminated, with Villa showing off their quality by defeating Premier League rivals West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur in the first two rounds.
But Emery said: “We are not contenders to win the FA Cup, but the way we try to play and have the trophy – Europe is very important and has prestige.
“Every club, players and coaches love to work hard to find prestige. This is probably the best way to qualify in Europe. We have three ways – the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup.”
Villa is ranked tenth in the Premier League, with six teams still in the FA Cup.
At least four top teams will be out in the fifth round as there are four comprehensive league ties and guarantee a championship team will be guaranteed to be in the last eight games as Preston host Lancashire rival Burnley.
When asked why he didn’t think Villa was a contender, Emory replied: “We are not contenders. Why? Because there are other teams that have more choices than we have to win this game.”
Friday’s game was Villa’s fifth game in 14 days, and they were excluded or suspected due to injuries.
Emiliano Martinez appears in halftime Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace Emery said Villa will decide whether the Argentine goalkeeper will play after training Thursday afternoon.
Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana are also doubtful, while Emery adds that Matty Cash can work.
Donyell Malen hopes to recover from the disease, but Paul Torres and Ross Barkley are gone.
