Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has laid down a clear marker for when he will even consider discussing his team as genuine Premier League title contenders, despite overseeing a historic run of form.
Emery's Firm Stance on Title Talk
Following a dramatic comeback victory against Chelsea, which secured a remarkable 11th consecutive win for the first time in 111 years, speculation about Villa's championship credentials has intensified. However, Emery remains steadfastly grounded.
The Spanish tactician insists he will only address the title race if his team are still in the mix with just four games of the season remaining. "The day 34 we will speak about it. We are now day 18," Emery stated, referring to the matchweek numbers in the Premier League calendar.
Historic Form and Resilient Comebacks
Villa's stunning sequence includes eight league victories, with a particularly notable trait of winning from behind. Incredibly, all five of their away wins this season (2025/26) have come after conceding the first goal to go 1-0 down.
This puts them in elite company, as only Manchester United in the 2020-21 season, with nine, have won more away matches after falling behind in a single Premier League campaign.
The latest triumph at Stamford Bridge was engineered by super-sub Ollie Watkins, who entered the fray before the hour mark and scored a second-half brace to turn the game around and solidify Villa's position in the Champions League places.
Focus on Immediate Challenges
Despite the growing excitement, Emery is adamant that the focus must remain on the immediate future, starting with a crucial trip to face Arsenal on Tuesday night. Villa will be aiming for a second win over the Gunners this month.
Emery was quick to highlight the established contenders, saying, "...in 38 games, there are teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, and there is Chelsea too. They are contenders more than us."
He attributed the team's current success to lessons learned from a difficult period earlier in the campaign, emphasising a humble and realistic approach built on collective resilience. "Now we are happy. We learned a lot with what happened three months ago," he reflected.
With the first half of the season concluding against Nottingham Forest next week, Emery's message is clear: the talk can wait, but the performances must continue now.
