'No-one understands the task better'

When the overhauled Villa squad assembles for the first time later this week, they will set out on a fearfully demanding yomp towards Christmas.

Aside from international 'breaks' in October and November - badly named, since most of Unai Emery's players will travel to two games in each - there is only one midweek in the next three months where Villa will have no game to play.

Even that assumes they will go no further in the Carabao Cup.

For all the excitement of the other adventures the club has had since he took over, Emery has always underlined the Premier League is the top priority without which none of the rest happens. Every manager says this for most of the season and there is no reason to doubt that Emery means it.

But - let's call this a thought experiment - what if it wasn't?

Villa's stumbling start has given a small advantage to some likely rivals for a high Premier League finish. It is far from insurmountable and Villa are capable of achieving a Champions League qualification place again.

But many observers and fans have said that the next stage for Villa must be to win something. They are favourites for the Europa League and if they justify that status, they will achieve both ambitions at the same time - win something and return to the Champions League.

In Emery they have a proven course-and-distance winner, the Red Rum of Europa League management. Nobody understands the task of running a Europa League and domestic league season simultaneously better than him.

He sets out to win every game, of course, but with Villa's workload and resources, it is likely at some point Emery will face a delicate choice, to balance priorities.

Their defence laid low by injuries, Tottenham ended up in that sort of situation last season. A fat lot of good it did their coach, you might say, but they're in the Champions League now.

If Villa were to follow a similar path, Emery could surely expect a rather more generous tribute.

Listen to full commentary of Everton v Villa at 15:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio WM (95.6FM)

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