Aston Villa's transformation under Unai Emery has been remarkable since he took over in November 2022 with the club in 17th place. They have since finished seventh, fourth, and sixth in the Premier League, reached the Champions League quarter-finals, and are now considered title contenders. However, a lingering hoodoo against Manchester United threatens to undermine their progress.
Villa host United on Sunday, having lost 50 of their last 53 meetings. Last season's defeat at Old Trafford, where a point would have secured Champions League football, epitomised their inferiority complex. Emi Martínez's red card and two late goals saw them slip into the Europa League, a result that seemed to affect their early-season form.
After a winless start to this campaign, Villa have recovered impressively, winning 15 of 17 games including 11 consecutive Premier League victories bar a loss at Liverpool. Since late September, only Manchester City have a better record, and Villa went into the weekend three points off top spot.
Despite their form, scepticism remains. Villa are one of only two teams overperforming their expected goals significantly, and have dominated xG in just two games. This aligns with Emery's pragmatic approach, which has thrived at an aspirant club rather than a traditional giant.
Emery's appointment came at a perfect time, with low expectations and significant investment. Net spend is only around £40m, but wages have risen to seventh-highest in the league. The January loan signings of Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio, and Axel Disasi underline their ambition to stay in the title race.
