Aston Villa face pressurised season-end as Burnley draw leaves door open to capitulation

Aston Villa’s failure to beat Burnley on Sunday has intensified the pressure on the last three games of the season as they attempt to secure Champions League football.

Unai Emery’s team drew 2-2 with the Clarets at Turf Moor, with Ross Barkley’s header cancelling out Jaidon Anthony’s opener before Zian Flemming scored just two minutes after Ollie Watkins had stolen the lead.

Villa would have identified the match against the already-relegated Burnley as a chance to all but wrap up a top-five finish in the Premier League, but they now face a difficult end to the season.

And after beating Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-final last week, the Villans will face Freiburg in Istanbul next week.

Champions League is still on for Villa, but Sunday’s result has made every one of their remaining games that much more important.

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Football Insider exclusively revealed on Sunday that Villa have some concerns about Emery’s future in the summer, with several big vacancies available.

For now, however, all eyes will be on the final three games as the Villans look to see out a strong campaign.

But it could still all go wrong. After 18 games had been played, Emery’s team sat just three points off the top of the table, and with a 10-point gap to sixth-place Manchester United.

In February, the gap was still at eight points, and despite some trouble, Villa were still comfortably in the driving seat to secure the fifth Champions League position.

After Sunday’s games, the gap sits at just four points to Bournemouth. And to make matters worse, Villa still have to host Liverpool and go to Manchester City.

Bournemouth’s games are not easy – defeat to Man City or Nottingham Forest would take away any chance, but Andoni Iraola’s team have not lost since January and have won four of their last five.

Had Champions League football been secured already, Emery’s team could write off their final league games and walk into the Europa League final with some pressure off, knowing they had already secured what they wanted.

A point at Turf Moor. pic.twitter.com/BoxE6TgKvF

But their failure to do so has added an undertone of huge pressure to both the final and their last two games, with another season of Europa League football simply not an option.

Despite the pressure engulfing his team, Emery has remained upbeat about Villa’s prospects for the remainder of the season.

“I will respond myself. It is fantastic to be where we are,” he said after Sunday’s game. “To be in the top five in the Premier League, it is fantastic.

The Boss’ post-match thoughts, after today’s draw at Turf Moor 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/NCb3yEF90l

“The point is not enough, but I know the difficulty to achieve three points here for us and for other teams.

How the players showed their wishes to win, I am so, so proud of them and overall. Of course, after Thursday when we achieved the Europa League final, we are competing well.

“To play in Europe, just like Arsenal and Crystal Palace, is it very difficult. The players are doing a huge effort and their commitment is fantastic.”

Emery will know that just one win for Villa in the final three games will make this season a successful one, but it is getting over the line that is often the trickiest part.

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