Aston Villa manager Unai Emery fears his team may have jeopardized their chances of a top-eight Champions League finish following a 1-0 defeat to Monaco on Tuesday.
Wilfried Singo’s header proved decisive as Villa struggled to capitalize on their chances, leaving their knockout stage hopes hanging in the balance.
A win in Monaco would have put Villa in a strong position, but they now face a must-win clash against Celtic at Villa Park to avoid a play-off tie.
Emery acknowledged the setback, saying, “We lost a big opportunity to get into the top eight. Today was key.”
Despite the defeat, Villa have been in solid form, securing seven wins from their last 12 games across all competitions.
They are also pushing for a Premier League top-four finish, with strikers Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran playing crucial roles.
Watkins has netted 10 goals this season, while Duran has scored 12, but Emery continues to rotate the duo, struggling to deploy them effectively together. Both featured against Monaco but failed to make an impact.
“I made a mistake playing two strikers,” Emery admitted. “Until that moment, we were in control.”
Villa must now regroup and focus on their crucial upcoming fixture against Celtic to keep their Champions League dreams alive.
