Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel says Aston Villa should ‘absolutely’ be viewed as a real challenger for the Premier League title this season.
Villa have bounced back from a nightmare begin to the campaign to determine themselves as the shape team within the English top flight, with Unai Emery’s men riding a nine-game winning streak in all competitions.
On Sunday afternoon, West Ham had looked on the right track to bring Villa’s run to an end as Mateus Fernandes and Jarrod Bowen found the web either side of Konstantinos Mavropanos’ own goal on the London Stadium.
But after regrouping on the break, an inspired Morgan Rogers accomplished a second-half brace to make sure the visitors got here away from the capital with all three points.
The result means Villa sit just three points off top-of-the-table Arsenal and one point behind Manchester City after 16 games.
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Emery’s side will look to choose off where they left of once they return to motion at home to Manchester United next weekend.
Asked if he felt Villa were a serious title contender, Schmeichel – who spent one season at Villa Park as a player – told Viaplay: ‘Absolutely, yes… to go to the that stadium and West Ham, who haven’t performed well, but higher in recent weeks.
‘To go and get three points having been 2-0 down, that’s strength.
‘That scares me slightly bit because the following game we’re going to do is at Villa Park, Villa versus Manchester United, so I’m slightly bit afraid of that.’
Emery has been keen to play down talk of Villa potentially being within the conversation for the Premier League trophy this season, even after his side got the higher of leaders Arsenal last weekend.
But chatting with BBC Sport after the comeback victory over West Ham, the Spaniard admitted he and his squad were ‘feeling ambitious’ about what they may go on to attain within the second half of the campaign.
‘The players are organised and disciplined in our structure tactically,’ he said.
‘They have to show their quality in our game plan and today they showed it.
‘We usually are not feeling under pressure. we’re feeling ambitious and we attempt to challenge in Europe and within the Premier League.
‘Enjoy each match, try to arrange, then rest. The players must feel comfortable doing it.
‘That is the method we’re doing. Now it’s Manchester United.’
Are Aston Villa real title contenders?
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