Having trophies in the cabinet is what it’s all about.
That is according to Dion Dublin. The former Aston Villa star has urged the club to prioritise winning the Europa Conference League over qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Speaking exclusively to us here at BoyleSports, Dublin also gave us his take on what is the real reason for Unai Emery’s success at Villa, the temptation that the Spaniard could face from big clubs that come knocking and he explains why Ollie Watkins is worthy of winning Premier League Player of the Year honours.
Give Me A Conference League Trophy Over Champions League Qualification
For me personally I’d say Villa need to win the Conference League over getting into the Champions League, I’d pick trophies all day long.
They want something in their hand that they've won and they've achieved. When you have a long season, you want something to hold onto at the end of it.
Getting to the Champions League is brilliant, it's a great achievement, but having trophies in the cabinet is what it's all about.
*Aston Villa are 11/8 favourites to win the Europa Conference League per the latest football odds at BoyleSports.
The Real Reason Behind Unai Emery’s Success at Aston Villa
The best thing about Unai Emery at Aston Villa is that the staff at the club and the ground think he is amazing. Aston Villa are together again.
It’s been fragmented in the past and managers haven’t known the names of staff or said good morning or shaken people’s hands. That’s what Villa is all about.
Villa have to be like that in order to be successful, and I just believe that you get a feeling that he's gone in and done that.
He’s gone in and he hasn’t just coached but he’s managed. He's made players better and they look like they want to play for their manager, the body language of everyone is just incredible.
I just think he's gone in and I think Villa suits him. He's in charge of the football club and I think in order to be successful, managers need to do that. He’s really enjoying it.
Unai Emery Will Face Temptation From Big Jobs Abroad
There are probably more lucrative jobs out there for Unai Emery, but it just seems to work for him at Aston Villa.
There will obviously be people looking at Unai because he's done a great job and he's turned Villa around, but I don't think he could automatically do that again if he was to go somewhere else.
I just think the balance of where he is now and the players that he's got has just fallen into place for him. So I'm basically saying leave him alone! He should stay at Villa.
*Find all the latest football odds with our football betting markets at BoyleSports.
Who Would Get Your Vote for Player of the Year, Ollie Watkins or Phil Foden?
Picking between Phil Foden or Ollie Watkins for player of the season is tough, I think Phil is going to get the limelight because of where he is and who he's playing with.
But the goals of Ollie Watkins speak for him, he’s changed as a striker. I've seen him be a little bit more ruthless when he's finishing. Very rarely does he miss the target now.
I'd want Ollie to win it, of course I would. But I think that's gonna go to the wire and be 50/50, two very good footballers and are both worthy of it.
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly.
