Could Aston Villa take Tottenham’s stance and prioritise the Europa League over domestic competitions?

Tottenham guaranteed their place in this season’s Champions League by winning Europe’s second-tier competition last season, despite finishing one place above the relegation zone.

Tottenham ending the season in 17th position in the Premier League was their lowest finish in nearly half a century, yet they are still participating in Europe’s elite cup competition this season.

It may have cost Ange Postecoglou his job in north London, but it can certainly be argued there is a case for throwing everything at European competition when domestic prospects have all but dwindled.

There is clearly an advantage for Aston Villa to potentially do the same, who are faced with a dilemma as to where best to place their efforts this season.

The Europa League Predicament Facing Aston Villa

​Unai Emery’s side may find themselves in a very similar situation, with the scenario of prioritising the Europa League over the Premier League a role reversal of Spurs. Villa have begun their European adventure in strong form, winning three of their four matches, beaten by only Go Ahead Eagles on matchday three.

The Villans are also performing admirably in the Premier League, occupying the final Champions League qualification position, and sitting pretty above Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham.

This ultimately poses the question, should Villa be throwing everything at the Europa League in order to make a return to the Champions League, or can they rely on their Premier League form over the course of the season to carry them there?

Unai Emery’s Record in Europe Makes For a Compelling Case

​The Europa League is a competition that Emery knows particularly well after lifting the trophy on no less than four occasions; three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal. The Spaniard was also a runner-up with Arsenal in the renewal of the competition in 2018-19 after being beaten in an all-English final against Chelsea.

That hasn’t been his only achievement on the continent, with Emery reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League with Villarreal in 2022.

That is, of course, where his trophy cabinet dries up, although guiding Aston Villa to the Champions League last season for the first time since the early 1980s has fuelled a desire within the club to pursue it again.

How Will Villa Line-Up Against Young Boys?

Predicted starting XI against Young Boys: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Bogarde, Onana, Barkley; Rogers, Guessand, Malen.

​Taking a look at Emery’s starting team sheet for Villa’s latest two Premier League and Europa League matches.

​2-1 win against Leeds United in the Premier League: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Tielemans, Buendía; Rogers, Watkins.​

4-0 win against Bournemouth in the Premier League: Martínez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Buendía, Watkins.

2-0 win against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League: Martínez; Lindelöf, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Onana, Rogers; Sancho, Malen, Guessand.

2-1 defeat at Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League: Martínez; Lindelöf, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Sancho, Bogarde, Onana; Buendía, Watkins, Guessand.​

Emiliano Martínez, Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres have started all four matches, while Amadou Onana, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendía have started three. ​However, Emery does like to switch his full-backs around with Matty Cash and Victor Lindelöf swapping at right-back, while Ian Maatsen and Lucas Digne are doing the same at left-back. Other areas Emery likes to change around are his midfield three, with Lamare Bogarde and Jadon Sancho starting in Europe.

​Does Emery have favourites in certain positions?

Highlighting those four starting XIs, Emery prefers Martínez to Marco Bizot in goal, despite the latter’s Man of the Match performance in the 2-0 win at Feyenoord on the opening day of the 2025/26 Europa League phase campaign.

Defensively, Emery is slightly limited at the heart of Villa’s defence, with Tyrone Mings currently out injured and Lindelöf only recently joining the club; Konsa and Torres are currently his best options. So, I don’t believe there is any stronger partnership being selected at centre-back at the current time. At full-back, I personally think there isn’t much of a difference between Digne and Maatsen, the latter being the better defensive option for Emery. On the other hand, Lindelöf is a centre-back by trade, not a right-back, and the only other selection available to Emery is Andrés García, currently out injured, so Cash is the only current viable football currency.

I think most Villa fans will agree that our strongest midfield three is Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn. With Emery playing Kamara and John McGinn in the above two Premier League matches, but Bogarde and Onana in the Europa League, that would say to me that there is a domestic priority at the moment, but things can certainly change.

We are now into the final part of the field, which has seen Watkins start three of the four aforementioned matches; however, Emery currently doesn’t have a choice when Watkins is the only recognised striker at the club. Evann Guessand and Donyell Malen are natural wingers, and Rogers is a number 10, not a striker, as some in the Holte End try to convince you of.

It’s hard to say if Emery is highlighting the Premier League or the Europa League as his top priority at the moment. Nevertheless, I can say that he has been forced into selecting certain players in particular positions due to injury and because he doesn’t have any other viable alternative.

Villa have a fierce local derby against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are yet to win a Premier League match in 2025/26, on Sunday at Villa Park. Resting the likes of Martínez, Kamara, Tielemans and giving Watkins the realisation that one goal in 17 matches this season isn’t good enough, will obviously boost local bragging rights, but more importantly, the ability to field a stronger side on Sunday.

Villa’s £100m question

​Villa’s record in the Europa League this season reads well (W3, L1). So, with it appearing that the Villans are acclimating to a competition they have not taken part in since the 2010/11 campaign, it is worthwhile doing a Spurs. That is certainly the £100million question.

Looking back at last season’s Premier League table, when Villa finished below two of the teams that once again will be competing with Emery’s side for Champions League football. It wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world to consider resting key players like Konsa, Rogers, Tielemans and Martínez in the league to prioritise European commitments this season.