Unai Emery’s bid to play down Aston Villa’s chances of winning the FA Cup raised a few eyebrows among the journalists at his pre-match press conference.
Villa host Cardiff City in the fifth round this evening and are overwhelming favourites to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Despite this, Emery claimed ‘there are other teams with more options than us to win this competition’. He even kept a straight face while spouting this nonsense.
FA Cup offers Villa a golden opportunity to win silverware
Participation in the Champions League has put a strain on Villa’s resources, but they are still enjoying a relatively productive season.
They recruited well during the January transfer window and undoubtedly have a glorious chance to make further progress in the FA Cup.
Manchester City are the favourites to lift the trophy, but you would be hard-pressed to argue that they are unbeatable given their inconsistent form this term.
Looking beyond City, the remaining teams in the FA Cup should hold no fears for Villa if they produce their best form.
Emery may have been trying to temper expectations, but the reality is that Villa are strong contenders to end their long wait for silverware by winning the FA Cup.
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What to watch
Sheffield Wednesday versus Sunderland in the Championship should be an entertaining clash tonight.
