Unai Emery could make a harsh call on one Aston Villa player next season ahead of the Villans’ Champions League quest.
The 2023/24 season was a memorable one at Villa Park, as Unai Emery delivered Aston Villa Champions League football in his first full campaign as manager.
After securing a fourth place finish in the Premier League, the Midlands club will play amongst Europe’s elite next term, with every player hoping to make their mark in the competition.
While all of Emery’s side of last season will be poised to play in the tournament next term, one forgotten Villa ace could now miss out.
Emi Buendia could miss out on Aston Villa 2024/25 Champions League squad
Each club participating in the Champions League next season will be permitted to have a 25-man squad, which includes two goalkeepers.
When picking apart the options that Emery will have next term in preparation for the competition, journalist John Townley admitted that one Villa man could miss out on the squad, via the Claret and Blue Podcast.
Speaking to podcast host Dan Rolinson, the BirminghamLive reporter shared a scenario that could see Emi Buendia miss out on the fun.
“It leaves a situation for me where Buendia is lacking opportunity I think. Buendia for me [misses out], if these are just names on a board, it almost seems like one of these is spare.”
Townley assessed the options that Emery has, and could have if further activity in the transfer window was to happen, leaving little room for a player such as Buendia.
“It’s fantastic depth, and we’d be okay because we can get 22 players with Buendia, my point is that he’s potentially expendable.
“If we sign a midfielder, one of these players goes [out of the Champions League squad] so decisions will have to be made, is it the left-back situation? Is it Buendia? Because we have at least two players who can play in that situation there.”
Buendia is in a difficult situation at Villa
It’s difficult to criticise Buendia, who had the 2023/24 season from hell as he suffered a gruelling ACL injury during training ahead of the start of the campaign.
The Argentine missed the entirety of the footballing calendar, allowing other players in the squad to show the manager their worth in his place.
Now, the 27-year-old faces a challenge in getting back into the side, with his position in the starting XI uncertain even before his lengthy absence.
As Townley explained, without a new signing, there would be every chance that the former Norwich City star would make the Champions League squad however, further arrivals are expected.
Despite being once lauded as ‘magical’ by journalist Jack Reeve, Buendia has struggled to fully assert himself at Villa, leaving Emery with a difficult decision to make ahead of next season.
It will be interesting to see how the Spaniard models his Champions League squad next campaign, with Buendia’s eyes set to be on the summer transfer window, as new arrivals could jeopardise his place next term.
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