Should Aston Villa be panicking ahead of their 'cup final' with Chelsea? The Premier League title was once a dream for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, but now they face a crucial 'cup final' with Chelsea on Wednesday. Just a few weeks ago, Villa were in the running for the top spot, level on points with second-placed Man City and four adrift of leaders Arsenal. However, a disastrous February has seen them win just one of their five league matches, and their position has slipped to fourth place. Liverpool and Chelsea are now within striking distance, and with 10 games left in the season, the pressure is on. Emery's side must now navigate two huge games against teams chasing Champions League qualification. Chelsea, on the other hand, are also in a hotly-contested battle for next season's Champions League after losing at Arsenal on Sunday. With a financial loss of £355m in the 2024-25 season, according to UEFA, it is imperative that Chelsea compete in Europe's premier club competition next season. The Opta Supercomputer gives Villa an almost 90% chance of competing in next season's Champions League via a top-five finish, but with just a 34.4% chance for Chelsea, the battle for the final spot is intense. Sky Sports' Gary Neville is torn between Chelsea and Villa for that final Champions League spot, and former Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie agrees that his former club are in real danger of missing out on a top-five spot. With big games ahead for both teams, the pressure is on to secure a place in next season's Champions League.
