Aston Villa boss Emery: Amazing to be in top 4 frame

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admits the club is bouncing over the prospect of qualifying for the Champions League.

Villa host Chelsea on Saturday night.

Emery said, "Amazing, amazing motivation we have in front of us but realistic as well because we deserve to be contenders now.

"Five months ago, even a month ago, you were asking the same, if we were contenders to be in the top seven teams or contenders to be in the Champions League and I was always saying the same message, we weren't but, of course, getting to game week 34, we are in the table with the possibility we have now."

On the likelihood Villa will have to make the top four to qualify for the Champions League, he added: "Of course, we were excited with the fifth position being in Champions League but we lost it and now we are contenders to be [in the top four] and have to fight with competitors like Tottenham.

"But the attitude we have is a very good step. We are now in Europa League and another important step ahead. I am very proud of the work we did, but of course now we are adding another objective now to try and get the Champions League position."