Unai Emery takes action to address Aston Villa's poor form after unwanted career first

Unai Emery has taken steps towards turning Aston Villa's fortunes around after their recent poor run of form.

The Villains have suffered four straight defeats across three competitions, exiting the Carabao Cup, losing back to back in the Premier League for the first time in a year, and losing their first match in their Champions League campaign. Luckily there hasn't been too much damage done as despite sitting in ninth, Villa are just a point off of third-place Chelsea.

Villa are also still in the top eight of the Champions League, which would give them a bye. A run in the Carabao Cup would have been good for those who wish to see Villa win silverware, but there’s always another chance when the FA Cup third round begins in mid-January.

The international break is a period for a manager to recharge their batteries and take stock of their situation. Most players are away with their countries, and so there are only a few players left around the training ground.

According to The Athletic, usually, when the international break comes around, Emery heads back to Spain for a couple of days rest. This time around though, the Spaniard was at Bodymoor Heath and was in training alongside the players who didn’t earn a call-up. 

In the article, it is said by an anonymous source that Emery has put a ‘huge’ amount of work in over the last fortnight. Emery is keen to address the decline in form, having lost four straight matches for the first time in his managerial career.

Analysis has been a key part of Emery’s work over the international break. The belief among the coaching staff is that Villa have been ‘on the right track’ but there is a need to look at the finer details of where a game is won or lost. 

Up next for Villa is a home game against Crystal Palace on Saturday (November 23), which is a chance to put things right. Palace got the better of them in the Carabao Cup, but ultimately the Premier League is the bread and butter, so Villa fans will want to see their side get back to winning ways at the weekend.