Former Aston Villa stalwart Lee Hendrie believes his former club is fully preparing to push for European football in the near future.
Following promotion to the Premier League, Villa fans have been treated to ambitious football.
Narrowly missing out on silverware in last season’s 2-1 Carabao Cup final defeat against Manchester City was an encouraging sign that Villa are hungry for trophy-laden success, and this season has seen Dean Smith’s side sitting comfortably around the mid-table spots.
With one eye on a top-half finish, Hendrie was adamant his former club’s ownership will be targeting the Champions League in upcoming seasons.
Speaking to FootballFanCast, the ex-Villan claimed: “Players have got to buy into what the club wants to do, you know, they’re not going to just jump straight into the Champions League. I’m pretty sure that will be one of the main targets for the football club [however] with the owners having such wealth.
“That will certainly be a key thing. Where they want to be at is that they’re playing in Europe because that’s where the club should be at.”
Given the chasm in points with the clubs above them, it may be premature to claim that Villa have an immediate shot at European football next season.
However, the board have not shied away from investing heavily in a squad that so nearly found themselves relegated last season.
Villa’s investment has seen them strengthen in all areas of the pitch this season, reaping rewards in terms of a direct correlation with a better point tally in the process.
That should serve as cause for immense optimism; the club’s owners would not invest so heavily in a side if they did not feel it could reach the highest echelons in the league.
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