Aston Villa Champions League hopes remain distant after weekend EPL matches | OneFootball

Watching each Premier League match and knowing the Aston Villa implications is part of what being a fan means right now. Because of where AVFC find themselves in the standings right now, the push to qualify for Champions League will require teams above them to drop points in the final matchday.

Sunday's Chelsea-Liverpool result did not offer that for Villa supporters in terms of the needed outcome. Although qualifying for Europe looks more or less locked up, Unai Emery has publicly stated the aim of making it back into the top European competition.

Even if future fixtures don't fall the way Villa would need in order for that to happen, it is still an accomplishment for the club to finish high enough again to qualify for one of the competitions. Still, particularly after experiencing the Villa Park atmosphere against PSG, missing out on CL would feel like something of a letdown after everything that has unfolded during this season.

At the end of the game, points that were dropped earlier and goals conceded may come back to haunt Villa. That is the nature of the Premier League. Actions and carryover from October can affect the club in May. It's part of the challenge during a grueling EPL campaign.

All the Villans can do at this point is focus on the task at hand. They will now take on Bournemouth away from Villa Park. When playing at VP, Emery's men look capable of beating anyone on the continent. As the road side, they can sometimes look like a shell of the quality that is often displayed at the fortress.

Tunnel vision from Aston Villa, regardless of other fixtures

Regardless of what happens amongst the rest of the squads in the Prem, Villa need to have a strong end to the season. Especially at the Vitality Stadium, this is a chance for AVFC to show that they can perform and get a result at an opponent's home field.

Then, even if Emery finds a way to rattle off a win streak to finish the season, it may still not be enough to play in Champions League. That destiny is no longer in the control of the Villans. Their ability to end on a good footing and 'make up' for the previous losses, however, is something that all in the dressing room will hope to achieve.