Alan Shearer, the legendary Newcastle United striker, has drawn a comparison between Aston Villa’s current struggles and Newcastle’s experience from the previous season. Shearer explained why Villa’s situation mirrors that of the Magpies in the 2023/24 campaign, after both teams had their first taste of Champions League football in years.
Aston Villa, under the guidance of manager Unai Emery, had an outstanding 2022/23 season, securing a spot in the prestigious Champions League for the first time in over 20 years. However, the team has found it difficult to maintain the same level of performance this season. Villa are currently enduring a rough patch, with eight games without a victory across all competitions. Their most recent setback was a heavy 3-0 loss to Chelsea, which left them in 12th place in the Premier League, just behind Newcastle on goal difference, and four points adrift of the coveted top four spots.
The two teams will meet on Boxing Day at St James’ Park, a fixture that could prove pivotal for both clubs’ European aspirations. Last season, Newcastle managed to qualify for Champions League football for the first time in two decades. However, the 2023/24 campaign has not gone as smoothly for Eddie Howe’s side. After the initial excitement of Champions League football, the Magpies struggled to maintain consistency and eventually finished the season in seventh place, narrowly missing out on European competition for the following year, especially after Manchester United triumphed in the FA Cup.
Newcastle’s brief Champions League campaign also ended disappointingly, as they finished last in a tough group that included Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, and AC Milan. On the other hand, Aston Villa is currently enjoying its first stint in the Champions League since 1983, though they sit just outside the top eight in the Premier League on goal difference.
Shearer, who co-hosts the Rest is Football podcast with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, discussed the challenges teams face when balancing domestic and European competitions. He pointed out the lack of squad depth as a critical issue for teams like Villa, which echoes Newcastle’s difficulties last season. Shearer highlighted how the physical and mental demands of playing in the Champions League, with matches on Tuesday and Wednesday, can take a toll on players, leading to fatigue in the subsequent weekend league games.
“They simply don’t have the squad depth,” Shearer noted. “They can’t rotate like other teams with deeper squads, such as Chelsea, and that’s impacting their performances. We saw that against Chelsea, and it’s the same situation that Newcastle found themselves in last season after they qualified for the Champions League. The energy required to compete in midweek European matches can really drain players, which, in turn, affects their domestic form. Villa are currently experiencing something very similar.”
This comparison between Aston Villa and Newcastle last season highlights the challenges faced by teams with less squad depth trying to juggle the pressures of both domestic and European football. It also underscores the importance of managing fatigue and maintaining consistency across all competitions. As both teams look to push for European spots this season, the upcoming fixture could offer a glimpse into how they are coping with these demands.