Aston Villa exited the EFL Cup after a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Villa Park on Wednesday, marking a quick end to their cup campaign.
Palace, who had struggled to win games until recently, followed up their victory over Tottenham by securing a quarter-final spot against Villa.
Villa manager Unai Emery fielded a largely rotated squad, suggesting that the EFL Cup was not a top priority. John McGinn was the only starter retained from their 1-1 draw with Bournemouth, while players recovering from injuries or recently benched were given game time.
Currently fourth in the Premier League and competing in the Champions League, Villa has been juggling a tight schedule and placing focus on their league and European campaigns.
This shift in focus hasn’t been universally popular, with former Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor adding to the debate on Twitter. He called for the team to prioritize the Champions League and Premier League over domestic cups, believing these achievements outweigh short-term cup success. “Let’s concentrate on the Champions League and Premier League,” he posted, highlighting the team’s promising positions in both competitions.
While Villa leads their Champions League group and has had a strong league start, some fans feel the EFL Cup offered a more realistic shot at a trophy. They are concerned about sidelining competitions where Villa could achieve success, especially since only nine league matches and three Champions League games have been played so far.
Villa’s upcoming schedule is demanding, with Premier League matchups against top sides and Champions League fixtures. They face Tottenham on November 3, followed by Liverpool, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace, as well as Champions League clashes against Club Brugge and Juventus. If Villa can secure wins in these challenging matches, the EFL Cup loss may fade into the background, validating Emery’s decision to focus on bigger tournaments.
As Villa navigates this period, Emery’s squad rotation decisions will be closely scrutinized. Strong results in the league and Europe would justify prioritizing these competitions, but the outcome will ultimately depend on Villa’s ability to maintain their momentum in all arenas.