Why Aston Villa have 11 MILLION reasons to beat Celtic - and how Unai Emery can build if they progress now in the Champions League
Why Aston Villa have 11 MILLION reasons to beat Celtic - and how Unai Emery can build if they progress now in the Champions League
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A top-eight spot in the Champions League group phase is about far more for Aston Villa than a couple of quiet weeks in February. Unai Emery’s men face Celtic at Villa Park on Wednesday night knowing a win would give them an excellent chance of a place in the last 16, avoiding next month’s two-leg play-off round in the process.
![[It would allow the club to unleash themselves further in the transfer market and solidify]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/20/94611719-0-image-a-39_1738097692070.jpg)
Emery was asked whether a lighter fixture calendar would help his side, yet there are more important matters at play. A spot in the round of 16 brings a guarantee of about £9.2million in prize money, whereas qualification for the play-off stage brings only £840,000.
![[Unai Emery is a risk-taker in the transfer market and the additional funds would prove useful]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/20/94611701-0-image-a-40_1738097722834.jpg)
Throw in the bonus of nearly £1.8m simply for beating Brendan Rodgers’ team and there is about £11m resting on this fixture alone for Villa. While £11m might not seem much in the mega-rich world of European football, for Villa it could be worth a great deal.
![[Celtic are enjoying their best Champions League campaign in recent memory, with three wins and just one defeat in seven games]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/20/94611817-0-image-a-41_1738097793053.jpg)
Qualifying in the Champios League top eight would be worth an additional £11m for Aston Villa. It would allow the club to unleash themselves further in the transfer market and solidify. Unai Emery is a risk-taker in the transfer market and the additional funds would prove useful.
![[Aston Villa chief Monchi would have greater freedom in the market if they can secure passage]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/20/94611879-0-image-a-42_1738097850676.jpg)
The club sailed extremely close to the wind with Premier League spending rules last season and dodged a points deduction largely because they sold Douglas Luiz to Juventus at the end of June. An additional eight-figure sum would give them much-needed breathing space, not to mention room for manoeuvre in the transfer market, where Villa remain very active with less than a week to go.
![[The club may let go of Jhon Duran this month in what would be a high-risk, possibly high-reward move]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/20/94611713-0-image-a-43_1738097902645.jpg)
