Africa-Press – Eritrea. Unai Emery said qualifying for the Champions League is Aston Villa’s “dream” after his side beat fellow European hopefuls Fulham 1-0 to move level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League.
Youri Tielemans scored the only goal early in the first half to earn Villa their seventh victory in nine league games and apply pressure on the teams above them before the weekend’s remaining fixtures.
Only four points separate Manchester City in third from Villa in seventh, but Newcastle, Chelsea and sixth-placed Nottingham Forest still have a game in hand.
The Premier League’s top five are all guaranteed a spot in the Champions League next season.
“We are so motivated to be [in the Champions League] again,” Emery told BBC Match of the Day.
“Europe is very important for the club and for our progress. The Champions League is the most difficult achievement we can have.
“It was a very important win – the Champions league is our dream.”
Villa face Bournemouth away and Tottenham Hotspur at home in their next two fixtures, before travelling to Manchester United in their final game of the campaign.
They reached the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club competition this season, losing 5-4 on aggregate to Paris St-Germain despite a rousing second-leg fightback at Villa Park.
“We’re desperate [to qualify again],” said Villa captain John McGinn. “Once you’ve had a taste of it, you want more.
“Today hopefully gets us knocking on the door. We want to be in the Champions League and will give it everything we have.”
In Saturday’s late game, Bournemouth boosted their hopes of capping a magnificent season with European qualification by beating Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
There will be at least eight Premier league teams competing in Europe next season – up from the usual seven – but things could change in the final weeks of the campaign.
Twelfth-placed Crystal Palace, who beat Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend, could still end up qualifying for Europe via the league or by beating City in the FA Cup final later this month.
BBC Sport looks at how many teams could qualify for each of the continental competitions: the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
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