Stephen Warnock Believes Aston Villa Do Not Belong in the Championship

Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock reckons that the club certainly belong in the Premier League and not in the Championship.

It has gone horribly wrong for the Midlands outfit over the last few years. After flirting with relegation for almost 3 seasons, the club finally ended up in the Championship at the end of last season. As a player who used to represent Villa for a number of years, Warnock is surprised by the decline of the club. However, he expects Villa to bounce back strongly even though they have struggled for form this season.

As one of the few teams to have won the European cup in England, Villa had the reputation of having the gone down into the second division of English football since the Premier league was founded in 1992. More than the club’s relegation, it was the disappointing start to the campaign in the Championship that proved to be the biggest disappointment since many were expecting Villa to challenge for the title straightaway.

Villa managed to retain the core of players, but former Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo was unable to repeat his magic as he had done with other Championship clubs in the last few years. The club are now mid-table in the Championship after having brought in Steve Bruce as their manager.

“This will be my first time back there so I’m really looking forward to it, it’s always a big occasion when Villa are at home and we need to be up for it. My memories are really good ones in the main.When you look at the size of the club, then they really should be up there challenging in the top half of the Premier League, but as we know football doesn’t give you anything unless you earn it and the club has been through a difficult period.Sooner or later it will be back up there I’m sure,” said Warnock.