ANDONI Iraola said the Cherries are now “big Villa supporters” as a win from Unai Emery’s side tonight in the Europa League final could see the Cherries qualify for the Champions League.
Villa face Freiburg for the trophy in Istanbul tonight.
If they win that game, they will ensure Champions League qualification as a competition winner, as well as through the league.
Read more:
-
How Cherries can still qualify for the Champions League on season's final day
-
Iraola - "It would be nice" to get bottle of wine from friend Arteta after City draw
-
Cherries benefited from City's emotional fatigue after cup final - Iraola
-
Memories for "incredible" fans "more important" than European qualification - Iraola
-
Two tens in sensational Cherries performance to secure Europe - Player ratings
If Villa finish in the top four, the standard qualification spots in the Premier League, then top five would get Champions League, with the European performance spot given to fifth place.
But, if Villa finish exactly fifth, then the competition winners place will be applied to the league before the performance spot, which would then be given to the team finishing sixth.
Bournemouth are currently in sixth, three points clear of seventh placed Brighton, and just a point on Sunday at Nottingham Forest would confirm their finish there.
Villa would need to lose on the final day and Liverpool would need to win for the Reds and the Villans to swap positions in the table, but Iraola is hopeful that Villa win the Europa League to get that one step closer.
“We don't know if Villa is going to win the Europa League,” Iraola told the Daily Echo.
“I hope so. Now we are big Villa supporters, but some things have to happen to give us chances!”
