UNAI Emery angrily dismissed Aston Villa’s chances of finishing in the top five after Thierno Barry sent them spinning to defeat.
The Spanish boss was furious after the final whistle as Aston Villa blew an opportunity to jump into second as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Everton.
The Toffees’ striker produced a moment of magic with a 59th-minute finish as David Moyes’s below-strength side left Birmingham with the points.
Emery was asked how the defeat had damaged his side’s chances of putting pressure on Arsenal and Manchester City, saying: “We are still not contenders to be in the top five.
“We are now there but we are not contenders.
“There are other teams with more potential than us.”
Asked to expand on that, he refused to answer but did say there were rivals out there who would swap places with Villa.
Emery reminded his fans that there were others who would willingly trade positions with the Birmingham club.
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He said: “Of course we have lost a very good opportunity.
“But we are in front of other teams who are contenders to be in the position that we are.
“We had the chance to be second in the league. That would have been something really fantastic.
“But after feeling our frustration, we must try to recover our positive way of doing things.”
Emery was unable to expand afterwards on a knee injury to skipper John McGinn who went off in the 18th minute.
Following the knock to the Scotland international, the loss of Boubacar Kamara last week and the loss of Donyell Malan, the Spanish boss insisted that Villa need to move in the market.
He said: “We have enough players to get the performances we need.
“But we must replace some players who are leaving.”
Toffees’ chief David Moyes was delighted as his team dug deep to register their fifth away win of the season.
And he was especially pleased with match winner Barry – although his praise came with a warning that his form in front of goal needs to continue.
He said: “It looked as if Thierno had nowhere to go with his finish – but to get it up and over – it was exquisite, it really was.
“It’s really difficult for any player to come to the Premier League – to be a centre-forward is the toughest job.
“If you look at the money which could be spent on some other centre-forwards, it doesn’t always guarantee that it’s going to work.
“If we thought he was going to come in and smash it in the Premier League, it was wrong.
“But, hey, what do we need?
“Between him and Beto, I need them to get me some goals.”
