Jack Grealish believes that Aston Villa can copy Wolves’ success in the top flight next season, and that Villa won’t simply be in a relegation battle like many people have predicted.
The Villa star, speaking to TalkSPORT, revealed that he believes that his side could finish as high as their Midlands neighbours did last season.
Wolves shocked many by finishing seventh last season in their first season back in the top flight, securing Europa League football in the process.
Grealish believes that Villa aren’t simply there to make the numbers, and could make a big impact in the Premier League.
The midfielder told TalkSPORT:
I had a chat with the manager in America during pre-season and I said to be him, and he completely agreed with me, ‘I don’t want to come into the Premier League just to survive relegation, I don’t want to finish 17th or 16th, I want to finish as high as possible and do what Wolves did last season’
Look at them, I know they’re our neighbours, but I think you can only give credit to the players and staff for what they did last season.
They got into the Premier League and didn’t change the team too much, came in with no fear, played brilliant football and ended up in the Europa league.
I don’t see why we can’t do that and fingers crossed we can.
Grealish is the lone player remaining from Villa’s last spell in the top flight in 2016, and revealed he feels that Dean Smith’s side are completely different to the one that were relegated to the Championship.
The club has changed massively – the manager, the chief executive, we even have new owners.
The squad is completely different, but it’s changed for the good. We’re a young, energetic team and we’re all looking forward to the first game of the season and hopefully we can have a good season overall.
Read Aston Villa’s verdict
Wolves shocked everyone with their performances in the Premier League last season, showing that team can go straight from the Championship to competing in the Premier League.
The Black Country side obviously have a huge backing with their Chinese owners, so were able to bring in international stars such as Diogo Jota and Rui Patricio.
But Villa have also brought in a lot of good talent this window, including Tom Heaton and Wesley.
It would still be a tough ask for Villa to emulate what Wolves did last season, considering how much talent there is in the top half of the Premier League table.
However, you can never say never in football, so Grealish could yet be right in his predictions.
