Brad Friedel rates Aston Villa as Europa Conference League favourites.
Villa reached the group phase through a qualifying win against Hibs.
But former Villa keeper says they should now be regarded favourites for the title. He told Sporting Post: "I think they should have a long run in the ECL and should be one of the favourites to win it. For Aston Villa finishing anywhere in the Top 8 and cup runs is great.
"Unai Emery will look at the two heavy away defeats, and being such a great tactician he'll figure that out. They lost 5-1 to Newcastle but it was odd, it wasn't really a 5-1 game. Villa didn't play poorly but came out with a heavy loss.
"With the players they have brought in they can do it. There are two things to consider, the players mindset and the club's history mindset.
"If you have enough players in the team who are used to winning things and playing in multiple competitions it feels normal to be playing midweek and the weekend. The hardest thing I found was playing in the Europa League was that you're consistently playing on Sunday's in the Premier League.
"You go in these waves of ups and downs. If results go against you on the Saturday then there is more pressure on you on the Sunday. It can also go for you if results go for you then there is an added sense of confidence from nowhere. That's what I found the hardest with the Sunday fixtures and if it's consistent you have 8-10 fixtures on Sunday's and at least half of those are real pressure situations."