Aston Villa boss Unai Emery urges his side to be ‘more intelligent’ after Sunday’s dismal 4-1 defeat by Spurs… and insists they must be ‘tactically and emotionally’ stronger to keep up their perfect Champions League start

Unai Emery has stressed all season that the Premier League is Aston Villa’s priority and beating Club Brugge on Wednesday would allow them to focus on it fully.

Villa suffered a mini-wobble by losing to Crystal Palace and Tottenham in the space of four days and another slip-up in Belgium would be unwelcome, especially with a trip to Liverpool on the horizon.

Yet Villa’s perfect record in the Champions League so far affords them breathing space and three more points against Brugge would virtually guarantee them a spot in the knockout stages.

‘It would be amazing if we could get into the top eight and qualify automatically for the last 16,’ said Emery. ‘The expectation is that maybe 16 or 17 points will be enough to make it and the best teams in Europe will be there.

‘But we are not playing as consistently well as we need to. If we can’t do that, it will be difficult to achieve our objectives. We need to be more intelligent than other teams. Tactically, mentally and even emotionally.’

Emery’s troops are gearing up for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Club Brugge

Jhon Duran scored against Bologna last month and threw a tantrum when he was taken off soon afterwards. The volatile Colombian has eight goals this term and the time is approaching when Emery will have to choose between Duran and Watkins for the longer term.

Both Watkins and Duran are tied to long-term contracts yet both are good enough to be the main man. Though Watkins, 28, is more experienced and has proven himself at Premier League level over four years, Duran is eight years younger and probably has a higher ceiling.

Watkins turns 30 next year and Villa transfer chief Monchi has admitted publicly that the club must sell players to generate the revenue they need to keep pace with England’s wealthiest clubs. Speaking in September, Monchi said Villa should not be scared to trade players and both Watkins and Duran would have plenty of suitors.

Though Duran’s potential is sky high, does he have the temperament to fulfil it? On the other hand, would Villa risk selling him next summer only to watch Duran develop into one of the world’s best at another club?

Bayern Munich paid £100million for Harry Kane soon after the England captain’s 30th birthday, so the wealthiest clubs will still pay for older players if they guarantee goals and Watkins does that.

Villa are enduring a spot of poor form, suffering a 4-1 defeat against Tottenham on Sunday

Emery will need to choose between Ollie Watkins (left) and Jhon Duran (right) in attack again

Neither he nor Duran will want another season scrapping for a one spot and Villa have a tricky decision awaiting them at the end of the campaign.

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Martinez; Konsa, D Carlos, Torres, Maatsen; McGinn, Onana, Tielemans, Ramsey; Duran, Rogers.