Former manager backing Aston Villa to stay at the top
![Former manager backing Aston Villa to stay at the top](https://www.expressandstar.com/resizer/jYRepEaPM0zYC9-qqltQKTyzZpw=/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/mna/VWRVFNZT7VDNHISLUTGRDH54VY.jpg)
Former boss Dean Smith believes Villa have entered a new era of success following the “incredible achievement” of qualifying for the Champions League.
Smith won promotion from the Championship in 2019 and then stabilised the club in the Premier League, signing many of the players who have now gone to the next level and secured a fourth place finish under Unai Emery.