Unai Emery insists his Aston Villa players won’t feel the pressure of maintaining their form in the final third of the Premier League campaign because they’ll be prepared for the challenges ahead.

Villa had won 12 of their first 17 Premier League games this season, losing on three which all came away from home. But since their 2-1 win over Brentford eight weeks ago, Emery’s side have only won twice, picking up eight points from the 18 on offer over the last five matches.

Having slipped out of the top four after the 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle, Villa climbed back into the Champions League spots with an emphatic 5-0 win over Sheffield United last weekend, but suffered a successive home defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup. This Sunday’s clash with Manchester United will be crucial in the complexion of Villa’s season as a win would open up an 11-point gap to the Red Devils, but a defeat would shrink the cushion to just five points.

When asked if his players have what it takes to maintain their form, Emery said: “It is an experience. For me it is experience as well. When I was at Arsenal we were also in fourth for a long time.

“But with Villa it is my first experience to be there. You mentioned two months ago we achieved the first time being in the top four. We are keeping it during those weeks.

“I think that is the natural situation. We have to understand and feel comfortable, demanding. I am never in my work feeling under pressure, never.

“I am always facing different situations, trying to prepare as best as possible the best decision we are facing during the match. My message to the players is the same. We will always look how we can manage each situation on the pitch and never feel pressure.

“Maybe something the players can feel, which I don’t want, is what can happen if we are losing, if we are not winning, we have to try and play. If you are playing and take the challenge, feeling strong in preparation and facing duels, there is no more.”