Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has warned the Premier League's 'big six' that his long-term goal is to get the club playing European football, following his recent appointment.
It is one that the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea will all hear with each of the trio feeling the pressure to finish inside the top six each year.
Last time out, Chelsea were the only side of the three to finish in either the Champions League or Europa League places. Spurs had to settle for the newly formed Conference League while Arsenal missed out entirely.
Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Leicester are already causing huge competition for those places and Gerrard is determined to see Villa join the party.
"Success in football is always about winning football matches," he told his first press conference as Villa boss, via Birmingham Live.
"Long term, the club would like to be back at the European level, but I don’t think it’s the right time now to put any date on that.
"But for me, more importantly, It's about focusing on the short term, which is Brighton at the weekend. We need to start winning football matches again and moving up the table."
Villa currently sit in 16th in the Premier League table with three wins to their name. However, just six points separate them from Spurs who occupy ninth place.
In his 192 matches as Rangers manager Gerrard averaged 2.15 points per game, and any record close to that could result in Villa lighting up Europe sooner than expected.
