As Aston Villa try to create a memorable season from the unlikeliest beginnings, their greatest challenges are as likely to happen off the pitch as on it.
Few who watched Villa in the first six weeks of the season would have believed their current situation possible.
After failing to record a league win until September 28 and not even scoring until five weeks into the Premier League campaign, Unai Emery’s men are three points off the top after beating league leaders Arsenal last weekend – one of the most rousing displays of Emery’s three years in charge.