Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood claims that staying in the Premier League is more important than winning the FA Cup.

Villa beat Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley last weekend to reach their first FA Cup Final in 15 years, however all eyes now return to the Premier League and the club’s continuing battle to retain their top-flight status.

Sherwood has turned around the club’s fortunes, guiding Villa up to 15th in the table where they sit four points above the relegation places.

There is no room for complacency during the run-in and for players’ minds to drift ahead to the cup final against Arsenal, as some of the teams below Villa are finding their form and Sherwood’s side could easily get dragged back into the doldrums.

Sherwood admits in a Sky Sports interview it would be “devastating” if Villa were to end up in the Championship and he sees survival as the most important priority for the coming months.

He said: “We’re one million per cent focused on staying in the Premier League.

“At this stage (it’s) probably easier to win the FA Cup than it would be to stay in the Premier League and it’s more important for the club to stay in the Premier League.

“I’m not saying we don’t value the FA Cup, of course we do, this is a club with big history and expectation and we want to (do) both. We think we’re capable of doing both but it’s paramount that we stay in this league.

“I would take Premier League survival if I had to choose between that and winning the FA Cup, without a doubt.

Villa face Manchester City in Saturday’s evening kick-off and they are 11.00 to win the game, while City are priced at 1.25 and the draw is 6.00.