Lille Trip Reflections & Old Trafford Preview
Villa’s 1-0 win in Lille on Thursday night was controlled without being convincing, disciplined without being dynamic, but the scoreline is what matters. it was also notably for being the first game in six European trips to France, Villa actually won. One shot on target. One goal. The tie though is firmly in their hands.
Despite Unai Emery’s persistent talk of ‘structure’, the goal itself was pure instinct. A long ball forward, Buendia somehow outjumping his marker, and Watkins burying it in the one microsecond he didn’t have time to think. The miss that followed, clean through with time to spare, highlighted what happens when he has perhaps too much time to think.
The tie remains alive, when you consider Lille turned around a 1-0 home loss in the play-off round against Red Star, but Villa are firmly in control heading into the second leg at Villa Park.
The night’s most significant moment may not have been the goal. John McGinn’s introduction from the bench produced an immediate shift, physical, psychological and tangible. Within thirty seconds the midfielder’s trademark backside was out, opponents were bounced off, and the away end lifted. The captain is back at exactly the right moment.
Now for Sunday. Manchester United under Michael Carrick have won thirteen and drawn seven of their last twenty-three league games. They have scored in every Premier League fixture since November. Bruno Fernandes, pushed forward from the deeper role Amorim had him playing, has been involved in enough goals to be worth 23 points to his side this season, a figure only three players have bettered in United’s entire Premier League history. Old Trafford has not been kind to Villa in recent years, with United losing just twice in their last 37 home league games against them.
And yet Villa are still fourth. The mathematics still favour them. A draw on Sunday keeps them firmly in the mix pressure on, while a win changes the conversation entirely.
In this week’s My old Man Said double-header episode, the show breaks down what the Lille win actually means, whether the performance justifies any optimism, and what Villa need to do differently at Old Trafford to avoid another false dawn.
Listen to the Podcast on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Check out the best current deals on Aston Villa Merchandise
Become a Member and Get Ad-free Shows and More
Get ad-free shows and extra shows, and join My Old Man Said’s 24/7 Villa community, Match Club.
For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS Member
Join the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.
Credits:
David Michael – @myoldmansaid
Chris Budd – @BUDD_music
Phillip Shaw – @prsgame