With three competitions still in play, the final six weeks of the campaign should provide fans with more than enough entertainment (and a an open bus parade, perhaps). Despite losing the away leg in Paris, here are my Five Reasons to be Cheerful:
Half-Time In Europe
While the stoppage-time goal in Paris felt like a gut punch, the tie is far from over. Unai Emery and his players have made it clear they’ll dust themselves off and give Paris Saint-Germain a real battle at Villa Park.
A two-goal deficit is no reason to give up on a Champions League semi-final spot, especially with the Holte End roaring behind them. It’s very much game on.
Top Five Back in Sight
Not long ago, cup glory seemed like Villa’s only realistic route to a major European competition. After squandering points in supposedly winnable fixtures earlier this year, the Premier League run-in looked brutal.
But Villa have since responded with huge wins away at Brentford, Brighton, Southampton, and a home win against high-flying Nottingham Forest, rocketing themselves back into top five contention.
With the fixture list still challenging and two cup campaigns ongoing, Emery’s side will be tested. But the seven-game winning streak before facing PSG suggested that Villa may finally have found their rhythm.
Wembley Beckons: Villa’s Best FA Cup Shot in Decades
While the spotlight has been firmly on the Champions League, it may be the FA Cup that ultimately brings the glory fans crave.
A Wembley semi-final against a team currently sitting 12th in the Premier League represents a golden opportunity—one Villa simply cannot afford to waste.
Reaching the final would set up a clash with either Nottingham Forest or Manchester City. While City are always a threat, they’re not quite at their best this season, and Villa have already handled Forest well this year.
It’s without doubt Villa’s best chance of winning the FA Cup since the 2000 final against Chelsea.
Building for the Future
Villa recently announced a new two-year contract extension for Rory Wilson, the highly-rated teenager who has scored 36 goals in 53 matches across the U18 and U21 levels.
Amid reported interest from top European clubs, Wilson’s decision to stay is a huge vote of confidence in Villa’s future.
Meanwhile, Boubacar Kamara has reportedly been offered a lucrative new deal. Since returning from injury, he’s become essential to Villa’s midfield.
His contract situation has been ongoing since last year, with the player no doubt waiting to see if Villa will qualify for Europe next season before committing long-term.
Squad Depth Cavalry
The arrivals of Axel Disasi, Andres Garcia, Donyell Malen, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio have coincided with the gradual return to fitness of the majority of the Villa squad. In recent matches, Emery has been allowed the luxury of rotating and resting players without worrying about the merits of their replacements. With games coming thick and fast over the next six weeks, it also gives the manager genuine quality to bring off the bench to either see a game out, or, in the case of the win against Southampton, trigger the win.
The arrivals of Axel Disasi, Andres Garcia, Donyell Malen, Marcus Rashford, and Marco Asensio, combined with the return to fitness of key players, have finally given Unai Emery true squad depth.
In recent games, Emery has been able to rotate effectively, resting players without sacrificing performance. More importantly, he now has real quality on the bench – whether it’s to close out matches or, as against Southampton, to win the game.
With a jam-packed schedule ahead, this depth could prove crucial to success across three competitions.
UTV
Follow Armen on Twitter/X here – @VillanArmen
Follow MOMS on Twitter/X & Facebook & Threads & Bluesky
