After a rollercoaster week that witnessed the highs and lows of Paris St. Germain followed by the demolition of Newcastle and a late gut-punch at the Etihad, Villa head to Wembley with the chance to bring glory to the Emery era. Here are Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villans:
The Big Stage
The double-header against Paris Saint-Germain will have opened the Villa players’ eyes to the high performance levelsthey can – and must – reach on the big stage. Despite falling short on aggregate, the second-leg performance at Villa Park should instil belief that more big European nights lie ahead under Unai Emery.
The sole focus now must be on finishing the season flawlessly, to deliver silverware and secure the opportunity for more Champions League football next season.
European Push
The last-gasp defeat at Manchester City dealt a blow to Villa’s hopes of snatching a Champions League place this season, but all hope is not yet lost.
Villa have four remaining winnable fixtures (inevitable Bruno Fernandes penalties notwithstanding) and a Cup semi-final to navigate. Meanwhile, their rivals still face challenging matches that could open one final window of opportunity.
Newcastle still have to face Chelsea, along with tough away trips to Brighton and Arsenal. Chelsea, meanwhile, have to visit Newcastle, travel to Nottingham Forest, and host Liverpool. With two of Villa’s main rivals clashing, points will inevitably be dropped.
Thus, the message for Emery’s men is simple: win the remaining games and ignore the noise around them.
Strong Finish
Villa’s impressive end to the 2022/23 season carried momentum into this campaign, culminating in Champions League qualification. By contrast, last season’s limp finish lingered into the early struggles of the current campaign.
Given how the team has clicked into gear in recent weeks, it’s reasonable to expect that a strong finish could signal even greater progress next season – perhaps even a title challenge.
If the summer recruitment can focus on strengthening the starting XI and shoring up the defence, then the sky’s the limit for Emery’s evolving side.
Right Back Upgrade
If there’s one thing that Emery and his staff have learned from facing PSG and Manchester City, it’s that Villa remain extremely vulnerable down the right-hand side.
Surely, this summer will finally deliver the right-back upgrade required to match the standards needed to push the team to the next level.
Are You Not Entertained!?
After a week of highs and lows against elite opposition, it’s impossible not to be entertained by how far Villa have come.
From scrapping for survival under Steven Gerrard to successive European campaigns, and a Champions League quarter-final against an elite side — with an FA Cup semi-final still to come — these are special times at Villa Park.
The next big step? Seizing a trophy to reward the remarkable progress made under Emery.
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