Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villa Survey the Season’s Business End
It has been a long and demanding season for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, with an expanded Champions League group stage, a rare FA Cup run, and an intense (and slapdash) Premier League battle for European spots. Villa have just navigated perhaps the toughest stretch of the campaign, playing multiple games in quick succession. After a well-earned break, they now sit four points off fourth place – albeit with several teams ahead of them – while also competing in two quarter-finals.
Here are Five Reasons to Be Cheerful as Villans:
Europe’s Elite
Aston Villa are preparing for a Champions League/European Cup quarter-final for the first time since 1983, when they fell to Juventus. To overstate the significance of this achievement would be difficult, considering the state of the club before Emery’s arrival. Qualifying for the competition alone was a first for most Villa supporters, but finishing in the top eight in the league stage and comfortably dispatching Bruges in the last 16 is an enormous accomplishment.
However, at this stage, there is no need for nerves or apprehension. Villa’s quarter-final opponents, Paris Saint-Germain, have restructured their squad, moving away from a bloated group of superstars, and they are now performing at their best in years. But Villa must approach both legs with confidence, knowing that a semi-final spot is theirs to lose.
Emery’s Villarreal side already proved that with effort, tactical discipline, and quality in the final third, deep Champions League runs are possible. History has shown that teams like Porto, Monaco, and Tottenham have reached the final despite not being favourites. Villa’s players have nothing to lose and everything to gain – and that should be the mindset going forward.
Magic of the Cup
While the focus has been on the Champions League and securing European qualification, could Villa’s season have one last twist? They now find themselves in a very winnable FA Cup quarter-final against Championship side Preston, with a trip to Wembley on the line.
Newcastle’s League Cup victory last weekend served as a reminder of what silverware means to clubs outside the traditional elite. Villa’s last FA Cup triumph came in 1957, and for many fans, winning it remains one of the last major trophies left to check off.
Even if the league and Champions League campaigns don’t go to plan, lifting the FA Cup would make this the club’s most successful season since 1982, especially when paired with an exceptional European run.
Respite
Even though Villa didn’t play during the last weekend, Premier League results worked in their favour, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Brighton, and Bournemouth all dropping points. Whether Villa can maintain their push on all fronts remains to be seen, but as things stand, only four points separate them from fourth-placed Chelsea. With games running out and clashes against teams above them, they need to put back-to-back wins together. If they do, then there’s everything is still to play for.
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Away Wins
Villa’s home form has once again carried the club this season with a firm improvement required to results on the road. Villa’s last two matches against Bruges and Brentford produced wins and they couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. Hopefully, it’s a turning point.
With four of Villa’s next five games on the road, including key matches in the FA Cup, Champions League, and against Brighton, their season could be decided away from Villa Park. If their recent away-day success continues, Villa’s ambitions for silverware and European qualification will remain alive.
Leak Repairs
Defensive issues have plagued Villa all season, but recent improvements at the back have been noticeable. They have now kept three clean sheets in their last four matches, something they had only achieved once before this season, back in October.
Axel Disasi has impressed since replacing Diego Carlos and the return of Pau Torres will help. If – and it’s a big if – Villa can also keep Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana fit, their midfield stability and defensive resilience could give them the foundation needed to finish the season strongly.
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The Spirit of Rotterdam ’82 Event – 10% off Tickets
Join Peter Withe, Tony Morley and Nigel Spink at Sillhill Brewery on March 27th, to celebrate that legendary night in Rotterdam in 1982 and the launch of The Spirit of Rotterdam 1982 whisky. Get 10% off tickets using the code MOMS at checkout. Go to https://thespiritofrotterdam82.co.uk/shop/ or the eventbrite link below to secure your spot for a night of pure Villa history!
Tickets on Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/4hqBFOp
