Damian Vidagany’s Letter to Villa Fans
In Unai Emery’s pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with Newcastle United, the Villa boss had firmly moved on from his team’s gallant two-legged battle with PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“It’s done. Everything we did is done,” reflected, Emery, before looking ahead to the Newcastle test. “Take our experiences together here, try to analyse to continue improving things, but thinking the next matches, the match tomorrow.
“Tomorrow’s match is our objective, and the level they (Newcastle) have is similar level as PSG’s team,” he added.
Now is not the time for patting ourselves on the back as a club. Emery ultimately views not reaching the Champions League semi-finals as a missed opportunity. What matters most now is the urgency to return to the competition next season – not just for the financial reward, but to capitalise on the footballing momentum and belief that the team gained in that thrilling second half against the French champions.
On the morning before the pivotal clash against Newcastle – a match that could define Villa’s Champions League qualification hopes – Emery’s right-hand man and Director of Football Operations, Damian Vidagany sent a message to the Villa Fan Advisory Board (FAB). The note thanked fans for their support and asked supporters to back the team to help them finish strongly in the run-in, to help lay the foundation for further progress next season.
It’s clear from the below letter that he gave the FAB his blessing to publish how the management team is looking at the final weeks of the season and what they want to achieve.
The message is clear – it’s time as a fanbase to switch from being doubters to believers of what is actually possible.
Please find below the original letter from Damian as published on the Villa FAB website
MESSAGE TO VILLA SUPPORTERS
18th April 2025
Dear Fan Advisory Board members,
First, I would like to show how grateful we are to the supporters – from everyone at the club, the manager, the players, and the staff – for the European night atmospheres we had at VP. We know how hard it was for many people to get tickets… and pay for them.
We had the responsibility to make it worthwhile, and we did our best. We finished angry because we should be in the semi-final, but we will have our opportunity to come back stronger.
It comes to my mind the nice meeting we had at Christmas. I remember that I asked you to keep the faith and trust the process of the team. We delivered. Now is the time to ask you one more thing. We need you every single match providing the energy and strength to the squad.
We cannot ever think that we have had enough. We want and we need to qualify for UCL again. This is where we belong, and we won’t stop now. Not a second to be self-proud of what we did. Everything is coming now. We want a trophy, and we want to go Champions League.
We need you guys fully engaged, please help us spreading the message: A winning team, a winning club, never is full and never is tired of getting new challenges.
Newcastle tomorrow is the new “PSG” for us. It is like a UCL semi-final.
Up the Villa.
Damian Vidagany.
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