Aston Villa squad dey face defining moment under manager Unai Emery. Dem dey trail 1-0 going into Thursday Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest. Thirty-year trophy drought dey hang around club neck. There be growing sense say na this squad last chance to end am.
Nine of current squad start Emery first game, 3-1 win over Manchester United for November 2022. John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara come off bench dat time. Six of those players start against Forest for first leg, wey Villa suffer defeat.
Stability don underpin Villa success under former Arsenal boss Emery. He take over when club dey 14th and three points above relegation zone. But as dem stumble just before biggest game of im reign, question dey: don Emery take this group as far as e fit?
Villa wretched 2-1 home defeat by Tottenham on Sunday, third consecutive loss, no give dem ideal platform. Even though Emery make eight changes, e underline lack of depth within squad. Only Emi Martinez, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers be first-choice starters for Sunday XI.
Emery don earn admiration from at least two fellow Premier League managers. Dem dey privately impressed with decisions he make, clear focus on im biggest game at club, and how he stick to strategy. He don win Europa League record four times, three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal. With minds focused, those close to Emery expect to see different performance from Sunday surrender.
“We dey improve, including myself, and we go get more challenges to set for present or future,” Emery talk when dem ask if this be last chance for squad to win something. “I no think tomorrow be last opportunity for us or anyone. Players dey enjoy process we dey do and dem dey aware about how difficult football be. This be greatest moment we dey have for last three years. E no go break anything about how we dey think and try to improve.”
Even if Emery believe dem fit push for honours beyond this season and with Champions League football, changes dey expected. Squad need to be refreshed and selling players be easiest way to comply with regulations. England forward Morgan Rogers be their biggest asset. There be realisation say significant number need to be recycled. Emery don dey aware since opening month of season wetin need to be done.
He and president of football operations Roberto Olabe dey aligned. But Olabe be brought in to help progress Villa further, more medium and longer term. Going forward, more focus go dey on younger players and filling necessary first-team gaps with more senior signings. But Emery, same as any manager, want players wey dey ready now. The pair dey close, Emery handpick Olabe to replace Monchi for September, so common ground dey found. Dem spend hours dey talk about tactics and philosophies, conversations wey usually start for club canteen at Bodymoor Heath.
Yet desire for new players to take Villa to next level be hardest task. Squad don likely reach im limit and there appear to be gap between expected core of 13 and rest. But to sign players wey go really improve group cost money. Na why Villa re-sign Douglas Luiz on loan for January. The midfielder don fail to impress at Juventus and during im loan spell at Nottingham Forest this season, but e know Emery methods.
Spending restrictions mean club don work carefully as dem aim to comply with profit and sustainability rules, both Premier League and Uefa. Villa don be fined by European governing body last year. Villa feel there need to be regulation but believe different spending rules no complement each other. To do dat, Luiz be initially sold to Juventus after Villa reach Champions League two years ago. Last summer Jacob Ramsey leave for Newcastle for £40m.
Villa no want to spend £35m to make Harvey Elliott loan from Liverpool permanent. Attacking midfielder dey stuck on nine Premier League appearances, one short of triggering deal. Elliott be one of those players wey dem deem not good enough for price. Although how Emery and Villa revamp squad remain up for debate until their Champions League fate dey known. Then market go dictate and Emery fit be required to work some more magic.
“When I arrive here three and half years ago, e be dream to dey play semi-final of Europa League,” Emery talk. “Finishing season like we dey now, for league and for semi-final, e really something fantastic.” Striker Ollie Watkins don already hint say squad expect changes. Tyrone Mings, McGinn and Tammy Abraham, during im loan from Chelsea, start when Villa beat Derby for Championship play-off final for 2019. Ezri Konsa and Luiz join dat summer. Watkins sign year later for then record £28m from Brentford, along with Cash and Martinez.
Emery don mould many from Championship players into Champions League contenders from squad wey previously no finish higher than 11th since returning to top flight. Dem dey flounder under predecessor Steven Gerrard. But all good things come to end. “Squad change every year and players always leave,” Watkins talk. “This be only moment when we go get all same players for dressing room this year. We need to do everything we fit to get to end. Team pretty much same as when Dean Smith dey here, apart from few good additions. We fit always count on each other and e nice to get core wey don dey together for numerous years. E quite rare.”
Paul Merson say Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest Europa League semi-final feel like competition final. Nottingham Forest seize advantage for tie after Chris Wood second-half penalty put Vitor Pereira side just 90 minutes away from first European final for 46 years. Dem win first leg 1-0. With either Braga, wey hold 2-1 lead from first leg, or Freiburg to come for final for Istanbul on May 20, Merson think e be winner takes all between Villa and Forest to win Europa League and seal place for next season Champions League.
“Aston Villa form dey worrying. Dem don lose three games on trot now but dem still get two chances of getting into Champions League, so all no lost,” Merson yarn. “Dem get some hard league games to finish season for Liverpool and Man City, but their other game be Burnley, wey you expect dem to win. I be surprised Aston Villa rest so many on Sunday against Spurs, only because dem fit don wrap up Champions League qualification with win.”
“However, for me, most important game be against Nottingham Forest on Thursday for Europa League. This game feel like cup final for me. E get feeling of winner takes all with either Braga or Freiburg to come for final. Dat mean winner on Thursday fit well dey book themselves spot for Champions League. E make e huge game for both sides, but especially for Forest with Villa get dat back up option of qualifying for Champions League through league.”
“I be convinced Aston Villa go beat Forest over two legs, especially after watching game for league between two for City Ground few weeks ago. I think Villa destroy dem and be far better team. However, Forest win first leg and I see dem at Chelsea, wey be dreadful, but dem really good at Stamford Bridge. Dem dey hit their straps at just right time. Dem dey play with lot of confidence right now. Because of dat, now I go be shocked if Aston Villa go through after watching two teams for last couple days.”
“I know Chelsea be poor but you still get to go to Stamford Bridge and win. Dem don hit real purple patch and full credit to Vitor Pereira. I love fact dem play with two strikers and teams no get clue of how to cope with am. Defenders nowadays don play all their careers against just one striker, with one marking and one dropping off. But all of sudden dem come up against two strikers and dem no get clue. E really dey blow teams apart and I love am.”
“For defence of Unai Emery and im team selection at Spurs, football be about winning trophies. He be manager wey want to win trophies. Dat why he do wetin he do against Spurs and I no fit knock am. At end of day, you want to finish fifth and get Champions League just to be knocked out early on for competition next season, or you want to finish sixth, win Europa League and qualify dat way. I rather win trophy and so go Emery. Dat be problem with football right now. Everyone want to dey play for Champions League but e no really about winning trophies anymore. Dat why I like Emery. He want to win. He want to win Europa League. I sure dem go get over line and qualify for Champions League through league, and fair play for dat, but Emery rather win Europa League than finish fifth. He prove dat against Spurs. For end of your career, you want to win trophies. You suppose want to win trophies. You no want to dey sit with your grandkids once you don retire get to tell dem you no win anything but you finish fifth and qualify for Champions League. Next question: ‘Did you win Champions League? Of course we no’. You want to dey able to tell dem you win trophies, you win Europa League, second biggest European trophy you fit win, and wetin a night e be. Dat be all players wey suppose care about. Dat be Emery mindset.”
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