Since his arrival in November 2022, Villa have been on an upward spiral under the leadership of Unai Emery. Under his stewardship, we went from looking like relegation contenders to qualifying for Europe for the first time in 13 years. Things got even better in 2024, a 4th place finish and a return to the Champions League, for the first time since we defended our European Cup in the 1982/83 season. Now, can we become European Champions for the 2nd time to celebrate the150th anniversary season of the proud name of Aston Villa?
Our European Dream
We were shaping up for a big season with a new kit sponsorship deal with Adidas and some new faces with Ian Maatsan (Chelsea) and Amadou Onana (Everton) joining although there were fond farewells to Douglas Luiz (Juventus, for now) and Moussa Diaby (Al-Ittihad). We made a strong start to the campaign winning 3 of the first 4 matches before our return to the Champions League.
Now of course, we were previously in the European Cup in 1983, long before the rebranding of the Champions League in the 1992/93 season.
There have been lots of changes in Uefa Competitions over the 32 years but now we had something never seen before.
New Format
The three Uefa Competitions would now (after qualifying stages) see a 36 team league with 8 matches rather than 6 matches in the group stage. It would see four matches to play at home and away against two teams from each of the pots (1-4). No meeting of any team from the same country initially but you could meet as early as the playoff stage. The top 8 qualify directly for the last 16, 9th-24th in play-offs and 25th and below being eliminated.
Now you understand all that,(don’t worry, there won’t be a test!) time for the draw! Away matches against Young Boys, Club Brugge, RB Leipzig and AS Monaco. At Villa Park the big one would be against Bayern Munich plus Bologna, Juventus and Celtic.
Perfect Start
We began on the 4g pitch in Switzerland against Young Boys. After a nervy start, we got into our groove and there was really only going to be one winner. A 3-0 victory with Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsay and Onana getting on the scoresheet.
The next game was at Villa Park and the scene was set. A reunion with Bayern Munich, 42 years since winning the European Cup. The Champions League campaign began with losing one of our own, and the the first from the starting XI from that night in Rotterdam. Gary Shaw was simply a legend who played over 10 years and scored many crucial goals. He is still today sorely missed.
The match against Bayern Munich was tight and cagey but one flash of brilliant from Jhon Duran gave us victory and a famous 1-0 victory. That was for you, Gary.
The next game at Villa Park also saw us winning 2-0 over Italian side Bologna thanks to goals from Captain John McGinn and Duran. Top of the table after three games and things were looking promising.
He Did What?!
The next game saw us travel to Belgium to take on Club Brugge. After a goalless first half, things were looking ok until that moment of our goal-kick. Tyrone Mings picked up the ball to move it and following the letter of the law, a penalty was given. Vankan scored it, the first goal was conceded and it was our first defeat.
The next game at Villa Park saw another reunion this time with the team that ended our defence of the European Cup in 1983, Juventus. Today’s Juventus was far inferior to that glorious side in the 80s and in 90s. Goalless going into the final minutes, Morgan Rogers fought to score, he won it only to see the goal disallowed.. This slipped us down to 9th but we were still in a strong position.
Time For Changes
Our final game of the Champions League in 2024 saw us travel to Germany to take on RB Leipzig. This was an exciting match; we led twice from McGinn and Duran, only to be pegged back. At 2-2, it looked like we would have to settle for another point, until Ross Barkley scored the winner to give us three precious points and the 5th place in the table.
Whilst things were looking rosy in the Champions League, in the Premier League it was a different case. After our 2nd game, we failed to win any league games after Champions League matches. Our away form had been poor although our home form had been excellent.
9th at the end of the year, Emery felt the squad needed some fresh blood. Going out included Diego Carlos, Duran and Emi Buendia (on loan). Coming in were Donyell Malen, Andres Garcia plus loan signings- Axel Disasi, Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford.
The loan signings would be included in the Champions League squad in the knockout stages (should we get there) whilst Garcia and Malen wouldn’t be included.
Mission Accomplished
Our final away game was a trip to aS Monaco. A disappointing 1-0 defeat, left us outside the top 8, going into the final match.
For the second season in a row, this would be a battle of Britain, this time against the Scottish Champions Celtic at Villa Park.
It lived up to the billing. Rogers scored two quick goals but an Idah double left it 2-2 at the break. Ollie Watkins got his first of the campaign before missing a penalty. Rogers completed his hat-trick right at the end and we finished 8th and booked our straight passage to the last 16.
Spot Of Revenge
However our form had still been difficult and a 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace at the end of February left us in 10th place.
We now had our last 16 of the Champions League to look forward to, a quick reunion with Club Brugge. This time we got off to a flying start with Leon Bailey scoring. De Cuyper equalised and it felt like it was going to end a draw when an own goal gave us the lead, 8 minutes from time. An Asensio penalty sealed a 3-1 win, this would be a turning point in our domestic campaign too.
The second leg would be a formality especially when Brugge went down to 10 men. Two more goals from Asensio, with a Maatsen goal in-between gave us a 3-0 win, 6-1 on aggregate. In our third European Cup/Champions League campaign, we would make the Quarter-Finals.
Biggest Night
Our opponents were much fancied French champions PSG. They had disappointed in the league stage until a late flurry of wins secured them a play-off place. They saw off the eventual Premier League champions Liverpool on penalties in the last round. The first leg was in Paris. Rogers gave us the lead and we were looking for an advantage. This sadly didn’t last, goals from Doue, Kvaratskhelia and late goal from Mendes gave them a 3-1 lead going into return at Villa Park.
Fought Like Lions
The scene was set at Villa Park with another impressive tifo, ‘Welcome To Aston Villa’ with two lions at the gates. We had to come back from two goals down if we wanted to keep the European dream alive. It was tough but not impossible.
After 27 minutes, it went another level. PSG had taken a 2-0 lead with goals from full-backs Hakimi and Mendes, so it was 5-1 on aggregate. It was too much to hope for a miracle, or was it?
We needed a break before half-time and attacking the Holte, we got one through Tielemans. After 55 minutes, McGinn took the ball and had a go and it was a beauty, 2-2 on the night. Just two minutes had passed and then Ezri Konsa struck! From being 2-1 down, we were now 3-2 up and just need one more.
The chances kept coming but PSG Goalkeeper Donnarumma had made at least 3 world class saves in the match, which proved to be vital. Chances kept coming but in the end it wasn’t to be. We had done ourselves proud, a 3-2 win but exit to the eventual winners of the Champions League, 5-4 on aggregate. My Grandad always said in any cup competition you had to fancy the team that knocked out the Villa.
Now the attention turned back to domestic matters.
All To Play For
Since the knockout stages of the Champions League, we had won 5 straight league games and booked a place in the Semi-Finals of the FA Cup.
Now we had two big games, first away to Manchester City and then the FA Cup Semi-Final against Crystal Palace.
After falling behind, a Rashford penalty (which would be his last goal of a good loan spell) looked to give us a vital point at what has always been a difficult place for us. A lapse in concentration right at the end saw us go down 2-1, to keep us outside the top 5 in 7th place.
Now to Wembley against Crystal Palace. Palace had been our bogey team, not just that win in February but also knocking us out of the League Cup (2-1) in only our 2nd defeat all season at Villa Park.
After a promising start, Palace took control and won 3-0. Like PSG, they would go on to win the FA Cup, their first major triumph. Right again Grandad Gamble.
Back To Promise Land?
With just 4 games left, it was still all to play for in achieving a Champions League place by finishing the top 5. Three wins had given us a chance, 66 points and 6th place, just outside on goal difference.
The scene was set. Champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal would return to the Champions League, with 3 more places with 5 teams battling it out. Manchester City were away to Fulham, a shootout between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea plus Newcastle United at home to Everton. As for us, one of favourite away matches (not) at Manchester United.
That Old Trafford
Basically, we won there in the 1983/84 season, 18 months before I was born. In my lifetime, I have seen us win there twice, 2009 under Martin O’Neill and 2021 in Dean Smith’s final win as our Gaffer.
Manchester United were in decline. A eventual 15th place finish and losing 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in Europa League Final. Still, we were facing a massive task.
Just before half-time, it got even harder. Emi Martinez came right out of his goal, to barge down Hollund and we were down to 10 men.
The second half we were still in it 0-0. Elsewhere, Man City won comfortably 2-0, Chelsea beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 and it was goalless at Newcastle, until that moment at Old Trafford.
Rogers was going on the attack with the United keeper looking to hold the ball but he lost it. He never had control, Rogers slipped in, put it in the net but it was disallowed. Still VAR would have a look but there was one problem- The referee Thomas Bramall had blown his whistle before it hit the net, so they couldn’t intervene.
Newcastle then fell behind in the 65th minute, with Everton holding on to 1-0 win. a point would be enough for us and currently we were in the top 5.
This like so many other moments in the season would be what might have been. Just 11 minutes later, Man Utd had scored. A penalty at their end sealed our fate, a 2-0 defeat and 6th place. They meant Europa League Football, Down but not out.
Now To Present
We find ourselves battling to qualify for the Champions League again on two fronts, the league and the Europa League.
With a top 5 place likely to be good enough again, despite recent troubles we find ourselves in 4th place with possibly another photo finish.
In the Europa League, we finished 2nd in the league stage and we’re looking to hold on for another place in the Quarter-Finals.
More important, we have an opportunity to win a major trophy for the first time in 30 years. Emery is an elite coach and has certainly made a telling contribution to the club. We are now at a crossroads and by the end of this league, 24th May, he will go down as a winner like Ron Saunders, Tony Barton, Ron Atkinson and Brian Little, or ultimately a nearly man like John Gregory and Martin O’Neill. It’s my birthday lads. You know what to do.
This brings me to the end of the throwback series, reviewing the last 50 years of European action. Thank you to all the Lions and my family for all your support and always, up the Villa!