Aston Villa's Remarkable Season: Champions League Dreams and Europa League Ambitions
With the final weeks of the season approaching, Aston Villa supporters have every reason to be excited about what their team could achieve by the end of May. A return to the Champions League stands as Unai Emery's primary objective, while lifting silverware is also firmly on his mind, potentially marking a fifth Europa League trophy in his illustrious career.
A Challenging Start and Impressive Recovery
It was a difficult beginning to the season for Villa, and they exhibited some patchy form after the New Year as well. However, there's every chance the club can still achieve what would be viewed as a perfect campaign. At the start of the season, the feeling within the club was that qualifying for the Champions League might have been a stretch too far, especially after a challenging summer transfer window.
This window involved spending very little money and selling homegrown talent Jacob Ramsey to European-chasing rivals Newcastle United. Villa failed to win any of their opening six matches in all competitions. Nevertheless, they responded in emphatic fashion, winning 19 of their next 21 games, including an impressive 11-match winning streak.
Restored Optimism and Current Momentum
Following disappointing defeats against Wolves and Chelsea, victories over Lille in the Europa League round of 16 and then West Ham before the March break have restored optimism among the fanbase. Momentum strongly influences how a fan may judge their club's season, but the facts speak for themselves.
Villa have won nine of their ten European matches this season, while only three Premier League teams have collected more points over 31 matches. This is a remarkable campaign, worthy of a 9/10 score so far, with only failures to make a significant impact in the domestic cup competitions slightly lowering that rating.
Contextualizing Success Amidst Adversity
Context is crucial when analysing the season's success. Without Boubacar Kamara since January, and with John McGinn and Youri Tielemans out for two months, Villa's overall performance looks even more impressive. Being hit by injuries and restricted by financial rules are two major factors contributing to Villa's strong season rating.
This is especially notable given that they are competing against some of the world's wealthiest clubs while also juggling the demands of the Europa League. However, how this season will be remembered will only be defined in the coming weeks.
The Final Push for Glory
Villa currently hold a six-point buffer inside the top five and are entering the Europa League quarter-finals against Bologna, a team they have beaten twice in the last 18 months. With 26 matches won across all competitions this season, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion. Unai Emery's squad has defied expectations, turning what seemed like a stretch too far into a tangible reality within reach.
