Aston Villa claimed one of their greatest results in the modern era after a 1:0 victory over Bayern Munich. They kept up their perfect record in the new UEFA Champions League format, and there is a chance that this result could still be topped in the many famous nights they have to come.
Unai Emery has brought these players from the brink of relegation to midweek nights under the UCL nights, but how exactly has he done it?
Proven stars
As impressive as it is that Villa have fought tooth and nail to reach these heights, it must be remembered that a lot of their squad at the time had already proven that they were quality players.
The likes of John McGinn, Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez had been a part of the squad for a while, proving themselves for both club and country throughout previous years.
In fact, it was only a month after Emery took over that Martinez would go on to win the 2022 World Cup and cement his place in Argentine history with his last-gasp save against Kolo-Muani.
Ollie Watkins had proven to the league a few seasons prior that he could be a good enough striker, with a first-half hat trick in their 7:2 win against Liverpool in the 2020/21 season well and truly putting him on the map for the first time.
The squad now is arguably one of the strongest in the league, even with Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz both leaving the club, and they have so far proven that against all opponents they will stand and fight.
A manager on a mission
The issue throughout the season had been Steven Gerrard’s management of the team. On paper it wasn’t a bad decision to bring him in considering his resume with Rangers, bringing them their first Scottish Premiership title since their relegation, but nothing he did seemed to work and he would depart for Saudi Arabia not long after, where things wouldn’t go as well as he’d hope.
Emery came in as a proven name in the world of management, his most recent trophy being a Europa League for Villareal against Manchester United. His CV was arguably up there with the best managers in the world at the time, but his failed stint at Arsenal would have people believing he wasn’t cut out for English football.
Oh, how wrong we all were.
It would only take him half a season to get the squad into the Conference League, straight from a relegation fight. They had earned their plaudits, and when the next season came around it would be a 4;0 demolition against Champions League Newcastle that would be all the indication that we needed.
Aston Villa were ready.
Inevitable underdogs
As Bayern Munich made their way to Villa Park, you could probably have assumed that this would very much be a walk in the park. Most pot 4 teams are.
Newcastle would see Paris Saint Germain arrive at St James Park and take all three points against their French opposition. They would finish at the bottom of a group of death, the unknown territory for most of the players becoming too far a step.
For Aston Villa, you can sense that they are still the underdogs, and yet you could arguably claim that on this form they’d be worthy of a top-eight finish.
Bayern couldn’t crack the Villa defence often, and even when they did it was decision-making or amazing saves from Martinez that would keep them in it.
There is an argument that they would have won by more had Upamecano not taken down Watkins twice on counterattacks. He can consider himself lucky not to have been sent off on both occasions.
That win makes Villa one of two English teams with a 100% record alongside Liverpool, and they’ve fought hard for it.
The Villains have nothing to fear in the league phase, six matches left, a reunion with Douglas Luiz’s Juventus and a trip to Leipzig the only “difficult” games to come.
But this is the Champions League, and anyone can beat anyone. The players know that. Unai Emery knows that. The fans finally believe it too.