Aston Villa

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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The comments from fans on this page after the Manchester City game on Tuesday night, although a very small sample size, tell of life in the football stratosphere.

Tolerances, in every sense, are thin up there. A result which at any point in the last, say, five seasons would have been considered a gallant near-miss was instead greeted by some contributors as a bit of a let-down. It is tough at the top.

If Villa fall short of earning a return to the Champions League though, the reason will not just be Tuesday's game, but several others earlier in the season when they did not convert winning positions: against Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and others. The autumn version of Villa left quite a few points behind that the current Villa squad probably would not.

Mainly due to wear and tear, as well as caution in the midwinter transfer window, many teams finish seasons in a more tattered state than they start them. Villa did last year, but not this time.

Tuesday's result notwithstanding, they have at times in the past month appeared the strongest side in the country, peaking in the second-half surge against Paris St-Germain and the rout of Newcastle.

At this moment Villa have a squad that, if the Champions League were to start again now, would seem well-equipped in all respects. But, it will be harder to keep it all together if they do not manage to qualify again.

Quite apart from the prestige of playing in that tournament, the difference it makes to a club's projected finances is transformational, even when compared with other European tournaments. Chances are that Villa will make it into one of the three Uefa competitions next season. But, having tasted life in the biggest, will all their players - to say nothing of their loan players - be content with that?

Villa's trajectory is upwards - it is realistic to think of them as regular Champions League competitors in the medium term - but not all players are willing to wait for the future.

There is a maximum of six games to play before the summer, and Villa may need to win them all to fulfil Unai Emery's ambitions. Crystal Palace, their opponents at Wembley on Saturday, have given Villa trouble recently, so it's not a simple start to the run. But Villa had won 10 out of 11 before Tuesday.

The jackpot is not beyond them yet.

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa - commentary on BBC Radio WM (all frequencies and BBC Sounds) on Saturday (17:15 BST)

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We asked you what would mean more to you - winning the FA Cup and the glory of lifting a trophy, or qualifying for the Champions League?

This is what you said:

Wayne: I have seen them win many league cups and the First Division championship and then I sat with my late father to watch them lift the European Cup. Never the FA Cup, so please give me the set!

John: I'll take the FA Cup right now!

Andy: FA Cup winners and into the Europa League- that would be a great season. Win Europa League next season and back into Champions League if not through by our Premier League place.

Ian: You cannot beat the feeling of actually winning a trophy, I have been lucky enough to see the Villa lift a few trophies over the years, the ultimate being in Rotterdam the night we lifted the European Cup, a never-to-be-forgotten experience. Hopefully we will see them lift the FA Cup this year - the one I have not seen yet. To see your club pick up a trophy is the best.

Liam: It's a really tough choice but because it has been so long without silverware, I'm going for a trophy, plus that gives us qualification for the Europa League. Crystal Palace is going to be a tough game - they are becoming a bit of bogey side for us. However, I know Villa will rise to the occasion.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Aston Villa's announcement of expansion plans to extend the capacity of Villa Park to more than 50,000 is another indicator of the ambition fuelling the club's revival under manager Unai Emery.

Under the ownership of executive chairman Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, Villa have been restored to the elite levels, reaching the Champions League quarter-finals, where they were narrowly beaten on aggregate by Paris St Germain.

Emery, working alongside his long-time cohort Monchi, Villa's president of football operations, has seen his work backed in the transfer market by owners intent on maintaining Villa's momentum.

That was proved in January with the loan signings of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, midfielder Marco Asensio from PSG and Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen on a permanent deal.

This has now extended to upgrading Villa Park from its current capacity past the 50,000 mark to capitalise on the renaissance masterminded by Emery.

Villa were ahead of schedule when they broke through the Premier League's glass ceiling last season to reach the Champions League.

They are still in the hunt to reach Europe's top table again next season and have an FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday.

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BBC's chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been discussing the uncertainty around Marcus Rashford's future on the World Football podcast:

"It felt like when Rashford went to Aston Villa that there was no way back and I think nothing that's happened since then gives any indication that the situation has changed.

"Rashford is on a huge amount of money. When he went to Aston Villa, Manchester United agreed to pay part of his salary. The difficulty is how do you do a deal like that early in the summer.

"I don't think either Rashford or the people around Rashford are wanting to get involved in a swap deal scenario at all. They are massively complicated.

"Rashford is playing a lot better, he looks a different player and he wants to play in the Champions League, but he doesn't want to be in London, so that rules out Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.

"Spain and Italy are probably the most likely but Aston Villa are still fighting. They have not got the worst run-in, so it's not completely out of the question that they could get one of those five Champions League slots."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Aston Villa fans and players will want to bounce back after the last-gasp defeat at Manchester City.

They are trying desperately to get into the Champions League - but they still will be after Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.

Villa will want a chance to lift the trophy. We saw with Newcastle what seeing your team lift silverware can mean to supporters and sometimes it is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. At times, it is maybe taken for granted in this modern age of the financial power of Champions League qualification.

We have seen about five or six teams contest most domestic finals over recent years, but the chance of a trophy is massive regardless of anything else that is going on.

Villa have had a taste of the Champions League but lifting silverware gives truly iconic moments. That is the stuff you remember. For years to come, fans recall the starting XIs, the squads, the managers, the run - everything.

Unai Emery will be working this week to make sure Villa bounce back for Saturday's huge occasion. You could easily make the case that it is the biggest game of their season so far. So, I think they will be right in terms of their approach to it.

The game - against a stubborn Crystal Palace side with their own belief - is massive. The players will know it is massive. All those fans travelling down to Wembley will know it is massive.

You can say the whole season could ride on this semi-final. In some ways maybe it does, but is that not always the case when you are contesting the chance to play for silverware?

Villa's supporters - and Palace's - do not get the chance to travel to Wembley all the time for big cup matches, so it will be a a huge occasion for both clubs.

What would mean more to you - winning the FA Cup and the glory of lifting a trophy, or qualifying for the Champions League?

Let us know here

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Nat Hayward

Aston Villa have held internal discussions about a potential move for 33-year-old Manchester City and Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who will leave Etihad Stadium this summer. (Sky Sports), external

Meanwhile, Villa and Arsenal are among four Premier League clubs competing with Manchester United sign 25-year-old Wolves forward Matheus Cunha. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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With the uncertainty around Marcus Rashford continuing to grow, questions are being asked about what's next for the Manchester United forward, who is on loan at Aston Villa.

Rashford feels it is unlikely he will play for United again under Ruben Amorim, but will not be rushed into making a decision about his future.

So will he leave his boyhood club? Could he stay at Villa beyond his loan spell? Or could a move abroad be on the cards?

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone joined World Football's Maz Farookhi to discuss what Rashford's next move could be.

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins has admitted FA Cup semi-final opponents Crystal Palace are a "bogey side" for his club.

Speaking on whether boss Unai Emery will have a plan for them, he said: "Yeah, I'm sure he does. Obviously, quick turnaround and we have to get over Manchester City now.

"But we've got all our faith in the manager that he'll get the tactics right.

"Obviously, Palace have been a bit of a bogey team for us, but on our day we're capable of beating anyone and everyone's looking forward to that. Just bring on the weekend, really."

After the late disappointment against City on Tuesday, Watkins is already looking forward to the opportunity of making the FA Cup final, and says it has been a target for him ever since making the switch to Villa Park.

"I think this is the furthest we've gone in the FA Cup since I've been at the club," he said. "We've always gone out quite early doors and it's disappointing. You want to win these competitions and it's nice that we're in the latter stages of it.

"I've been saying to the boys that one thing I set my eyes on when I joined the club was winning a trophy.

"It's been so long since the club has done that and that's the main aim. Saturday is massive and we will be doing all we can to get to the final."

Full commentary of Crystal Palace v Aston Villa from 17:15 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live

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We asked for your thoughts after the defeat by Manchester City on Tuesday.

Here are some of your comments:

Russell: Gave City far too much respect. We should have gone at them like on Saturday. Why bring on Disasi and not Andres Garcia? Played for a draw and it blew up in our faces.

Jamie: I felt like Aston Villa should have done better. Marcus Rashford got very close to the opening goal but the post sadly denied him. Even as a Villa supporter, I don't think it was a penalty, but in the moment I was happy.

Keith: Awful. Not the same team that played against Newcastle. Villa didn't believe they could beat Man City and were always back-peddling with no real threat going forward. All this ridiculous playing out from the back, always putting themselves under pressure has to stop. It's tough times ahead if they want European football next season.

Paul: After good tactics and spot on subs against Newcastle, unfortunately Emery made the same mistake as against Nottingham Forest and replaced Matty Cash with Axel Disasi who sat so far back it always gave them space. If the ball was at the other end, they wouldn't score. I'm absolutely boggled how Man City are adamant it wasn't a penalty. Quoting 50-50 and not intentional is irrelevant, Ruben Dias ran across Jacob Ramsey and clipped him, so it was a penalty.

Prit: Among all the noise about a poor night for Villa, what's going on with Emi Martinez? He is a brilliant keeper, but once again his mistakes are costing us too many goals. He is lucky we have no back-up because no-one is putting him under pressure.

Ian: Solid, but very disappointing performance in the end from the boys in claret and blue against what still is a top side in Man City. They were there for the taking but we didn't do enough in the second half. Looking at the remaining fixtures, I think we will need to win all four games to secure Champions League next season, but we are more than capable to achieve this goal. Emery needs to lift them for the semi-final on Saturday and a win there will give us a massive boost to finish off the season on a high. Keep the faith.

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Aston Villa Unai Emery, speaking to Sky Sports after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat against Manchester City: "We can't waste time. We lost in the last minute of this match, but we competed well - we were close to drawing.

"We were trying to win the match as well with the subs, but they do the same and they score.

"Over 90 minutes they [Man City] dominated more, but we played a good competitive match.

"Now is a moment to be positive. I'm going to analyse the match and try get a lot of information from it. We can't waste time - we have to keep going.

"We want to try and keep the level that we're achieving and try to be demanding in our way so we can build us stronger in everything.

"Tomorrow, rest. Thursday and Friday, be positive and work hard to prepare for the game against Crystal Palace."

Did you know?

• Aston Villa have now lost in 15 consecutive league visits to Etihad Stadium, extending their longest ever away losing run to a side in their league history.

• Matheus Nunes' goal was the latest winner Villa have conceded in the Premier League since October 2021 against Wolves (94:05).

Aston Villa are set to beat Arsenal and Manchester City to the signing of Rosenborg's 18-year-old Norway Under-21s midfielder Sverre Nypan. (Times - subscription required), external

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Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Man City's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back to this page on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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I was lucky to be covering the match of the weekend at Villa Park and bold enough to predict there would be quite a few goals - but maybe it wasn't that brave considering the two attack-minded teams.

‌When you get two well-matched teams playing in a situation where one side desperately wants to win, but the other needs to win, the usual outcome is the team who needs the victory gets it. These were the stakes at Villa Park, Unai Emery's men simply had to get all three points to get back in the Champions League-chasing pack.

‌Newcastle are safely in that elite group, for the moment, so they could afford the odd defeat.

‌Villa won easily but can they keep the impressive run going, with this streak of high-stress, difficult games not stopping any time soon?

Next up is Manchester City, not the easiest of away games and then the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace. There may well be a cup final and a top-five finish on the horizon and they look to me to be in better shape than any of their challengers.

‌The depth and quality are stunning. Amadou Onana, Marcus Rashford, Donyell Malen and Jacob Ramsey were fabulously effective substitutes on Saturday, and there are still more top players in reserve.

Considering the tactical brilliance of the manager, the top-level recruitment in every transfer window as well - as the balance and age of the squad right now - there is a decent argument that they are as likely as anyone to be challenging Liverpool for the title next season.

‌There are one or two dangers lurking under the surface, though. Tiresome sustainability rules must be carefully managed, but even they pale in comparison with the fear of Unai Emery being lured away.

‌It would take a Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or the like, but considering the job he has done at Villa, do not be surprised if the richest clubs started sniffing around.

I hope he isn't tempted, because what he has at Villa may well be perfectly suited to him.

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The race for the top five is ferocious and after seeing how Manchester City played against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, I just think Aston Villa will be too dynamic for them.

It depends on what team City boss Pep Guardiola picks, of course, but although they eventually beat Everton, they were very flat for most of the game.

I really don't understand why Pep keeps playing Bernardo Silva wide on the right, for example, and it would make much more sense if he used Jeremy Doku, along with Savinho, as his two wide men.

City's physicality in midfield has been an issue for them all season and I don't think Nico Gonzalez has made much difference there. He doesn't have anything like the same presence as Rodri, or Declan Rice at Arsenal, for example.

So, City could have problems coping with Villa, who cut straight through them at times when they beat them at Villa Park in December.

I thought Villa might be tired after their Champions League tie with Paris St-Germain last week, because they put so much into it, but they certainly didn't lack any intensity in their brilliant win over Newcastle and we know how much energy they have got in their midfield.

Villa have lost their past 14 visits to Etihad Stadium in the league, but that run will end on Tuesday.

City will be far more dangerous if Doku and Savinho both play to give them the legs they have been lacking, but it looks like Guardiola is sticking with the old guard so I am going for a Villa victory this time.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

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David Michael
Fan writer

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Against Newcastle United, Aston Villa finally produced a Premier League performance worthy of their potential - the kind their squad, at least on paper, has hinted at all season.

Now back to full strength and apparently reset after the March international break, Villa seem to have developed a new edge and focus.

Ironically, it may be the Champions League defeat by Paris St-Germain that has truly ignited them.

Over two legs, the talented champions of France exposed Villa to a new level of intensity - the pace, precision, and positional discipline that define the elite. In trying to live with that, Villa were forced to raise their own game.

The result may have been an eventual exit over two legs, but the experience has invigorated them.

Since the first leg in Paris, Villa have scored 10 goals in three matches. From the second leg at Villa Park, if there is one thing the players will have taken away, it is the belief - and the hunger - that they belong at that level. That they could compete without an apparent ceiling of ambition.

Suddenly, securing Champions League football next season is not just a target - it feels like a necessity.

There is no time now for regret over dropped points earlier in the campaign - just a relentless determination to finish the job.

Tuesday's trip to Etihad Stadium presents the first truly 50-50 league clash there, arguably since Sheikh Mansour took ownership of Manchester City in 2008.

If Villa can secure a first league win at City since then, it would not only put them in pole position for a Champions League spot but underline their growing status as a legitimate force in English football.

What began as a painful European exit might just become the vital spark that fuels Villa's final push - and shapes the club's trajectory for seasons to come.

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external

Aston Villa are exploring the possibility of selling striker Ollie Watkins for £50-60m and signing loanee Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. (Football Insider), external

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Manchester City have won their past 14 Premier League home games against Aston Villa, scoring at least twice in each of the past 13. Their most recent defeat was in April 2007.

Across those 14 consecutive victories, City have trailed in just two games, going 1-0 down in May 2010 and 2-0 down in May 2022 before winning 3-1 and 3-2 respectively.

In Premier League history, only City themselves against Newcastle (an ongoing run of 16) have won more consecutive home games against an opponent.

But Villa have won two of their past three league games against City, as many as in their previous 23, and they are looking to complete their first league double over City since 1962-63.