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Daily Villa S1 E77 The UCL Dream Lives On
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Show Notes
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Transcript
Introduction and Champions League Discussion
00:00:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hi everyone, welcome back to Daily Villa here at the Global Sports Podcast Network. This is Naila here checking in with you and I'm joined by Craig today to review the win recently in the Champions League over Club Bruges at Villa Park.
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Craig, into the quarterfinal of the Champions League, um what did you think of the match?
00:00:37
Craig Birtwistle
Can you say that one more time, Nala?
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sure. yeah We're into the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League. how does How does that feel? It's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
00:00:48
Craig Birtwistle
is That's why I just wanted you to say again, to be perfectly honest. It sounds fantastic to be in the quarterfinal. um Who would have thought at the beginning of the year we could say we outlasted Liverpool and Manchester City in the Champions League? That is something special. I feel like when you mention those two names, if you outlast them, usually you're champions. So you never know.
First Half Analysis
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's, I mean, we're amongst some big names now, but I think I was a bit wary with the draw because it's, you know, to play in Champions League is difficult, but to play against a team twice within the same tournament can be also quite challenging.
00:01:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think, you know, i we got there in the end, but it was a bit interesting, but bit of an interesting watch, definitely um different from the first time around.
00:01:27
Craig Birtwistle
Yeah. like
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But wallla we'll start off here with kind of dissecting the first half of the match um obviously coming in we Villa had the the 3-1 aggregate advantage coming into the game um but you know Club Bruges credit to them they put up a bit of a fight they roll over in the first half um tell me a little bit more about your thoughts on you know the start of the match and and how things played out from there
00:02:10
Craig Birtwistle
It's exactly how I kind of expected it would be. I knew it wasn't going to be the most energetic football that we've done all season because Unai's the type of coach that plays his cards to his chest fairly close anyway, especially in the beginning of games. Sometimes it's a bit like...
00:02:27
Craig Birtwistle
pulling hair, if you will. It's like you want us to get into the game a bit quicker. But I knew that was kind of the right call for this because at the end the day, I knew Bruges were going to come out and they were going to try and play.
00:02:41
Craig Birtwistle
I knew they were going to come and try and nick that early goal because if they nick that early goal, then there's a chance. They get it 2-0. They force us to penalties and whatever, right? So I knew Unai had to play his cards close to his chest and just kind of absorb some of the play and even...
00:03:01
Craig Birtwistle
And kind of strangely at Villa Park, give up our possession to Bruges and let them kind of beat themselves into oblivion, really.
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:03:09
Craig Birtwistle
Let them play, see if we can beat them on the counter-attack because you know yourself, Naila, when you're playing and you your team has the ball for a bulk of it and then someone gets a counter and scores, that's so mind-numbingly painful.
00:03:23
Craig Birtwistle
um And that's kind of, i think, what Uno was trying to go for in the first half. But you can sense Uno's frustration on the sideline. It wasn't quite going to plan. We weren't counterattacking with any blistering pace. And the chances we did create were few and far between.
00:03:40
Craig Birtwistle
um So it's kind of what i expected of and I really did get kind of a dull first half, if I'm honest. What did you think?
Game Dynamics and Red Card Impact
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think you made some really great points. I think Unai Emery is definitely the one to really show the respect for opponents.
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You can argue maybe we showed them a little bit too much respect at times, but I think You know, that's never a bad thing to have in a manager. You don't want to underestimate teams or, you know, come out guns blazing and then they just roll over you in the first few minutes.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So I think that was, you know, typical Emery. Let's respect the opponent. um And, you know, if people weren't watching the match and you've just, you know, followed along with the stats, I mean, if you just look at the possession stats and, you know, Bruges almost double Villa, know,
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just no context. That's such a crazy thing to look at. But obviously it did not kind of reflect um how the game turned out and how that went. But it was just very...
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
not what we're used to, I think, from, from a Villa side um in terms of the contrasting um stats there, but, you know, trust the process. And we did, and we saw things take a big turn in the 16th minute.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, Martinez played amazing ball into Rashford, um which, you know, in turn put him in a position where the defender had to last man back, had to drag him down and and got the red card. So,
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
They were down to 10 men. And i think, you know, arguably our first solid chance on goal was the free kick from that from Tielemans. But how did you feel that that red card changed the game or did it not change the game enough for you?
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
but What are your thoughts on that?
00:05:33
Craig Birtwistle
It's funny, my initial reaction was the fact that I understood exactly why he's brought the player down because I think if Rashford scores that and we go, it would have been 4-1 that point on...
00:05:47
Craig Birtwistle
on goal difference, overall on the two legs, that's game over for them. So would you rather be 11 11 trying to... build now a distance of three goals at a very lively Villa Park?
00:06:02
Craig Birtwistle
Or do you want play with 10 men against an 11? And I don't, I, credit to Club Bruges, when the red card went, I don't think the play changed automatically a lot.
00:06:12
Craig Birtwistle
One of the things I definitely saw, which I thought was very impressive, that when they were playing out the back, um the keeper, Mignolet it was, right? um
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:06:22
Craig Birtwistle
Mignolet was acting as a right centre-back. So when they were playing at the back, he was so far out his goal, ready to build out that possession. So essentially, didn't take anything away when they were playing out of
Second Half and Key Substitutions
00:06:34
Craig Birtwistle
the back. Once he'd released it, he'd gone into that right centre-back role.
00:06:38
Craig Birtwistle
And was essentially like an 11 versus 10 with the way he was coming off his line. So credit to them for the way they adapted after that red card, because... there were chances that they could have done to still score when it was 10 versus 11.
00:06:52
Craig Birtwistle
So I think that was another thing that added to the frustration from Munai on the sideline. You saw, even when we were playing well in the second half, he didn't celebrate any of the goals.
00:07:02
Craig Birtwistle
I think he was just so peed off that he he just didn't get what he wanted out of the game.
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:09
Craig Birtwistle
And I love that, to be perfectly honest. I love the fact that our boss demands so much of our players. And that's kind of one of the things that I've been getting at on social media recently. The amount of people that... but we We draw a fine line as Villa fans. We've got so many people that criticise the team too much, even when we're successful.
00:07:29
Craig Birtwistle
We've got some that won't criticise because we were in the Championship not too long ago. like Let's forget that now. Let's build on what we've got. you know i mean So I think you can be critical without being unrealistic as well.
00:07:43
Craig Birtwistle
So it's it's a case of, yes, I don't think the red card changed too much. I feel that we got the, but the second half, and I'm sure we'll allude to it in a bit, made a huge difference with some of the personality brought on.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. You know, credit again to, to club Bruges, I mean, to go down to 10 men and still kind of have that solid kind of hard to break down grit to them, I think is just testament to um their manager being able to make those changes on the, on the fly, the modern day goalkeeper, if you will, stepping up to kind of fulfill the duties in the back line. And just, I think the, the,
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hard work of the players, you know, easily, if that happens so early on in a match, your team can just kind of fold. I mean, you're already down 3-1 on the aggregate school score. Now you've got, you know, 70-something minutes to go with a player down, away.
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
The odds were not stacked in their favor, but yet, you know, they still... put out a good effort. And I mean, that was essentially the first half in a nutshell. It was Villa trying to, um you know, get on those counters, but not really finding any clear cut chances.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Club Bruges, you know, holding a lot of possession, having some chances of their own as well. Were you surprised by the lack of attacking threat from Villa early on? Did you...
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um kind of expect them to be a little bit more forward, a little bit less conservative, if you will, in how they played?
00:09:22
Craig Birtwistle
I wasn't surprised by the conservative nature. I was surprised by the fact that I feel like based on what I saw or the lack of what I saw and the frustration, as I've mentioned, about Unai on the sideline, I think the goal was to just soak up the pressure and hit on the counter.
00:09:39
Craig Birtwistle
And we did the first part without doing the latter. So didn't get in behind their back line anywhere near enough.
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:09:46
Craig Birtwistle
um And i think... we kind of have to tie in that town to the fact that we were defending a little too deep. So when it come to the counter, Watkins was on his own too often with the gaps between him, Rogers, McGinn and Rashford were too great. So when it became on the counter, was more like a one on four and,
00:10:08
Craig Birtwistle
Ali Watkins, I think, is a great forward, but against the back line of Bruges on his own, i don't think he was going to get enough. We needed to get our next unit up the field more in order to connect with him. and I don't think we needed to defend as deep as we were.
00:10:24
Craig Birtwistle
I would have preferred more of mid-block than the low block that we were kind of executing.
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:10:31
Craig Birtwistle
And I think that's that's what was addressed at half-time. And... um we we kind of got into a groove once we yeah started playing our way then.
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think the the low block, mid block is a really great point. I mean, you're sitting in a low block and you win the ball back. You've got miles to go, you know, to get to the other end. And you have to do that as a unit or as a mid block. At least, you know, you're sitting a bit higher up the field. There's probably less chance of the gaps between um the positional lines as well.
00:11:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, i mean, it's glad to see that we're able to make those changes, you know, on the fly mid match and for that to produce the results that it did. We will move on to the second half, but before we get there, we've got a new sponsor. So let's listen to the message they have for us.
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, I might have to get Ollie Watkins a subscription because Unai Emery made a few changes in the second half. um Obviously, Ollie Watkins being one of them.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He indicated in the post-match interview that there might have been an injury concern with him, but he wasn't sure what was going on with Watkins. So that's why I said I get him that supplement because maybe he'll...
00:12:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
It'll fix him right back up. um But in terms of some major impactful substitutions, we saw Leon Bailey and Marco Asensio come on. Five minutes into them coming on the pitch, Asensio scores from a Bailey assist.
00:12:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Craig, walk me through this goal.
00:12:41
Craig Birtwistle
Well, it was that basically tailor-made, wasn't it? It's ah it's a case of... um they They said when Tammy played for us that don't fall in love with loanee, right?
00:12:54
Craig Birtwistle
And i have to a admit it, I've i fell in love with three of them now.
00:12:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:12:59
Craig Birtwistle
Rashford, Asensio and Desai. We have pulled off some really good coupes there to the point where... it might be too good where the fact other teams might now look into pinch them when they come for sale.
00:13:14
Craig Birtwistle
But I go on a little bit of Tyrant there. The goal itself, though, was very, very well worked. um Happy to see Leon being involved more in the attacking game because we've we've mentioned how last season he was phenomenal.
00:13:28
Craig Birtwistle
This season, it's been very stop-start for the lad. And I think in recent weeks, he showed a lot of improvement. And the fact that It seems like any one of our players now, Rashford in particular, can find Asensio in and around that box. I just think Asensio's runs are so clever and it makes it so easy for the players like Leon Bailey, who got the assist in this game.
00:13:51
Craig Birtwistle
And yeah, it was very well worked. Good finish. And Asensio already thinking about getting his name on the back of my kid's shirt, that's
Villa's Long-term Vision and Player Commitment
00:14:01
Craig Birtwistle
for sure.
00:14:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly, he's just he's racking up the stats, get him the ball and he just he puts it away. I think that's such a great quality to have if someone's on the ball and they're scoring as often as he has in the minutes that he's on the pitch is just we might have to like gatekeeper or something or tell him to tone it down because like you said, people are going start looking and we don't want him to leave.
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, but then, you know, seven minutes later, Mattson gets his first for Villa as well off of, I mean, they said deflection. I don't know what, I don't think it took that big of a deflection. I'm definitely, if I'm him, I'm definitely celebrating that and taking claim.
00:14:25
Craig Birtwistle
Yeah.
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, but he was able to, to get on the score sheet as well. And you mentioned beforehand, you know, a bit of a tactical adjustment at halftime. Do you feel like that played into that second goal at all?
00:14:54
Craig Birtwistle
Absolutely. I think the two subs coming on obviously made such a massive difference. The fact that I do think we we pressed higher up the field. We're never going to be a team that high presses.
00:15:08
Craig Birtwistle
We're not going to press right in your face because we don't have the personnel for that. McGinn's not going to high press you. Rashford's not going to high press you. So it's a case of the players we have suit the middle block.
00:15:21
Craig Birtwistle
you know what mean? So I think the fact that we press those players up
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
talk about
00:15:25
Craig Birtwistle
up up the field a little bit higher. So was more about a case of the units being closer together now. And I think they were able to combine and play together. And that's what really helped us in the second half.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think there's a lot of off the movement as well as well that has been happening. I mean, i think first half Rashford, he made a lot of runs, but just wasn't getting on the ball. And I think in second half, we saw him get on the ball more just because the ball was finally finding him because we were able to get up um further up the pitch as well.
00:16:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so we'll circle back around to Asensio once more as he gets his second goal in the 61st minute. Again, like I said, great stats for him. That's seven goals in eight games.
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, we've kind of mentioned how much we love him. um So end of the season approaches and Villa looks to sign him permanently. Like, what what would you do?
00:16:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
What are your thoughts on that?
00:16:27
Craig Birtwistle
You got to go all out to get him. You really do.
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:29
Craig Birtwistle
And I think the fact that listening to his interviews and the way he seems to interact with players after scoring goals, assists and that sort of thing. It seems like he's found a club where he's having fun again.
00:16:43
Craig Birtwistle
Um, like, so I don't think it's necessarily a case. I think it was Carragher that said recently, and I'm usually a big fan of Jamie Carragher, but, uh, he came out and said that, um, he's too big for Aston Villa and he should be going to a bigger and better club.
00:16:59
Craig Birtwistle
Um, I don't think that's the case. I think he understands the the path Unai is trying to send this club on and wants to be a part of it. And i think that's the big thing with players like Martinez, Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rodgers.
00:17:15
Craig Birtwistle
They've bought into the story, if you will, but knowing that we're not
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:17:21
Craig Birtwistle
Well, I say we're not challenging for Champions League this year. We never know yet. But realistically, you don't expect us to be making it much further in the Champions League. Let's say that getting to the quarterfinals is an amazing achievement.
00:17:33
Craig Birtwistle
Not trying to stifle us in any way. We should go for it completely. But it's it's understanding what could happen in three to five years, not necessarily what's happening now. And I think these players want to be part of that journey and really help push us through. And that And you you know what it's like as a player yourself. When you have a coach that believes in you,
00:17:54
Craig Birtwistle
it makes playing again fun. And I think it's a case of like Rashford, for example, looks like a completely different person since he came down to the Villa.
00:18:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:18:04
Craig Birtwistle
And I don't think he's necessarily, and I hope I'm wrong, I don't think he's necessarily going to use this as a stepping stone in order to get back to Man United or table that move to a Barcelona or something like that. I think once someone showed him that trust and he starts enjoying playing again, like I feel like he's doing now,
00:18:23
Craig Birtwistle
I think these players are going to sign across the dotted line. So I think we have an extremely good chance of signing Asensio. But I think it needs to be done like behind the scenes early now than waiting for the summer when people will start sniffing around his agent then and going, have you signed a new deal?
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:18:40
Craig Birtwistle
What are you looking for? Have you thought about the fact? Because here's the thing, we might not get Champions League again next year. we We're trying to aim for that top five, which with co-efficiency, it looks like fifth, maybe, Champions League as well this season. um But we might not get it. So we have to get those players in now to, again, believe the story, believe the hype, believe the journey that we're going on and get them signed now while they're happy.
00:19:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that was, you summed it up so well. um I think what Emery, you know, and management and everything that the club is trying to create is just more than ah football team that just rocks up and just, you know, batters people. It's just more than, like like you said, Rashford coming over from Man United to to Villa, completely different player. And you know what? He's still playing. He's still getting minutes in Premier League.
00:19:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's still competing, you know, with the top teams in the Premier League. But guess what? He's bonus minutes in Champions League, FA Cup. it's it's You can have what you have and more at Villa.
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that but i mean that's that's how I'd market it. That's a selling point. I mean, you can have a strong manager, very dedicated manager, um you have, you know, a positive climate that allows you to succeed as a player that fits your strengths and excels. And you still get the perks of, you know, being in a top league um competing with the best and, you know, all the extra bits that come with it. So I think you're spot on in terms of the bigger picture rather than, oh you can help have all of this now, but you know, maybe you don't get on with your, your teammates. Maybe, you know, you don't get on with the manager and, you know,
00:20:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
life in general outside of football outside of the matches a bit bland but you come to villa where everyone's alive and having a great time and we're winning um so you know hopefully that is the selling point and hopefully we we do get that champions league spot and that can just be another um tool to pull in the the players that we want
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll have one last break quickly and then we'll move on to what the quarterfinals might look like and we'll reflect on some player performances from this past match.
Champions League Quarterfinals Outlook
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, Craig, I've got some good news. Villa are now joined in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League by Barcelona, Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Real Madrid.
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
How does it feel to be amongst these teams?
00:22:15
Craig Birtwistle
It's great, isn't it? It's absolutely amazing in the fact that um but you've basically named the elite of the elite. When you take away like Liverpool and Manchester City, those are the top teams that you face in Europe.
00:22:28
Craig Birtwistle
It's a far cry from playing Rotherham on a Friday night where we have come from. So it is fantastic. um I read from on Twitter earlier from Ian Taylor, like just just enjoy the ride and let's let's ride it as long as we can, but enjoy it while we're doing it.
00:22:48
Craig Birtwistle
Don't get upset if it goes wrong from now on because this is amazing achievement from this team. And the fact that why up why not go out there? We've beat Bayern Munich.
00:22:59
Craig Birtwistle
okay We've beat the likes of Manchester City at their strongest last season Arsenal their strongest last season. We've beat these players on our day. We've added great players to our roster. so we've We've added players with high experience in Asensio, who's won a Champions League. We've got Martinez, who's won a World Cup.
00:23:19
Craig Birtwistle
We've got players that know how to win things now.
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:23:22
Craig Birtwistle
ah So why not go for it? And we have so many players that I've referred to on previous podcasts and some people might take it as an insult, but big time Charlies. But what I mean by that is the fact that they really come out in big games and not necessarily that like a Martinez, for example, doesn't do well against say like a Fulham or so on, but they really do. it They excel when they're playing against the best and with the best.
00:23:49
Craig Birtwistle
So why not go for it? Why not enjoy this moment, but really, you kind of mentioned it earlier as well, showing a bit of respect to our teams. Yeah, that's all well and good. Let's just not give them too much respect. Let's not look at it them you know in awe.
00:24:03
Craig Birtwistle
We're asked, do you want to bet against us?
00:24:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Absolutely. And I think we're now we've made the case where teams need to show that same respect to us. um Do you know? And if if they don't want to, that's cool. We'll go. We'll get Asensio the ball and he'll put it in the back of the net.
00:24:19
Craig Birtwistle
That's a
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, so Villa are now set to face PSG in the quarterfinals. I know we talked about a lot of the big names, you know, the remaining teams in the tournament. but How do you feel about this matchup?
00:24:35
Craig Birtwistle
I watched PSG versus Liverpool and I was very impressed with the way they played. um They've gone away from their previous model of signing the elite player like your Neymars, your Messis and everything like that. They're now looking more like a team.
00:24:51
Craig Birtwistle
And I think it' it sounds crazy to say, but I think they've got more a chance of winning the Champions League since they've adapted this model than they do now when they had the likes of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe.
PSG Matchup and Tactical Considerations
00:25:05
Craig Birtwistle
um because I think they actually play more as a team. It's not filtered through those players.
00:25:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:25:10
Craig Birtwistle
And the big advantage that PSG has on, say, like an Aston Villa is the fact that They'll go away and they'll play Bordeaux or someone like that the previous week and they know they can rest players and then they come to Villa.
00:25:24
Craig Birtwistle
They can put their full team out there, whereas we play, say, like Chelsea and Man City and Nottingham Forest. Any of these players that are in form at the moment or just good teams in general,
00:25:36
Craig Birtwistle
it makes it a lot harder for us to turn up, say, on a Tuesday or a Wednesday night and really take it to a team. So, and I'm not going to use that as an excuse because I do think PSG, out of the remaining seven teams that are in ah the tournament,
00:25:54
Craig Birtwistle
I probably only would have picked Inter ahead of them to take on, if I'm honest.
00:25:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:25:58
Craig Birtwistle
I think we would stand a good chance of beating Inter. um I don't think Serie is anywhere near the high level that that it was before. so But I'm happy to have PSG. I think it's a good opportunity for us to play against a good team without fear, though, to be able to go out there, take it to them and see how it goes.
00:26:18
Craig Birtwistle
What do you think?
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it's exciting. I think, um you know, I was hoping not Arsenal because i just, ah ah just any non-prem team.
00:26:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:26:30
Craig Birtwistle
uh,
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the thing with the tournaments. It's like, you don't want to play a league ah opponent. Like, give me someone new. It's a... continent-wide tournament. So um ah yeah, I'm glad we got a League One team and I'm excited to see um how we approach it in terms of the tactics, um the 11. Hopefully everyone will be ready to go. I know that um I mentioned earlier um Watkins might have a preventative or or something going on with his with an injury. Asensio
00:27:04
Craig Birtwistle
All right.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
had told Emery he was 100% ready to start, but we saw him subbed on um in this past match. So hopefully he'll be you know ready to start from the the first minute um in this matchup.
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think it's an exciting time. There's no pressure on us, really. um All we can do is put on a good performance um and see what happens from there.
00:27:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So with that, um do you think anything will particularly play up as a strength as we take on PSG? Or do you see any players um particularly excelling to psg style of play?
00:27:46
Craig Birtwistle
Well, I think Asensio's involvement with PSG will be very informative in practice.
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's a little spy.
00:27:54
Craig Birtwistle
track Yeah, a little bit.
00:27:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:57
Craig Birtwistle
Trying to give us some some glorified information. i do think ah PSG, after beating Liverpool um and doing well in Ligue 1, as well as doing well in the Champions League, will look at this game as in...
00:28:11
Craig Birtwistle
probably the easiest team left in the Champions League. That's the way they'll be looking at it.
00:28:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:28:17
Craig Birtwistle
They've got fans that are kind of the French Man United who are very unrealistic at times, even when um their club are doing so well they would expect to walk over us so i'm hoping that sense of arrogance will play against them um i'm also happy that correct me yeah um we get the the come home game uh the second leg is at villa park so i think that's going to be a big big kale ever if we can keep the game on in the first game close even just the narrow loss i'd be happy with because i do
00:28:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:53
Craig Birtwistle
Villa Park, we stand a really good chance. So we can get a draw or maybe a 1-0 loss, something along those lines and go into Villa Park. I'd be quietly confident.
00:29:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i'm I'm glad that you mentioned that. I think the order of the matches in terms of away and then home ah will be good as well. I think Martinez will be big for us in these matches. I'm really excited to see some more link-ups that have been emerging in the last recent matches. Particularly, feel like Rashford and Asensio have been linking up quite well. So I'm excited to see that to continue um and develop.
00:29:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It'll be interesting to see what our back line will look like. um But I think it's just a great stage for, you know, Morgan Rogers to showcase himself um and see where we go from there.
Defensive Strengths and Future Challenges
00:29:47
Craig Birtwistle
100%. um also, i can't wait to see the reaction Martinez gets in France. 100%.
00:29:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah, that will definitely be an interesting one. um We'll have to see. Yeah, he's he's a character. He's always got intakes up his sleeve. So it'll be interesting to see the, you know, the response to him, but also his response to whatever the response is.
00:30:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm sure it'll be a never ending cycle.
00:30:13
Craig Birtwistle
hundred
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, Craig, any last thoughts on this past match, this victory over Club Rouge with Villa into the quarterfinal against PSG now?
00:30:26
Craig Birtwistle
Just that it was a professional performance and the fact that you you've spoke about it a hundred like so many times on this podcast, the fact of the ability to keep clean sheets and now we've had two in a row. um And we did it this weekend without even the mighty Olsen in goal.
00:30:42
Craig Birtwistle
So... ah We have to remember that. So it's it's it was a good professional performance. We took care of business through the quarterfinal in the Champions League. We've only a little scare of Ollie Watkins with the injury.
00:30:57
Craig Birtwistle
We saw Pau Torres make his return as well, which was massive to see the fact that now we have the choice of Konza, Mings, De Sasse and Torres in the back.
00:31:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:31:09
Craig Birtwistle
Once we start getting those four clicking, um we'll be golden with the likes of Luca Dee, Maddy Cash and Garcia as well. Our back line is looking a lot stronger and let's hope we can keep them fit because this is going to be an important run for the club now with Preston coming up as well in the FA Cup, which I've always said I've always wanted to see Villa win the FA Cup next week.
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a great draw for us. Yeah.
00:31:36
Craig Birtwistle
Massive draw. So hopefully we can rest some players, but not take them too lightly because the next two games right before our Champions League game of Brighton and Forest are going to be really big, important games because they're both close to us in the table.
00:31:52
Craig Birtwistle
It's going to be make or break for getting that fourth or fifth spot. um
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:31:57
Craig Birtwistle
Yeah, so it's going to be a tiring few weeks, b but itz hopefully it's some rewarding ones as well.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And, you know, we'll get there when we get there. And now we're just riding this um this high into international break. And we'll have those monsters in the closet waiting for us after international break.
00:32:16
Craig Birtwistle
Exactly.
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, everyone, thank you so much for joining Craig and I today on Daily Villa at the Global Sports Podcast Network.
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:32:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Please let us know your thoughts. Who are you excited to see excel um at PSG in the next round of cha the Champions League?
00:32:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And let us know what you thought about this past win over Club Rouge. Leave a comment on our socials. They're all listed in the description. This has been a Global Sports Podcast Network production.
00:32:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thanks for listening again and up the villa.