Six weeks to fulfil dreams
· Yahoo Sports
When is a break not a break? Many of Aston Villa's players have been busy since we last saw them together, some in emotional fixtures for their countries. But perhaps a change of scenery, even with its own stresses, is nearly as good as a rest.
"I try to, when I'm there, switch off from Villa, and when I'm here switch off from Poland," said Matty Cash here last night.
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He now knows, alas, that he has no big tournament in the summer to conserve himself for. Not that he is the type to do that anyway; top sports people are good at compartmentalising things. His major opportunities for 2026 now fall in the next six weeks.
The seven months of the season to this point, with all their joys and dramas, can now be viewed as essentially a process to get Villa to the starting grid, and positioned on the front row.
Arsenal apart, few Premier League sides are as well-placed at this point to hit all their realistic targets for 2025-26.
Villa will have succeeded for the short-term if they win a trophy, and hit a long-term objective if they qualify for next season's Champions League.
Some 44 games into the season and with a maximum of 12 to go, they remain on target for both.
It is not necessary to spend a lot of time observing Unai Emery to spot that this is his happy place: not Bologna specifically, but in European competitions, particularly on the road.
At the press conference last night he was at his most engaged and expressive, eyes gleaming, hands moving, light-hearted but still forensic.
His players must get countless hours of this, the output of one of the game's busiest minds. No wonder those who are as committed as he is get so much from his management and become better players, especially those who have come from relatively humble footballing beginnings.
They are European quarter-finalists for the third season running, and favourites since August to win this one. That might have been beyond the imagination of some in his squad only a few years ago.
Emery still chafes a little at the favourites label, noting the dangers of a physical and aggressive Bologna team with their fans behind them. It is a fair warning.
But for the core of this Villa squad which has grown together since even before Emery arrived, the six weeks ahead are their best chance to fulfil their dreams.
And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights