Aston Villa duo Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers weren’t just pleased with their FA Cup win over Tottenham they were buzzing about the direction this team is heading in.
That 2-1 win wasn’t just another scoreline to tick off. For the fans packed inside Villa Park, it felt like one of those nights where you could actually see how far this team has come since Unai Emery took over.
Ramsey struck within the opening two minutes. It wasn’t exactly a screamer, and Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky will probably want that one back. But goals like that can shape a game, and Villa took control from there.
The fans had barely settled when they were already on their feet. That early goal didn’t just raise the noise it set the tone for the whole night, giving Villa Park that electric, all-in feeling from the start.
Villa came out looking sharp, switched on, and ready to take the game to Spurs.
Rogers, who put in a proper shift, added the second after the break. Tel did pull one back for Spurs, but by then, Rogers had done the damage not just with his goal, but with his overall performance.
He walked off with Player of the Match, and there was no arguing about it. For someone still settling into top-level football, he looked like he belonged there calm, confident, and right in everything.
Villa’s attack had a real spark about it too. There was something fresh in the way they moved quick, direct, and full of intent.
Ramsey started on the left, flanked by Rogers, Leon Bailey, and Donyell Malen. And if that wasn’t enough, Emery had the luxury of bringing on Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio late on. That’s the kind of depth Villa fans haven’t seen in a long while.
Rashford’s arrival from Manchester United raised eyebrows. Not because of his talent that’s never been in doubt but because it marked a shift. Big names want to play here now.
Asensio, who’s won three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, choosing to join this project says everything about how far Villa have come.
After the match, Ramsey didn’t hide his excitement. “I think this is probably one of the best squads we've had,” he told BBC One. “You look at Rashford and Asensio coming on, Donyell Malen starting... the squad depth is unreal.”
And with depth comes competition. Ramsey admitted it’s pushing everyone to raise their level. “You have to step up because the guys on the bench are ready to perform and take your position,” he said.
Rogers echoed that mindset. “It pushes us,” he said. “We want to learn from those experienced players. It’s good to have that kind of quality around. Hopefully, we can keep pushing each other.”
His second-half goal came at a crucial point. Spurs were growing into the match, and it felt like something might change. But Rogers stayed calm and took his chance. “That second goal was massive,” he said. “We were playing well but hadn’t killed the game off.
We probably could’ve scored a couple more, but overall, we’re happy with the result,” Rogers admitted grounded, honest, and clearly switched on to what still needs improving.
At just 21, he’s already speaking like someone with a long view of the game. “I’m trying to improve every day,” he added. “We’re building something here, and we’ll see where it takes us.” There’s a maturity in that, not really about the hype but more about the work ahead.
Both he and Ramsey might be on England manager Thomas Tuchel’s radar. The German is about to oversee his first international break in charge, and with a new era underway, in-form youngsters like these two could be exactly the kind of players he wants to bring in.
And then there’s Rashford. Left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad, the 27-year-old knows he’s got something to prove. Coming to Villa might be exactly the reset he needed.
If he can stay fit and get back his standard, there’s no reason he can’t force his way back into the England squad. The ability’s never been in question it’s just about finding that sharpness and confidence again, game by game.
What’s happening at Villa right now feels real. They’re not just throwing money at big names for the sake of it. There’s a structure, a belief, and a team that looks like it’s going somewhere.
Reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup might not sound huge to outsiders, but for Villa fans, it means a lot. It’s been nearly a decade since they made it this far. Nights like this show the progress. They show that Villa aren’t just here to make up the numbers anymore. They’re here to compete.
The players believe it. The manager believes it And more than anything, the fans can feel it.
There’s a different energy around the place now more belief, more purpose. The next few months will show just how far they can go, but one thing’s already clear: this isn’t the same old Villa. Something real is building. Something’s changing and people are starting to notice.