Ollie Watkins' struggles intensify Aston Villa's desire for Marcus Rashford as he approaches a departure, while Unai Emery's true standout performer shone brightly once more…
Aston Villa have managed their initial year returning to the Champions League along with domestic responsibilities better than Newcastle United and Leicester City, yet Unai Emery’s team is barely crossing the finish line.
Their return to the Champions League was bound to make this season memorable for Villa fans, but their journey in the tournament surpassed expectations as they didn’t merely show up for experiences – they contended with Europe’s top teams and demonstrated they deserve a place at the highest level.
Amid the immense allure of the Champions League, Aston Villa have notably done enough to stay in contention for the five Champions League spots with four matches left and reached the FA Cup semi-finals.
This has been facilitated by Villa’s nearly perfect recruitment during the excessive growth experienced during Emery’s time, with the success rate of their essential January signings significantly surpassing the norm for acquisitions made in the winter transfer window.
However, it’s quite expected that the mounting fixture congestion would eventually impact their revamped schedule, and this obstacle has jeopardized what initially seemed to be a notably special season, with just a few matches left.
Within eleven days, Aston Villa left the Champions League, faced a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Wembley in the FA Cup semifinals against Crystal Palace, and endured a detrimental late 2-1 loss to top-five opponents Man City.
There is no disgrace in falling to a dominant PSG squad across two matches, but Villa's lackluster display against Crystal Palace raises greater concerns as they were effortlessly overrun by their nemesis.
Aston Villa warrant praise for their outstanding progress as they ridiculed the alleged ‘Big Six’ elite, and it seems unfair that this season might conclude quietly, but that was the risk heading into a crucial match against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
To secure a second consecutive season in the Champions League, Villa must perform nearly flawlessly in their upcoming matches, and a victory over Fulham would bring them equal in points with sixth-placed Nottingham Forest and fifth-placed Chelsea.
Villa's absence at Wembley lowered spirits, yet Emery's team frequently delivers strong performances at home.
They began strongly against Fulham and set themselves up to lengthen their unbeaten home streak to 17 matches by scoring shortly after the ten-minute mark.
From Villa's viewpoint, it was quite straightforward as Youri Tielemans took advantage of Fulham’s suspect zonal marking with excellent movement to connect with John McGinn’s corner and to drive his header past Bernd Leno.
This significant early advantage might have established a routine if Villa had capitalized on their lead while Fulham was careless in possession, but louder groans were heard as the hosts mirrored the visitors by easing off with a lackluster conclusion to the half.
Morgan Rogers frequently garners attention from Villa’s viewpoint, yet Tielemans merits equal recognition as he has arguably outperformed all his teammates, establishing himself as Emery’s finest player this season.
His inclusion in the Premier League team of the season is undoubtedly warranted, as the adaptable midfielder seamlessly integrates into Emery’s Villa system, and his remarkable passing ability created numerous problems for Fulham.
Tielemans ought to be frustrated that his excellence went unexploited, and much of his discontent should be directed at Ollie Watkins, who did himself no favors as the call for Marcus Rashford intensifies.
Watkins has appeared frustrated as Emery and Villa’s fans have embraced a shiny new addition, making it seem more probable that his tenure at the club is concluding, with recent events on and off the field fueling transfer rumors.
If Watkins had played against Fulham in 2023/24, he would have gone home with the match ball. Instead, he was substituted for non-natural striker Donyell Malen with 20 minutes remaining after failing to become Villa’s all-time Premier League goal scorer.
The England international had an opportunity to score before Tielemans’ first goal with a challenging header that went over the bar, but his next chances were easier to convert as he wasted a few one-on-ones, and he missed an open goal after receiving an excellent cross from Matty Cash.
Emery will be hoping for a miraculous recovery from Rashford (which seems improbable) to provide Villa with the needed uplift, as Watkins' missed chances created an unnecessarily tense conclusion to the game for Villa while they clung to their 1-0 advantage. They navigated some anxious moments to secure the victory, with Malen’s late opportunity hitting the bar, adding to Watkins' frustrations.
This was an essential match for Villa to win. Though it was far from impressive, their depleted team managed to secure the win, but they probably won't have the same fortune against Bournemouth (A), Spurs (H), and Man Utd (A) in the upcoming matches if they replicate a similarly subpar display, with their Champions League aspirations at risk, as they will likely need at least seven points to edge out competitors for a top-five finish.
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