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There’s been plenty going on this week as we prepare for the return of Premier League football at Villa Park on Boxing Day versus Liverpool.
MONDAY
Argentina’s World Cup victory celebrations continued into Monday, with our very own Emiliano Martinez claiming the plaudits after producing a world-class save in the final minutes of extra-time to deny Randal Kolo Muani and ensure the game went to penalties, where Martinez once again excelled โ well, the term is “shithousing” โ by getting into Kingsley Coman’s head, whose effort was saved before the mind-games continued as Aurelien Tchouameni fired wide. Argentina’s Montiel scored the game-winning penalty kick, setting off wild celebrations!
Martinez also claimed a personal accolade, the “Golden Glove Award,” awarded to the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Emi’s contributions were not limited to the Final; he also made a crucial last-minute save against Australia and two penalty shoot-out saves against the Netherlands in the Quarter Finals.
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TUESDAY
Unai Emery and the Aston Villa team made their annual trip to Acorns Children’s Hospice and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Jude Aston, a friend of the channel, is shown here recovering from having his right leg amputated. I spoke to Jude on how his recovery is going and what it was like meeting our Villa stars…
“The Birmingham Childrens hospital were brilliant with me this week; they knew I was a massive Villa fan and made sure I met the players. After a bad start to the day with my recovery – it was a lovely surprise to meet the team – they were brilliant with all the patients and were asking me why I was in hospital and how my recovery is going. Luca Digne and I, sang the Emi Buendia chant to Emi which he enjoyed. We had banter about the World Cup due to Digne’s and Buendia’s allegiances to different countries and asked how World Cup winner Martinez was, Buendia had been speaking to him every day. A big highlight was meeting the boss Unai Emery, the Spaniard gave me a thumbs up when I asked if this team is heading to Europe in the future. I have a to thank Birmingham Childrens for making the day special for me and allowing me to get my shirt signed“.
– Jude Aston
Also, the ContiCup Quarter-Final draw was made, with Aston Villa Women set to travel to Arsenal. Full details of the fixture is set to be released in due course.
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday afternoon, Aston Villa completed their preparations for the resumption of the Premier League with a behind-closed-doors fixture versus Everton.
Villa were beaten 2-0 at Goodison Park; goals from Anthony Gordon & Neal Maupay sealed the win for The Toffees’.
There was joy for Aston Villa’s Young Lions, who signed off for 2022 with a huge 4-0 win in the Premier League Cup against Blackburn Rovers. Tommi O’Reilly, Declan Frith, Lamare Bogarde and Omari Kellyman were all on target at Bodymoor Heath.
For a more in-depth review of the game, check out Ivan McDouall’s Academy Focus.
And, Aston Villa Women’s manager Carla Ward celebrated her birthday. “Many happy returns Carla”.
THURSDAY
Aston Villa today announced that Birmingham City Council had approved the first phase of the club’s redevelopment and expansion of Villa Park.
The first phase of Villa Park redevelopment will include the construction of a new North Stand, improvements to the existing Trinity Stand, and the formation of Villa Live, a multi-purpose commercial destination. He’s what CEO, Christian Purslow had to say…
โThis is great news firstly for our fans โ many of whom are on a waiting list for season tickets; secondly for the Club itself โ as our long-term competitive strategy depends on continued growth; and finally for our city and region โ with the prospect of a redeveloped Villa Park driving economic regeneration in our local community and bringing back international football to Birmingham.โ
– Aston Villa CEO, Christian Purslow
This is huge news, plans that have been detailed with the clubโs supporters interests at heart; itโs not just to get more bums on seats, more than the shape shift of our iconic stadium, itโs the benefits the supporters and the club will reap off the field – an enhanced match-day experience, a regeneration of the surrounding area for the local community, and the hospitality benefits that the club are lagging behind with their Premier League rivals. Up the North Stand, up the Villa Live!
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FRIDAY
Build up for Boxing Dayโs clash against Liverpool continued today as Unai Emery spoke to the media at his pre-match press conference Here is what the gaffer had to say…
(Quotes published on avfc.co.uk).
EMI MARTINEZ…
โWe are so proud of him. He won the World Cup with his national team and itโs amazing. Fans of Aston Villa must be very proud of him.
โHeโs coming back next week. I want him to rest now because after big emotion and hard work, he has to have some days off to rest then heโll come back to work with us.โ
Emery added: โFor me, as a coach, I knew him in Arsenal before when I worked with him. Iโm so happy to be here and working with him again.โ
– Unai Emery
FACING LIVERPOOL…
โI started playing against them in 2016 in the Europa League final during their first season with Jurgen Klopp. We won a very good match.
โSince then, I lost. I havenโt won again โ sometimes a draw with Arsenal โ but itโs always a very difficult match against them.
โTheyโre a difficult team with the amazing way they play. Last year, I played against them with Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals and we lost two times.
โOn Boxing Day, I think itโs going to be different. They started the league with some doubts; they have 22 points and we have 18.
โIf we think we can win against them, we can be really close to them. If we get our best performance, I think we can do it. We will be with our fans in our stadium at Villa Park and I think itโs going to be a very special match.โ
– Unai Emery
“I’ll sign off by wishing you all a Merry Christmas, UP. THE. VILLA” – Ryan Mckeown
Hungry for more content? Check out Liam Davies’ Match Preview
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ON THE POD THIS WEEK
New feature UTV PODCAST FOOTBALL PHONE IN was launched this week on YouTube, where any fan can come on the channel and share their views and opinions of Aston Villa with host Luke Robinson.
We also saw the return of our match build up shows: Match Preview & Predicted Line-Up.
AUTHOR | RYAN MCKEOWN
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