Aston Villa host Ajax on Thursday evening, looking to progress through to the last eight of the UEFA Conference League.
After an eventful 0-0 in the first leg, the tie is finely poised heading into tomorrow evening’s clash as Unai Emery’s side look to bounce back from their Tottenham disappointment.
Ajax have former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson in their ranks, and the 33-year-old has been talking ahead of the second leg.
Jordan Henderson shares ‘honest’ Aston Villa admission
Talking to Ajax’s YouTube channel, Henderson said: “I am looking forward to it. I am excited. This is why I want to play football in big matches.
“It will certainly be a big European game. Villa are a fantastic side; they’re an excellent team. We found that out last game, but we knew that already when you look at the season, they’re having at the moment. They also have a really experienced manager in Europe, so it will be a tough test.”
He insisted that if Ajax perform to the level they are capable of, they could cause an “upset”.
He added: “It will be an opportunity to go out and perform against one of the most in-form teams in Europe and try and give everything.
“I think, for us, it’s about performing. Go there, perform to the best of your ability, and see what happens. We’re up against a very good side. It’s a huge test. You never know. In football, you can cause an upset, and we’ve seen a lot of them in our time.”
Can Aston Villa get the job done on Thursday?
Villa’s home form should be enough to get the job done on Thursday. Yes, recent Villa Park results in the Premier League haven’t gone as planned, but they should have too much for Ajax.
The home fans will be expecting a reaction. The humiliation against Tottenham needs to be put to bed quickly. John McGinn’s red card didn’t help proceedings, but, on the whole, it was a disappointing performance.
Villa caught Spurs on a perfect day, and when one or two players aren’t quite at it, the outcome can prove disastrous. It’s essential that Emery rotates but also puts out a side capable of getting the job done against Ajax. Keeping players fresh is a requirement ahead of what could be a busy end to the season.
