Former Villian and England international David James has backed Aston Villa to do something they haven’t done in 40 years this season.
Villa returns to European action on Thursday night as the Europa Conference League round of 16 gets underway.
Unai Emery guided the Birmingham side to their first European competition in over a decade last season after the club finished seventh. As a result, Villa are giving the Conference League their all and topped their group in the first half of the season.
However, their next test will be their toughest yet as they travel to Amsterdam to take on European giants Ajax before returning to Villa Park.
Given Villa’s recent form, James, who played for Villa between 1999 and 2001, believes the club have a fantastic opportunity to lift their first major European trophy since 1982.
Aston Villa ‘can lift’ the Europa Conference League
Speaking on Lord Ping, James stated: “I absolutely think the Europa Conference League would be the cherry on the cake for Aston Villa this season. I was at the Europa Conference League Final last year watching West Ham lift that trophy and the West Ham fans were buzzing.
“When the tournament was established, there were a few raised eyebrows. People wondered if we really needed a third-tier European competition, but having played in Iceland, which is, respectively a third-tier football country, you have to go through several preliminary rounds to get to the competition group stage. It means an awful lot to some of those smaller clubs from smaller nations because the money helps them massively.
“The point is that if you’re a fan of a club from a larger European league playing in the tournament, then you’re going to have some unbelievable adventures. Most fans dream of those moments. I go back to my days playing for Portsmouth when we were playing in Europe, and we had AC Milan and Ronaldinho playing at Fratton Park! Unbelievable times.
“The fact that Villa are currently fourth and are leading the way in terms of taking a Champions League space doesn’t diminish what they are doing in the Europa Conference League. I hope they can go on and win it, lift a European trophy while qualifying for the Champions League through their domestic form. If I’m in that changing room, I’d be looking at the other teams in the competition and would be thinking we can do this.”
Aston Villa need to aim for a trophy
This is the best Villa side fans have seen for many years. The club are on the verge of Champions League football and there is no reason why Emery’s side cannot lift the Conference League trophy as well.
The teams in the competition are far weaker than the squad Villa possess. Even Ajax are having a tough year and only sits fifth in the Eredivisie.
Villa has not won a major trophy since the 1990s, unless you count the infamous Intertoto Cup, despite getting to multiple finals over the past couple of decades.
A trophy really cements a club’s success and is far more memorable than qualifying for the Champions League.
With the opportunity to win the competition there for the taking, Villa and Emery must do everything in their power to ensure the cup is brought back to Birmingham at the end of the season.
