Aston Villa booked their place in the last-16 of the Europa League with a game to spare thanks to an impressive 1-0 win away to Fenerbahce.
In deafening conditions inside the Chobani Stadium in Istanbul, Unai Emery’s side ran the show to seal progression in Europe in what was their sixth win from seven Europa League matches this season.
While Emery cast doubt on his squad’s ability to challenge on all fronts following a deflating home defeat to Everton in the league last Sunday, the evidence of this outing in Istanbul, which was far more one-sided than the scoreline suggests, begs to differ.
Emery, a four-time winner in the competition and the first manager in its history to reach 100 games, may be playing mind games but make no mistake, Villa showed that with an alteration or two they can absolutely find themselves back here in Istanbul for the final in May.
Jadon Sancho’s first goal in an Aston Villa shirt booked their spot in the Europa League last-16
SANCHO REPAYS FAITH
Villa are approaching the three-month anniversary of Sancho being subbed on and off in the same game against Manchester City, the day which fuelled critics who have long been adamant the winger will never fulfil his potential at Villa Park.
Emery has never believed that. Publicly and privately he has backed him to come good, not just for Villa but for England, too, despite not playing for his country since October 2021.
‘He has huge potential,’ Emery said at the start of the month.
‘His commitment is like I need, and how he is focusing on his progression as well is like I want. After it, keep going, keep going, keep going.’
He added: ‘Now we need his qualities, getting numbers and being brilliant in his actions as a player. There is still time to get it, so keep going and be focused like he is doing.’
Here Sancho was electric and should have departed with a hat-trick. He was engaged defensively, a constant threat going forward and looks like a player who feels like an important piece of this Emery puzzle, just as another maligned Man United star in Marcus Rashford did last season.
Emery was steadfast that it was a case of when and not if Sancho would come good in a Villa shirt. Beyond his first Villa goal, this was a display that underlined just why he was so confident.
Sancho should have scored more goals on the night but this was an encouraging performance
… BUT VILLA STILL NEED NEW ATTACKER
Ollie Watkins has been a fine player for Villa but to fight on multiple fronts – domestically and in Europe – a new striker is of paramount importance this month.
Villa officials flew to Istanbul on Monday to speak to Besiktas about Tammy Abraham, while Jean-Philippe Mateta, who wants out of Crystal Palace, is another of interest.
This was so one-sided, particularly in the first half when they had six high-quality attempts and should have been up by two or three goals, but Villa could not put Fenerbahce away and that almost cost them in the second half, not least when Kerem Akturkoglu had a goal ruled out by VAR.
Watkins struggled on the night and will be run into the ground if they are not careful. While it didn’t backfire it Turkey, reliance on him will cost Villa eventually.
As good as this team display was it rubber-stamped the need to finish the transfer window with a shiny new striker.
KEEPING TIELEMANS FIT IS ESSENTIAL
Injuries to John McGinn and Boubakar Kamara saw Villa arrive in Turkey with one mind on leaving without any further ailments and knocks, regardless of the result.
Amadou Onana’s appearance off the bench is a boost, and there is also talk of Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Douglas Luiz arriving on loan.
Youri Tielemans (right) is Villa’s marathon man right now with so many injuries in their midfield
But 28-year-old Tielemans is the star of this Villa show, the conductor that can often find himself overlooked such is his consistency.
Keeping him fit between now and May must remain of critical importance.
