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Category: Aston Villa

  • Aston Villa reach Champions League quarter-finals and set up PSG clash

    Aston Villa reach Champions League quarter-finals and set up PSG clash

     

    Marco Asensio broke out into a huge grin when it was mentioned to him that Aston Villa will be playing Paris Saint-Germain in the next round.

     

    He didn’t say too much about his parent club, though, but here’s what he said to TNT Sports about Aston Villa’s victory in the last-16.

     

    “Very happy for the victory. I’m very happy for the team and the fans. Every match the atmosphere is top. We want more. Now we have a little break and to think about the upcoming objectives.

     

    “I feel very comfortable here. Very happy with the team-mates, the fans and the city. In one or two weeks we have time to think about this [PSG] game.”

     

     

    Aston Villa’s impressive Champions League home record

    Aston Villa will be at home for the second leg of their quarter-final, travelling to Paris Saint-Germain first.

     

    But Villa have extended their unbeaten home record in the Champions League, which included that famous win over Bayern Munich.

     

    4-1 vs Bayern Munich

    2-0 vs Bologna

    0-0 vs Juventus

    4-2 vs Celtic

    3-0 vs Club Brugge

    ‘It’s mad’: John McGinn on Aston Villa progress

    Aston Villa captain John McGinn, who played for the club in the Championship six yards ago, on his side’s progress to the quarter-finals speaks to TNT Sports.

     

    “It’s mad. A lot of years of hard work. It doesn’t get much harder than PSG over two legs. We have important games before that [against Preston in the FA Cup quarter-finals].

     

    “I watched it [Liverpool v PSG] but you don’t want to get too far ahead of yourselves. Villa, Champions League quarter-finalists. Can’t ask for much more.

     

    “We’re giving these fans experiences they’ll remember forever. We want to write our names in history and make these nights more frequent.”

     

     

     

    The Aston Villa star who represents remarkable rise and offers Champions League boost

    Six years ago, Aston Villa’s April included a trip to Rotherham. Now they will visit Paris next month. Their horizons have broadened, their life got more glamorous. A Championship club in 2019 are Champions League quarter-finalists in 2025.

     

    They will face Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight after a brace from a PSG player, with the benefit that Marco Asensio will be eligible to play his parent club in the Parc des Princes. It is another indication of how far and how fast Villa have come that a triple Champions League winner was on the scoresheet for them again. So, too, was Ian Maatsen, a Champions League finalist with Borussia Dortmund last season. Club Brugge, who scarcely boast the resources to attract such players, were eliminated.

     

     

    FULL TIME! Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (6-1 on agg.)

    After a forgettable first half, a hugely enjoyable second for Aston Villa. Paris Saint-Germain will be hearing Hi Ho Aston Villa here next month, a club who were in the Championship six years ago playing in the Champions League quarter-finals now. It is a terrific achievement by Unai Emery.

     

    Richard Jolly12 March 2025 21:54

    FULL TIME!Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (6-1 on agg.)

    We skip added time! Aston Villa are through to the quarter-finals!

     

    Jamie Braidwood12 March 2025 21:50

    Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (6-1 on agg.)

    86 mins: Rashford is desperate for a goal and gets a sniff of a chance as he’s played through into the box. Vanaken steps across well to deny him.

     

    Jamie Braidwood12 March 2025 21:47

    Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (6-1 on agg.)

    82 mins: Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain have never played each other but there is plenty of narrative still between the teams, with Unai Emery set to face the team he managed between 2016 and 2018.

     

    Unfortunately for the Spaniard, his time at PSG is best remembered for their historic collapse at Barcelona in the Remontada.

     

    Emery would go head to head with the Barcelona manager from that famous night, in Luis Enrique.

     

    Jamie Braidwood12 March 2025 21:43

    Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (6-1 on agg.)

    77 mins: Terrific save from Mignolet, down low to his left, to keep out a curling effort from his Belgian team-mate Youri Tielemans.

     

     

  • Tosin Adarabioyo and Romeo Lavia react to Axel Disasi’s message after Morgan Rogers ‘rage’

    Tosin Adarabioyo and Romeo Lavia react to Axel Disasi’s message after Morgan Rogers ‘rage’

     

    Axel Disasi delivered an emphatic message to Aston Villa fans after his stirring role in their 1-0 win against Brentford in the Premier League.

     

    Aston Villa secured all three points at the Gtech Community Stadium, with Ollie Watkins scoring against his former club to make the difference.

     

    Morgan Rogers was fuming with VAR after his goal was disallowed by offside by a the narrowest of margins.

     

    Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett also criticised VAR and the decision, expressing concerns about VAR’s accuracy in such close calls, especially without the semi-automated offside system in place.

     

    Despite the drama, the defence stood firm, and the team kept a clean sheet in the absence of Emi Martinez, with Disasi playing a key role for Aston Villa in their defensive solidity. The Frenchman shared his thoughts after the match after a brilliant performance that helped earn the three points.

     

    Premier League table Points

    4. Chelsea 49

    5. Man City 47

    6.Brighton 46

    7. Aston Villa 45

     

    Axel Disasi impresses former Chelsea teammates after winning Player of the Match in Aston Villa victory

    Disasi sent a focused message to Villa fans following his standout performance in their recent win, saying simply: “Hungry for more” alongside a photo of him holding the Premier League Player of the Match award.

     

     

    View Instagram Post

    The defender’s achievement didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates, with several of his former Chelsea teammates, including Romeo Lavia and Christopher Nkunku, commenting on the post. Tosin Adarabioyo, his former centre-back partner, also liked the image, showing respect for his progress.

     

    During his time at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, the defender struggled to secure regular playing time, starting just four Premier League matches. In 18 appearances across all competitions, he managed to contribute two goals and two assists, but his inconsistent role led him to seek a new challenge.

     

    Aston Villa initially pursued Disasi on a permanent deal, with a £50 million fee being discussed. However, the two parties eventually agreed on a loan move, with the possibility of revisiting the deal in the summer especially after his recent performances.

     

     

    Axel Disasi proves worth at Aston Villa following Chelsea struggles

    Aston Villa fans were underwhelmed by Disasi signing in January, with some labelling it a “panic-buy” in response to Diego Carlos’ departure. However, the Frenchman has quickly proven his worth, and his loan deal has turned out to be a shrewd bit of business.

     

    He has already made as many league starts for Villa as he did for the Blues throughout the entire season, showing his importance to Unai Emery’s plans.

     

    At Chelsea, the competition for a starting spot in defence is fierce, with the likes of Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Trevoh Chalobah all vying for positions. The move to Villa has given Disasi the opportunity to prove himself, and it remains to be seen whether his performances will lead to a permanent transfer in the summer.

     

     

  • Aston Villa hit gold on “world class” star worth more than Felix & Rashford

    Aston Villa hit gold on “world class” star worth more than Felix & Rashford

     

     

    Aston Villa fans must have been hoping their team could build on their 2-1 FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur back in the Premier League, especially with relegation candidates Ipswich Town travelling to Villa Park.

     

    Instead, however, another bump in the road presented itself, as the Tractor Boys – despite being reduced to ten men for all of the second half – managed to salvage a point come full-time as Unai Emery’s men couldn’t make their mammoth 25 shots count in the disappointing 1-1 draw.

     

    This will have understandably worried Emery, considering the recently closed transfer window saw the Villans boost their attacking ranks with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio entering the fray, whilst there were also some notable missed captures.

     

    Aston Villa’s winter spending

    Indeed, Rashford has now joined the West Midlands side on an initial loan basis, with a buy option also added into the deal if Villa want to make his stay permanent.

     

    They could well be tempted by this proposition down the line if his Ipswich cameo is anything to go by, with the Manchester United outcast turned flashy Villa loanee managing to hit the woodwork with one of his four second half efforts, alongside also creating two big chances to try and steer his new side to a victory.

     

    Rashford-Aston-Villa

    It will cost the top-flight side £40m to obtain the former England international’s services for good, which could be seen as a hefty amount of money to splurge, considering his up-and-down form at Old Trafford has resulted in this shock loan switch transpiring.

     

    Rashford could have been joined by Joao Felix if another statement deal got over the line during the final hectic days of the transfer window, with the former £45m buy by Chelsea eventually heading to AC Milan on loan, instead of relocating to Emery’s side.

     

    Joao-Felix-Chelsea-Noah

    Whilst lots of cash could have been burned here, it’s fair to say Villa have struck absolute gold when it comes to this top star in attack who has been leading the line with swagger for many years now, with his high value now worth more than both Rashford and Felix.

     

    The “world class” star worth more than Rashford and Felix

    Even before all this last-ditch spending took place, Emery still had plenty of top attacking talent he could call upon, with the likes of Morgan Rogers strutting his stuff in claret and blue by amassing ten goal contributions this season in top-flight action.

     

    But, away from the former Manchester City youngster, the main marksman for Villa – Ollie Watkins – still manages to lead by example, having now reached 11 goals in the league this campaign when sparing his team’s blushes versus Ipswich.

     

    Rashford would have been gutted that his free-kick didn’t directly sail in, but would have been happy all the same that Watkins was there to convert the rebound to gift his side a golden equaliser.

     

    In total now, Watkins has an unbelievable tally of 85 strikes next to his name donning a Villa shirt, with 70 of those coming his way in the Premier League when he was once just a promising centre-forward honing his craft in the EFL with Brentford.

     

    Watkins’ numbers at Villa

     

    Stat

     

    Watkins

     

    Games played

     

    203

     

    Goals scored

     

    82

     

    Assists

     

    35

     

    Top scorer accolade

     

     

     

     

    Looking at the table above, it has certainly been £28m of Villa’s money that has been well spent, with Watkins’ valuation now coming in at above £60m – which is more than both the £40m-rated Rashford and the £45m-rated Felix – amidst late interest in the window from Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

     

    Villa obviously laughed off the Gunners’ attempts at completing a dramatic swoop, with the “world class” striker – as he has been labelled by journalist Jack Grimse in the past – crucial to Emery’s plans moving forward, regardless of who arrives in through the door down the line.

     

     

    Emery will just have to hope that Watkins’ continued excellence in front of goal leads to his inconsistent troops rising up the league standings soon, away from a drab mid-table offering.

     

     

  • Aston Villa dealt major Marcus Rashford blow as Man Utd transfer decision made

    Aston Villa dealt major Marcus Rashford blow as Man Utd transfer decision made

    Marcus Rashford(Image: Getty Images)Marcus Rashford is said to still have his heart set on joining Barcelona – even though the Spanish giants have insisted they weren’t desperate to sign him in the transfer window.

    Rashford, 27, does not appear to have any sort of future at Manchester United after being frozen out by Ruben Amorim and agreed to sign on loan for Villa this month.

    ‌

    It’s thought that the 60-cap England star will weigh up his options again once his temporary spell at Villa Park is done. And while it remains to be seen if Villa will pull the trigger on a permanent move, Rashford seemingly still has one eye on a switch abroad.

    Talks between the player’s representatives and Barcelona were held in January – and Rashford is hopeful they will rekindle their interest at the end of the season.

    A source told The Sun: “Marcus is confident that if he rediscovers his form at Villa Park and starts bagging goals, Barcelona will revive their interest, especially as a transfer price has been established.

    ‌

    “It’s a huge incentive for him, which is good news for Villa. Now he just needs to get playing and start scoring.”

    Intriguingly, Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, said of the club’s interest in Rashford earlier this week: “It’s true there was talk of Rashford – but we weren’t desperately looking for a player either.”

    While a move to the Nou Camp didn’t materialise mid-season, Rashford has looked promising in his two cameo appearances since joining Villa, who negotiated a £40million purchase option into the loan deal they agreed with United earlier this month.

    Rashford and the club’s other late signing in the window, Marco Asensio, were singled out for praise by Unai Emery during the Spaniard’s post-match interview with Match of the Day for helping Villa get a result against Ipswich, who were reduced to 10 men in the first half when former Manchester United defender, Axel Tuanzebe, saw red.

    “Good impact and keep going now, try to fit in as best as possible,” Emery said of the on loan duo. “We are playing against Liverpool here. We lost some opportunities but of course we have to be consistent and hope we can react.”

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  • Marco Asensio on Aston Villa, Unai Emery and key reason behind surprise transfer

    Marco Asensio on Aston Villa, Unai Emery and key reason behind surprise transfer

    Such as the one tennis superstar Rafael Nadal made to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, urging him to sign a teenage talent from his native homeland of Majorca. Another was from Ruud van Nistelrooy, asking if the playmaker would consider switching his international allegiance from Spain to the Netherlands because his late mother was born there.

    But the most important over the last few weeks have come from Unai Emery who has worked tirelessly to convince the 29-year-old his immediate future lies at Villa Park.

    The Spaniard succeeded. What a coup for Villa to land the three-time Champions League winner at the age of 29. Incredible to think that his best years may be in Birmingham.

    Asensio, who left Paris St Germain on loan to join Emery until the end of the season, said: “I spoke with Unai so many times, he transmitted lots of things to me – like how the coaching staff work, how the boys are, what Villa Park is like. He told me the faith he had in the club and what he’s creating.

    “I knew people from his coaching staff. Everywhere they have been, they have had success. Throughout football they are recognised for developing and improving players. And the project that the club has is incredible. That’s one of the things that attracted me.

    “I could have come here one year ago. It’s been in my mind since then because I know it’s a winning team, and the plan is to aim high and win titles. It was an opportunity. I’ve always wanted to play in the Premier League. So, why not?”

    Marco Asensio of Aston Villa on his debut against Spurs (

    Image:

    Getty Images)

    Marcus Rashford ’s arrival may have generated more headlines but Asensio’s pedigree is beyond reproach. Three-time Champions League winner. In terms of trophies, he sits in the top 20 players of all time to have won the shirt of Los Blancos.

    But, whenever a player of this quality becomes available, the question is always: ‘Why?’

    The Spanish international allowed his contract to run down at the Bernabeu before joining Paris St Germain. What has gone on in the French capital with the Qatari-backed club that makes him available on loan?

    He said: “Basically, nothing happened! The coach just felt that he would make other choices for players. He picked them. That was happening quite frequently during the season, I decided I needed to play and I wanted a change.

    “And a key factor in my decision was that when I spoke to Unai, he told me he sees me as a No.10.

    “When I left Real Madrid, I felt that was the next step in my career where I can feel more comfortable and develop more. So, when we spoke, he saw me as a No.10. That was important to me.

    Marco Asensio celebrates scoring for Real Madrid (

    Image:

    Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)In Paris, Asensio was a perennial substitute“I’ve known Unai for years. I know how he plays. His style suits my football and he will get the best version of me.”

    Villa have taken huge strides very quickly since Emery arrived at the club. His first full season ended with Champions League qualification. Now, he’s signing Asensio and Marcus Rashford in an attempt to conclude a congested campaign successfully.

    The former Real Madrid man feels like he can add the fine margins necessary to make a difference. He said: “In big games, everything is based on small details. I know that from my own experience.

    “But I also feel the manager and coaching staff have this experience too, especially in Europe. They transmit that in the way they prepare for games. We are on a good path.

    “We are trying to build something important. This is a really young team, with lots of young lads in the squad. The most experienced ones, we are going to bring our experience to these situations; there are a couple of new boys in the dressing room now, so we have to adapt quickly to get to know them.

    “This isn’t a step backward. It’s a big challenge for me. I feel quite responsible because I feel like I’m bringing all the experiences I have, playing in these competitions and in these big games and I’m really happy to be here and play with this responsibility.”

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  • Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw leaves surprising amount to his family after dying at 63 when he banged his head on kerb getting out of taxi

    Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw leaves surprising amount to his family after dying at 63 when he banged his head on kerb getting out of taxi

    Aston Villa icon Gary Shaw left nearly £300,000 to his family after passing away at the age of 63 last year without leaving a will.

    The former Villa forward, who was part of the 1982 European Cup-winning team, is considered one of the club’s greatest-ever players. Shaw tragically passed away after sustaining a severe head injury when he fell and hit his head on a kerb.

    The incident occurred on September 6, when Shaw had just exited a taxi after a night out at Birmingham’s Jam House. He was later found collapsed in the street by a neighbour, and his condition worsened, leading to his death ten days later.

    Shaw, who had never married or had children, had not written a will, so a Grant of Letters of Administration was requested and issued on Monday.

    This legal document allows someone to be appointed as the administrator of a deceased person’s estate if their wishes are unclear. The probate revealed Shaw’s estate had a gross value of £297,670, which was reduced to a net value of £287,027. The estate will be managed by a lawyer for the benefit of Michael Measey, believed to be a friend or relative of Shaw.

    Gary Shaw, seen here playing for Aston Villa in 1982, passed away aged 63 after hitting his head on a kerb following a night out in Birmingham.

    During his peak years at Villa from 1978 to 1988, the average annual wage for a top-flight footballer was about £57,000, equivalent to £1,096 per week.

    Today, Shaw’s estate is less than the weekly earnings of Villa’s latest January loan signing, Marcus Rashford, who reportedly earns £300,000 per week.

    On the night of his death, Shaw was placed in a taxi by friends around 1:30 am on September 6.

    “At 1:30 am he was put in a taxi by friends. I can confirm he had consumed an amount of alcohol,” Shaw’s brother-in-law Philip Cutler had said in a statement.

    “Sometime after getting out of the taxi, he fell and hit his head on the kerbside and lost consciousness. He was found between 2 am and 3 am, and an ambulance was called.”

    Fans gathered at Villa Park to pay tribute to Shaw, who is regarded as one of the club’s greatest-ever players and a European Cup winner in 1982.

    A mourner carries an Aston Villa shirt worn by Shaw as his funeral procession passes Villa Park’s Fan Zone last year.

    In his prime at Villa, Shaw was earning much less than today’s top earners. Between 1978 and 1988, the average wage for a footballer was about £57,000 per year, or £1,096 per week.

    A doctor later reported that Shaw had suffered a severe and widespread head injury, with no chance for surgery. He was stabilized and moved to the critical care unit. A CT scan on September 9 showed further brain deterioration, and Shaw died on September 16.

    The doctor confirmed Shaw’s death was caused by the severe head injury from the fall, with hypertension contributing to it. A toxicology report revealed Shaw had an alcohol level of 221 milligrams per 100 millilitres.

    Shaw, a Villa academy graduate, scored three goals in their European Cup final win over Bayern Munich in 1982 and netted 18 goals during Villa’s march to the First Division title in 1981. He scored 79 goals in 213 appearances for his beloved club, played for England under-21s, was named PFA Young Player of the Year in 1981, and won European Young Player of the Year in 1982.

     

  • Town mascot Bluey visits Ipswich primary school

    Town mascot Bluey visits Ipswich primary school

     Town mascot Bluey for Children’s Mental Health Week visited an Ipswich primary school.

    The Blues’ mascot joined Suffolk Mind at Ranelagh Primary School on Tuesday, February 4 to teach children about the importance of mental wellbeing.

    The mental health charity’s visit was part of its Bluesday Tuesday initiative, which aims to re-engage with schools and encourage fundraising for mental health resources.

    The children were taught about reflective listening, movement and the dragon breathing technique.Bluey joins Louise Taylor-Harris from Suffolk Mind and the student council at Ranelagh Primary School. (Image: Suffolk Mind)

    Louise Taylor-Harris, the charity’s children, family, and young people’s service manager, said: “Developing listening skills is very important for children.

    “What we teach is called reflective listening, it’s like holding a mirror up to someone.

    “When you listen to someone it’s easy to end up jumping in saying ‘don’t worry’ or not truly paying attention to what they are saying.

    “But that doesn’t always help.

    “If another person is feeling angry or sad, to have someone say ‘yes, I understand you’ and to really hear them is so important.”

    She also explained the benefits of the dragon breathing technique, which helps to calm, relieve tension, and promote clear thinking.

    The children were thrilled when Bluey joined in with the assembly.

    Children were excited to see Bluey (Image: Suffolk Mind)

    Ms Taylor-Harris added: “It was wonderful having Bluey come down to the event as it reinforces the importance of movement to mental health.

    “It was really fun for the children too.”

    The school emphasises promoting positive mental health and wellbeing among its pupils

    Nicky Ling, headteacher at Ranelagh Primary School, said: “Promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing is key to helping our children here at Ranelagh achieve and thrive in their learning.

    “Louise and the team at Suffolk Mind are regular visitors to Ranelagh and we were delighted that they were able to visit today to help us promote Children’s Mental Health Week as part of Bluesday Tuesday.”

  • One star is EXTREMELY unhappy at Rashford’s Aston Villa arrival

    One star is EXTREMELY unhappy at Rashford’s Aston Villa arrival

     

    The welcome Marcus Rashford received on his first appearance for Aston Villa showed exactly how fans feel about their club’s highest-profile signing for many years.

    Rashford’s story is still to be written here and a second-half substitute appearance against a struggling Tottenham side provided few clues about how it will unfold. One thing is clear, though: between now and the end of the season, Rashford will feel the love.

    When the on-loan Manchester United forward replaced Donyell Malen in the second half, Villa Park erupted.

    This was the noise we usually hear when one of the 1982 European Cup-winning team appears on the pitch, or one of today’s stars returns after a long absence. Loan players are not usually treated this way yet Rashford is no ordinary loan player.

    Thanks also to his campaigning work during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he fought to end child food poverty, Rashford is one of the country’s most famous footballers, his every move scrutinised accordingly.

    Villa Park might be less than 100 miles from Old Trafford but compared with his exile from the United squad and the barbs from Ruben Amorim, the West Midlands must have felt like the other side of the world.

    TRENDINGRashford had not played since December 12 and is still regaining fitness and confidence yet he did enough in his half-hour showing to suggest he can help Villa this term – even though his arrival has created issues elsewhere. 

    Because in signing him, Villa have made at least one of their players extremely unhappy.When Malen joined the club from Borussia Dortmund last month, part of the attraction was the chance to play in the Champions League. 

    Malen, who cost nearly £21million, featured for the German giants in last season’s Final, when Dortmund were beaten by Real Madrid, and was eager to go far in the competition again.

    So we can only imagine Malen’s mood when he was told last week by Villa boss Unai Emery that he would not feature in Europe this season. UEFA rules permit clubs to add only three winter signings to their Champions League squads and Emery went for Rashford and fellow loan signings Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi. That left Malen and Andres Garcia as the odd men out.

    Garcia has rarely played at the top level and the defender, who signed from Spanish second-tier club Levante, could have few complaints. Yet Malen, with 51 European appearances to his name, is a different kettle of fish.

    Emery effectively admitted Malen was furious to be omitted but this was an early chance for the 26-year-old to show his manager the error of his ways.

    With Ollie Watkins injured, Jhon Duran sold to Al-Nassr and Rashford and Asensio starting on the bench, Malen was deployed through the middle alongside Morgan Rogers.

     

    Played by Leon Bailey in the 14th minute, Malen fired wildly over. When Rogers powered through Spurs’ empty midfield and saw his effort saved by Antonin Kinsky, Malen rushed at the loose ball and put into the North Stand again.

    He was then screamed at by Youri Tielemans for trying to score from a tight angle rather than square for the Belgian, who was unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.

    Malen’s final contribution was to set up the second goal for Rogers, who is Villa’s one automatic pick in attack. It falls to Malen, Bailey, Watkins and the others to carve out a niche alongside him.

  • Marcus Rashford’s instant Villa debut impact speaks volumes after Man Utd exile

    Marcus Rashford’s instant Villa debut impact speaks volumes after Man Utd exile

     

    After nearly 60 days without kicking a ball, Marcus Rashford made his Aston Villa debut in the FA Cup against Tottenham on Sunday evening.

     

    The forward, who joined Villa on loan until the end of the season in the final days of the January transfer window, had been left out of the Manchester United squad by Ruben Amorim.

     

    His last appearance was in United’s 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League. On Sunday, Unai Emery named him on the bench for Villa’s FA Cup fourth round clash with Spurs, alongside fellow loanee Marco Asensio, with Donyell Malen and Jacob Ramsey named in the starting XI.

     

    Playing on the left wing, he won a header against Kevin Danso to loud cheers from the home crowd, and further endeared himself to his new supporters when he nutmegged Pedro Porro outside the box.

     

    Marcus Rashford made his debut for Aston Villa against Tottenham(Image: PA)

    In the dying minutes of the match, Rashford then had a moment to round-off his debut in the perfect fashion when he sprinted through one-on-one with Archie Gray. Unfortunately, the Spurs defender did well to marshal him wide and win a free-kick.

     

    Both Villa and Rashford’s parent club United were victorious in the FA Cup this weekend, but if they are drawn together in the fifth round, loan rules mean Rashford will be unable to play against United.

  • What Emery told Malen after leaving him out of Villa’s Champions League squad

    What Emery told Malen after leaving him out of Villa’s Champions League squad

     

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    Unai Emery admits it wasn’t easy for him to tell Donyell Malen that he had been left out of Aston Villa’s Champions League squad for the knockout rounds.

     

    UEFA rules stipulate that Villa could only add three new players to the squad which they named for the league phase, despite letting go of six players from List A in the winter window. Only clubs whose domestic league start and finish in the same calendar year have the possibility of adding more than three players.

     

    Villa signed five players in the winter window, starting with Malen and Andres Garcia for a combined £26m. Then, three loan moves were completed in as many days at the end of the window as Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi all signed on.

     

    “But we have other objectives, the FA Cup and also the Premier League as a priority. We needed to take the decision in the Champions League for the rules, in the window we did more than we wanted.

     

    “How we are now in the squad with some centre-backs not being available and being injured, I spoke with him and tried to be honest and knowing it was not fair for him. But the necessity decision I had to take was in that direction.

     

    “Today he was training well and of course he is going to play hopefully for a long time here and hopefully in the Champions League for the next years.”