We've updated our Privacy and Cookies Policy
We've made some important changes to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and we want you to know what this means for you and your data.
'Getting to the highest level again was always going to be tough'
- Author, Simon Stone
- Role, Chief football news reporter
There may have been a sense of flatness about Aston Villaβs performance against Manchester United but it canβt have come as a surprise to manager Unai Emery.
Wednesdayβs win over Bayern Munich will go down as one of the clubβs greatest victories.
The physical and emotional energy expended to get it was huge.
So even though they were at home again, against a side who played in Portugal on Thursday and under pressure after a series of bad results, getting to the highest level again was always going to be tough.
Villa finished the game well and in the end came closest to winning it.
But the main point is Villa did not lose. That is a major positive at a historically big club trying to get used to playing in the biggest games once more.