Ollie Watkins gets the better of Fofana but is denied by Robert Sanchez.

Marc Cucurella crosses the ball over to Nicolas Jackson who cooly guides the shot in off the near post.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery reflects on his time coaching Nicolas Jackson, the improvements he and his squad have made at Villa, and the importance of fit-again Boubacar Kamara; Watch Chelsea vs Aston Villa live on Sky Sports Premier League from 12.30pm on Sunday; kick-off 1.30pm

Key lines from the Aston Villa manager's pre-match press conference

Hosts’ struggle to break down Juventus showed extent of the burden being shouldered by England forward So. A football match definitely happened. This much at least we can be sure of. I have a lanyard, a programme and a set of cryogenically frozen fingers to verify that fact. Other people were here too, I think. I can sort of remember noises. Vague rasping noises. Disappointed noises. The noise you make when you’ve paid £97 to watch Federico Gatti make back-passes. But already the actual memories of the event are beginning to evaporate, like a quick-drying paint, like the last thing you see before you go under general anaesthetic. Did Emiliano Martínez do something? Was Alessandro Del Piero on the pitch at some point? Hang on, it’s going blurry. Can no longer feel legs. Can no longer feel anything. Just floating. Orbs through space. Still floating. So nice here. So nice. Continue reading...

Manager reacts to 0-0 draw in the Champions League

ASTON VILLA 0-0 JUVENTUS: Unai Emery saw his denied a late win over Juventus by VAR, but they had Emiliano Martinez to thank for keeping them alive at Villa Park

About 15 minutes before this match Emiliano Martínez was introduced on to the pitch for a touch of grandstanding, to commemorate the Argentinian becoming the first goalkeeper to win the Yashin Trophy twice. Then, about an hour later, Martínez exhibited quite why he is held in such high esteem, not that Aston Villa supporters required a reminder. Martínez’s fantastic, impulsive save to thwart Francisco Conceição midway through the second half denied Juventus the chance to seize the lead. Goalline technology showed Martínez kept the ball out by a few millimetres, a shaving of the starry Champions League ball remaining on and not over the Villa goalline. Juventus, regulars on this stage compared to Villa, got the point they probably deserved. The Juventus captain, Manuel Locatelli, stuck out a left boot to prevent John McGinn from converting a Leon Bailey cutback and in the first half Lucas Digne rattled the crossbar with a free-kick from the edge of the box. For Villa, a draw against the Serie A team will surely be seen as credible, but Unai Emery’s side are now winless in seven matches. The last time Villa went seven games without a win was under Dean Smith four years ago, when they – just about – escaped relegation, when McGinn and Ezri Konsa, an unused substitute here, were in the starting lineup. Continue reading...

Matchday five ends in stalemate at Villa Park

FixturesAston Villa Vs. Juventus - Wed, Nov 27th 2024, 13:00 Aston Villa fell to defeat on Matchday Five of the UEFA Youth League on Wednesday afternoon, losing 2-0 to Juventus at Bodymoor Heath.  Despite controlling large parts of the encounter, the Young Lions were beaten by a Lorenzo Biliboc brace, as a goal in each half for the visitors proved enough to secure the points.  The dangerous winger was well positioned in the first period to fire a cross home at the far post, before sealing the victory for the Bianconeri with an unstoppable curling finish just after the hour.  The result leaves Josep Gombau's side 23rd in the league stage of the competition, heading into their sixth and final outing of this phase against RB Leipzig on Tuesday, December 10.  Juventus started strongly, and had carved out a few decent openings inside the opening 10 minutes. First, Leon Routh had to be alert to block Alessio Vacca’s goalbound effort inside the area, before Biliboc might have done better when hammering over, having been found in space on the edge of the area. Villa grew into the first period as it wore on. Immediately after, Kadan Young caused trouble down Juventus’ left-hand side and squared for Bradley Burrowes whose sweeping effort was only denied by a goalline clearance from Federico Savio. But the Bianconeri remained dangerous in attack, and after Vacca had spurned a good opportunity, sending a free header over at the back post, Travis Patterson then had to be alert to perfectly time a last-ditch recovering challenge on Alessandro Ventre, who had been found in space over the top. Gombau’s side could not keep their visitors out for much longer, however, and they fell behind with seven minutes to the break. Diego Pugno raced to the byline and sent a ball to the back post, where an unmarked Biliboc had the simple task of smashing high into the net to send his side in at half-time ahead. Villa upped their intensity after the interval, and began dominating proceedings in search of an equalising goal. The Old Lady remained a threat on the break, however, and Sam Lewis had to be switched on to get everything behind Vacca's stinging drive which ended a swift counter attack just after the hour.  Minutes later, Villa came within inches of drawing level. Skipper Aidan Borland’s deep corner was only partially cleared, allowing Thierry Katsukunya time to look for the far corner, but his half-volley clipped the top of the crossbar. And the Young Lions were made to pay for their lack of cutting edge with 25 minutes to go, as Biliboc doubled his and Juve’s advantage, picking the ball up on the left and curling a neat effort beyond Lewis and into the far corner. Villa again looked for a response, giving their all until the final whistle. Triston Rowe tested goalkeeper Riccardo Ragu with a long-range effort as the game ticked into its final 10 minutes, but Juventus successfully saw the game out to condemn the Villans to a first UEFA Youth League defeat in three matches. Aston Villa: Lewis; Rowe, Katsukunya, Routh, Patterson; Borland (c), Hemmings; Young, Jimoh-Aloba, Broggio; Burrowes (Cotcher 57). Unused subs: Hammond (GK), Fortes, Jenner, Hayward, Lynch, Burgess, Bloomfield, Mulley.  Juventus: Radu; Savio, Bruno Martinez, Gil Puche, Pagnucco (c); Ventre (Nisci 90+5), Mazur, Keutgen, Biliboc (Grelaud 86); Pugno (Iván López 90+1), Vacca (Bellino 86).  Unused subs: Zelezny (GK), Verde, Scienza, Finocchiaro, Borasio. Upcoming FixturesAston Villa U21 Vs. Norwich City U21 - Fri, Jan 1st 2025, 19:00Aston Villa U21 Vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 - Mon, Jan 1st 2025, 19:00Stoke City U21 Vs. Aston Villa U21 - Fri, Feb 2nd 2025, 19:00

A look ahead to Villa's visit of Italian giants Juventus

The Juventus midfielder discusses his father’s activism, what Thierry Henry always told him and how Douglas Luiz views the challenge of facing Aston Villa “I don’t know if it was destiny,” says a beaming Khéphren Thuram over a video call from Turin, but all the same he can glimpse a certain poetry in his journey. Born in Italy, the son of the great Juventus defender Lilian Thuram, now running the midfield in those same black and white stripes. “It’s a beautiful story,” he says. “People outside see the romance in it. But I’m just doing my job.” On Wednesday his job takes him to Villa Park in the Champions League, the first time the 23‑year‑old will play competitively on English soil. Not that he will be underprepared. His teammate Douglas Luiz has already briefed him on their forthcoming opponents. “We speak about Aston Villa,” Thuram says. “He told me he had a great time over there, that the fans are great. And I watch a lot of Premier League. It’s going to be a good game.” Continue reading...

The former Aston Villa manager on helping USA to Olympic glory, pushing herself to the limit and a return to the dugout Fully in “holiday mode”, Carla Ward had enjoyed a few drinks when the surprise phone call came from Emma Hayes. The USA head coach was asking her to come and work for her during a large sporting event taking place in France in July and August. “I’ll be really honest, I’d had a few glasses of wine or a few strawberry daiquiris, I can’t remember which, and I didn’t take it seriously,” the former Aston Villa manager recalls. “I was like: ‘I’ve got a holiday booked, let me see if I can change it.’ And my friend said: ‘What is wrong with you? This is the Olympics!’ – then it dropped in my brain. Emma meant: ‘Come to the Olympics.’” Ward is certainly glad she said yes. The 40-year-old joined Hayes’ backroom team as a scout analysing opponents during a campaign that ended with the US team winning gold in Paris, and speaking in the buildup to the USA’s match against England at Wembley, she recalls an unforgettable learning opportunity. “There was never one doubt in my mind that she was going to win gold,” Ward says of Hates. “Being around the team 24/7, you knew there was an air of calm, there was an air of confidence. People hang on her every word, and rightly so. To see how she delivers messages and creates this environment is sensational. For me, she’s the best in the world.” Continue reading...