Champions League - PSG

[Sexual Ealing]

Interesting seeing players like Digne, Cash, and Carlos celebrating last night. They're players a lot assume will leave, or should leave in the summer. They may not even get to play CL for us. You'd think at this point in the season they'd have been made aware of Uni's plans for them. Maybe they're all staying?

Ashley Young thought/hoped he was staying after the last game of last season. He was not.

[rob_bridge]

Interesting seeing players like Digne, Cash, and Carlos celebrating last night. They're players a lot assume will leave, or should leave in the summer. They may not even get to play CL for us. You'd think at this point in the season they'd have been made aware of Uni's plans for them. Maybe they're all staying?

Ashley Young thought/hoped he was staying after the last game of last season. He was not.

They all should be celebrating regardless of what happens over the next couple of months.

No room for sentiment I'm afraid - look at Fergie when he finally got hold of the dressing room.

We need a better right back and probably a younger and less costly left back than one of the 2 we have. Ditto Carlos as 4th choice CB.

That said Champions League pressures means retention of some may occur than otherwise would have been the case.

[Bad English]

If we get Lille in our group it would be nice to twat them out of existence just to confirm our superiority

[Drummond]

The last time we played at this level I was 11. By the time we play our first game in the competition in September I will be 53. It's been a long time coming. Unai Emery is a genius

Me too. How bizarre, and what a journey.

[AV84]

Interesting seeing players like Digne, Cash, and Carlos celebrating last night. They're players a lot assume will leave, or should leave in the summer. They may not even get to play CL for us. You'd think at this point in the season they'd have been made aware of Uni's plans for them. Maybe they're all staying?

Even if they do leave (and I don't think any of them will), pretty much every one of their contracts will probably have a "qualifying for the Champions League" bonus in it.

And they're celebrating their professional achivement. Chambers looked to be having a lovely old time as well, and there's no chance he's going to be playing any Champions League football for us.

They definitely deserve to celebrate the achievement regardless, and I never thought about the bonus aspect.

If finances allow I'd be keeping them all, but I've a feeling at least one of the three I mentioned will leave.

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

It will probably be classed as small time thinking, but I won't be fussed at not progressing past the league stages this year.

Next year we should look at consolidating / improving on 4th and maybe a domestic trophy as a priority. It is a waste of this season if we don't qualify again next season. I don't want us to be seen as a Newcastle or Leicester, but as a team that consistently is in it and progressing the team through to be able to compete in the knock-out rounds. It took City/Guardiola with their resources almost 8 years to win it.

I agree, if we are in a title race which is quite possible (man city won't win 5 consecutive, and liverpool will be again in transition) domestic league should be the priority. We've certainly limped over the line this time due to injuries and fatigue.

[Drummond]

I'm in dreamland! To have this discussion topic is pure delight! To be honest, I'm just going to read and be there in spirit for a while and let it all sink in!! I am unable to express what this means. How I've watched Champions League, and now to be part of it is awesome!

Can I state that I believe H&V will gain a heck load more members now that Aston Villa are a Champions League club!
Interest in our club will skyrocket!
It's a win-win situation for everyone, all I want to do right now is read everyone else's comments in the discussion! It's all really overwhelming and thrilling, and I think everyone here is amazing, even if we don't all share the same opinions about Villa players and about what is respectful language, prayers to the lord and have differing tolerance levels towards each other views and the Villa players themselves, we do all share a love for Villa!!

This club brings us all together!
Up The Villa!

Ah shit, you can't have everything I suppose.

[Flamingo Lane]

Will it still be possible for some teams who don't make it into the last 16 of the Champions League to move into the Europa Cup, or has that been done away with now?

[ChicagoLion]

Interesting seeing players like Digne, Cash, and Carlos celebrating last night. They're players a lot assume will leave, or should leave in the summer. They may not even get to play CL for us. You'd think at this point in the season they'd have been made aware of Uni's plans for them. Maybe they're all staying?

Ashley Young thought/hoped he was staying after the last game of last season. He was not.

They all should be celebrating regardless of what happens over the next couple of months.

No room for sentiment I'm afraid - look at Fergie when he finally got hold of the dressing room.

We need a better right back and probably a younger and less costly left back than one of the 2 we have. Ditto Carlos as 4th choice CB.

That said Champions League pressures means retention of some may occur than otherwise would have been the case.

It would not surprise me if all of them start the season with us.

[pablo_picasso]

Going from 17th to 4th is a huge achievement.

As is going from the Championship to the Champions League within five years.

Especially with all of the limits & barriers put in place by the status quo & their self interests.

But today, isn't about the issues. It's about the achievement.

I am so proud of them all. And so happy.

Its not a trophy or a title, but its a sign of progression that I though would come with Lerner.

So to go through that decade in the darkness & come out where we are, I think it makes this achievement all the more special.

Congratulations to the owners. Congratulations to the manager. Congratulations to the players. Congratulations to tbe fans. Congratulations to the groundspeople. Congratulations to the backroom staff. Congratulations to the mascot. Congratulations to everybody.

And happy mother-fucking days... 😁

[Martyn Smith]

Wow so very different format. I had an image of us meeting FB Torshavn for two legs in late July or something...

[Toronto Villa]

If you’ve not seen it before, the new CL format explained

https://x.com/justin_avfc_/status/1790638416238952797?s=46

[Demitri_C]

Will it still be possible for some teams who don't make it into the last 16 of the Champions League to move into the Europa Cup, or has that been done away with now?

Thats been scrapped and i prefer that. There shouldnt be second chances. Once you are out you are out.

[ChicagoLion]

Is it 8 teams, 2 from each pot?
So how do they decide Home and Away?
Is the same country rule still there?

[Drummond]

Erm, we are in the Champions League. I woke up and put the theme music on first thing and my lad came charging down, 'we did it? We did it!'

Bragging rights at school.