Aston Villa’s intentions are clear after Ajax draw
Ajax 0-0 Aston Villa
JOHAN CRUYFF ARENA — Among the many smells of Amsterdam, the sweet aroma of waffles for one, barely 15 minutes into this match a far staler scent emerged – the waft of a stinking 0-0 in the making, a scoreline you quickly sensed Aston Villa wouldn’t mind.
The smell lingered until full-time, never really disappearing, even if Ezri Konsa’s red card did give Ajax a late whiff of hope before they were also reduced to 10 men.
No winner was forthcoming though, and so Villa, with Sunday’s match at home to Tottenham in their peripheral thoughts, host Ajax in the return leg next week – evidently confident they can complete the job at home after barely attempting to win this one away.
“It is very difficult in Europe playing away,” Villa boss Unai Emery said. “It was a very high-level match. We can feel that we are favourites, but it is difficult. There can be surprises. I am happy, we didn’t control the game, but I accept it.
“The players were upset because they were not feeling comfortable, but I told them to compete is most important. At home at Villa Park, we will try to play more successfully.”
Villa’s most famous night came in the Netherlands 42 years ago, but this was a far cry from Rotterdam, even if it was a sign of how far they have come under Emery in just 17 months – a meeting with the four-time European Cup winners as glamorous a tie as Uefa bods could have predicted for the Europa Conference League.
And amid the backdrop to this match was the warped reality that Ajax were underdogs. Fifth in the Eredivisie, at one point bottom of the league this season, they face an uphill battle to secure Europa League football next term – the Champions League all but out the question.
Winning the Conference League grants entry into next year’s Europa League, therefore making this tie arguably of greater significance to Ajax, Europe’s second-tier tournament now the back-up prize Villa would prefer to avoid.
Nevertheless, without a major trophy since 1996, Villa’s top-four push coincides with the glint of silverware and a potential trip to Athens for the final. They want the Champions League, but they also want to follow in the footsteps of Roma and West Ham by winning a three-year-old competition Unai Emery describes as “prestigious” despite its infancy.
Europe is Europe, stressed Villa’s head coach, but hopes must be balanced with reason, hence his decision to name John McGinn and Leon Bailey among the substitutes at Ajax with Spurs around the corner.
It was bold, with 20-year-old midfielder Tim Iroegbunam making his first start of the season and Morgan Rogers his full debut, but a core of Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Douglas Luiz and Ollie Watkins meant this wasn’t a high-stakes gamble.
After Moussa Diaby tested Diant Ramaj early on, the visitors were static, largely willing Ajax forward in the hope that gaps would appear behind, of which there were none. Watkins had just nine touches in the first half, fewer than Martinez, and whether this run-out was worthwhile for the England international was altogether questionable.
Ajax meanwhile pierced Villa’s defence on several occasions, but Brian Brobbey spurned their best chance when firing into the side netting. Jordan Henderson, captain for the night with the influential Steven Bergwijn and Steven Berghuis both injured, sent a free-kick over.
There were jeers for Henderson from the Villa fans, but they were tough to hear over the consistent noise of the Ajax ultras, who willed on their side in the hope of taking an advantage to Villa Park next week.
They looked the more likely to break the deadlock, but Villa held on, including in the final 10 minutes after Konsa received a second yellow.
The full-time whistle was therefore met by polite applause from all corners, in the end the anticipation of this match-up giving Villa fans more to sing about around Susie’s Saloon in central Amsterdam than their players’ performance did inside the stadium.
For the sake of those who made the journey over, there will be a hope the team’s decision to stay in second gear pays off in the coming week at home – where there should be more to shout about.
A tough watch but a sign of Villa’s confidence. No shame in having Sunday on the mind and the belief they can topple Ajax at home. In Emery they’ll trust.
