After the disappointment of our opener against Newcastle United, Aston Villa more than got back on track with a solid and deserved 4-0 victory over Everton in our second match of the new 2023/24 Premier League season, and after a long time of waiting, later today we finally return to European action as we take on John McGinn’s former club Hibernian in our Play Off round of the Europa Conference League.
We make the trip to Easter Road today and face off against the loveable, and very diminutive, Lee Johnson of Bristol City fame, and whilst that will in no way factor into the game at all for the players, it certainly will for fans with a memory.
We are undoubtedly favourites going into the tie, but Emery is rightfully being respectful and he knows it will be a tough double header for us, especially at their ground, and our gaffer (like many of us) will remember well the Stevenage game, and he does not want a repeat.
Speaking to the Official Site as he previewed the game, Emery explained.
“To play in Europe is always a great moment. We want to enjoy it and we want to be a candidate to do something. We have to play respecting Hibernian because it’s going to be difficult there as they are at home. We have to get into the group being very demanding and respecting the opponent. We are trying to take a new way in Europe to be a candidate for the Conference League.”
Confidence will be high after Everton, but we absolutely have to warn against any complacency, and whilst Emery will undoubtedly make some changes for this game, the players he gives a shot to will have to absolutely justify his faith in them, as from everything Emery has said, and the signings we have made, he is not in the mood to be messed around now.
Last season was one thing…Emery sounds determined to make this season something entirely different.
