Andrea Cambiaso of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 press conference at Villa Park on November 26, 2024 in Birmin...
Andrea Cambiaso of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 press conference at Villa Park on November 26, 2024 in Birmin...
Aston Villa fans have dreamt and wanted nights like these for a long time.
When Unai Emery guided Aston Villa to the Champions League last season, it was to enjoy nights against some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Villa have already beaten Bayern Munich and now another giant of world football will play on their turf when Juventus come to town on Wednesday night.
Whilst things aren’t going well in the Premier League and the form of late has been pretty off-colour, you can’t say the same for what’s happening in the Champions League.
Before a ball was kicked, if you offered Aston Villa three wins from the opening four games, then fans, the manager and the players would have bitten your hand off.
That’s the situation Aston Villa find themselves in, but they can go one better against a Juve side that will have a rising star in Andrea Cambiaso in their ranks.
Andrea Cambiaso hails Aston Villa and the Premier League
An injury-hit Juventus side travels to England and it’s an ample chance for Villa to make it four wins from five.
Some big names are missing for the opposition, including star striker Dusan Vlahovic and Douglas Luiz also missing out on a return.
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But one man who is expected to take the field is fullback, Cambiaso and he was complimentary of his opponents, as well as the English Premier League in general, as he told Juventus’ official website.
“I am a big football fan, in general,” said Cambiaso. “I also follow the Premier League and I think it is a very competitive league, with a lot of very good teams.
“In this regard, we will face a strong team and we will have to be composed and concentrated throughout the match. The game in Birmingham will see two teams who want to play their style football, it will be a good game.
“The challenge against Aston Villa will have the same importance as the first four teams we faced. There isn’t one match more important than the others, they all count towards qualification for the knockout phase. We are a small squad, we’re aware of that, but everyone is fully available for the coach. We know that injuries are part and parcel in our line of work.”
Andrea Cambiaso of Juventus F.C. is in action during the 13th day of the Serie A Championship between A.C. Milan and Juventus F.C. at the San Siro ...
Photo by Domenico Cippitelli/NurPhoto via Getty Images
What Thiago Motta said about his old boss Unai Emery
There will be two familiar faces on the touchline because Emery coached Juve manager Thiago Motta during their time at PSG.
Motta ended his career with the French club, before going into management and helping Bologna to the Champions League last season.
That job led him to Juve and now he will face his ex-boss, with the former Italy star speaking highly of his opposite number.
“[Unai] Emery? Like all the coaches I have had, I tried to listen and learn from him too,” said Motta.
“His career is well documented. He is a coach who has been at a high level for a long time, he deserves it because he has always been consistent in his work and he is continuing to reap the rewards for his effort.”