Aston Villa have one foot in the quarter-finals of European football’s premier club competition after a 3-1 win over Club Brugge in Belgium, with the second leg at Villa Park to come next week
Unai Emery paid tribute to Tyrone Mings after his dramatic goal-line clearance gave Aston Villa sight of the Champions League quarter-finals.
Villa’s boss singled out the England international as he returned to the scene of his personal sporting disaster and came up trumps. Back in November, the centre-half handled the ball after Emi Martinez kicked it to him. A mistake that gifted Bruges a penalty, allowing them to register a 1-0 win.
But Mings’ deft touch prevented the hosts from taking the lead with the game in the balance, two late efforts giving Villa a priceless 3-1 lead to take to Villa Park next week. Leon Bailey got Emery’s side off to a flier, but they had been pegged back and were struggling to gain a foothold.
Emery said: “Tyrone saved us with one very good action. The first experience he had here was not good – but today, he reacted fantastically.
“He was focused, serious – saving one action that was a goal. Of course, I know the difficulties in football and how we have these experiences. And we have corrected something from the last match we played here.”
Emery was able to freshen up his side – and he did so with the dramatic entrance of four substitutes who were able to add impetus.
He said: “I made four changes to add fresh legs while keeping the same game plan. Those players had the capacity – and I’m really happy how they responded. This is the most important message I give to the squad: We have to be ready to play 90 minutes, 80 or 30.
“And the way they responded was fantastic.”
However, Bruges can count themselves unlucky to be on the receiving end of a scoreline, and Villa’s boss warned against complacency next week.
He said: “We are not in the quarter-final. There is still 90 minutes to play and we’re ready in case we need extra time and penalties.
“I know how difficult each match is and how one match can change in 90 minutes. I’m sure the players have experiences of matches like that and we have always to respect our opponent.
“We needed our goalkeeper and some clinical defending to get something. Their striker had two chances where he wasn’t clinical. My aim is to analyse, correct and get better for the next match than the match we played today.”
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