Tag: Aston Villa

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JOHN TERRY LEAVES ROLE AS ASTON VILLA ASSISTANT MANAGER

John Terry has left his role as Aston Villa’s assistant boss, the club have announced.

The 40-year-old former England and Chelsea skipper signed for Villa in the summer of 2017, taking on the captaincy and going on to play 32 times for the midlands outfit in the season that followed.

He then returned as assistant head coach when Dean Smith took charge at Villa Park in October 2018.

Terry told Villa’s official website: “It has been a tremendous honour and privilege to have spent these last three years at Aston Villa, but I feel now is the right time to make the extremely difficult decision to move on.

“I want to be as respectful to the manager and everyone at Aston Villa as I can and, having given my future serious consideration over the summer, I genuinely don’t feel it is fair to move into a new season without being certain of seeing that through.

“My immediate plan is to spend some quality time with my family and, thereafter, hopefully take up some invitations to visit clubs and managers around Europe to develop my aim and objective of becoming a manager.

“It has always been my ambition to move into football management and, providing the right opportunity presents itself, I feel ready to take up such a challenge.”

Terry said he “will forever be indebted to the gaffer (Smith) for giving me the opportunity to start my coaching career at such a wonderful club”, adding: “I have loved every minute of it and learnt so much.

“I can’t thank Dean enough for the support and guidance he has provided me with and I’m sure he will continue to lead the club from strength to strength.”

During the former centre-back’s time coaching at Villa, the club secured promotion to the Premier League in 2019, followed by top-flight finishes of 17th and then 11th last term.

Smith said: “I’m disappointed to lose John as part of my coaching staff but fully understand and respect his decision.

“John has played a huge role in the success the club has enjoyed over the last few years and has been very supportive of myself throughout that period.

“I have no doubts he will go on to be a first-class manager in his own right and wish him well for the future.”

Terry, holder of 78 England caps, had the final games of his playing career with Villa after making 717 appearances for Chelsea and winning 15 major trophies with the club.

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JACK GREALISH REPORTEDLY AGREES PERSONAL TERMS WITH MANCHESTER CITY

Aston Villa attacker Jack Grealish has reportedly agreed personal terms with Manchester City ahead of a potential move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

The England international is believed to be a leading transfer target for Pep Guardiola’s side, who are also being linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.

According to report, Grealish has been offered a lucrative contract by the Premier League champions, and the attacker has now reached an agreement over personal terms.

The report claims that the 25-year-old is not prepared to force a move away from Villa, but Man City are hopeful of agreeing a transfer fee in the region of £90m.

Dean Smith’s side could yet hand Grealish a new and improved deal at Villa Park, though, despite the fact that he only penned an extension with his current side last September.

The attacker, who is still on holiday following his involvement in this summer’s European Championship, scored seven times and registered 12 assists in 27 appearances for Villa during the 2020-21 campaign.

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ASTON VILLA AGREE FEE WITH NORWICH FOR EMILIANO BUENDIA

Aston Villa have announced they have agreed a deal with Norwich for midfielder Emiliano Buendia.

Buendia was the Canaries’ player of the season as they won the Championship title and sealed an immediate return to the Premier League, scoring 15 goals and registering 16 assists – creating more chances than any other player in the division.

Arsenal were also reported to have been interested in signing the 24-year-old but Villa have moved quickly to land their transfer target.

“Aston Villa and Norwich City have reached an agreement for the transfer of Emiliano Buendia,” said a Villa statement.

“As Emiliano is currently in the Argentina national team’s biosecure bubble, preparing for a World Cup qualifying match with Colombia on Tuesday evening, he will undergo a medical and complete the transfer after the game.”

The reported £30million fee would be a club-record for Villa, with add-ons potentially taking the final figure nearer to £40million.

Villa boss Dean Smith guided the club to an 11th-placed finish in the Premier League last season and last week outlined the club’s aspirations by saying their owners are determined to break into the “upper echelons” of the top flight.

The prospect of Buendia and Jack Grealish spearheading Villa’s attack is certainly a mouthwatering one for Villa supporters.

Norwich signed Buendia from Getafe for around £1.6million in 2018.

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CHELSEA SECURE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT DESPITE DEFEAT TO ASTON VILLA

Chelsea qualified for next season’s Champions League on Sunday despite a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa as Leicester’s loss against Tottenham saved the Blues’ top four place in a thrilling end to the Premier League season. Thomas Tuchel’s side were 14 minutes away from missing out on a top-four finish when they trailed at Villa Park while Liverpool and Leicester were both winning. Bertrand Traore put Villa ahead late in the first half before the former Chelsea winger won a penalty that was converted by Anwar El Ghazi.

Ben Chilwell got one back for Chelsea, but at that stage the Blues were still heading out of the top four.

An own goal from Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel was followed by two late Gareth Bale strikes, condemning the Foxes to a 4-2 loss as Chelsea received an unexpected favour from bitter London rivals Tottenham.

That Harry Kane, linked with a close-season move to Chelsea after declaring his desire to quit Tottenham, was also on the scoresheet at the King Power Stadium was an added layer of irony.

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta was sent off in the final minute after clashing with Jack Grealish.

But the Blues finished one point above fifth-placed Leicester, illustrating the slender margins at play in a pulsating conclusion to the top four race.

It was a huge escape for Chelsea as they enjoyed a significant measure of revenge for their FA Cup final defeat against the Foxes last weekend.

They can now concentrate on Saturday’s Champions League final against Manchester City without the extra pressure of knowing they have to win in Porto to qualify for next season’s tournament.

But Tuchel has plenty of work to do to get Chelsea in shape for their first Champions League showpiece since 2012 after they were beaten for the third time in their last four games in all competitions.

Adding to Tuchel’s problems, Edouard Mendy may be a doubt for the final after Chelsea’s keeper was unable to play the second half, having collided with the woodwork in a failed attempt to keep out Traore’s goal.

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ASTON VILLA BEAT TOTTENHAM IN A DRAMATIC 2-1 COME BACK VICTORY

Aston Villa came from behind to dent Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of qualifying for European football next season.

Steven Bergwijn had given Spurs the lead with a superb strike but the hosts gifted Villa an equaliser when Sergio Reguilon sliced Marvelous Nakamba’s cross into his own net to score the 1,000th own goal in Premier League history.

Ollie Watkins completed the turnaround six minutes before half-time with a close-range finish for his 14th goal of the campaign.

Anwar El Ghazi and Watkins then missed further chances for Villa to extend their lead before the break.

Spurs rallied in the second half, but Bergwijn and Harry Kane were both denied by Emiliano Martinez as they fell to a first home defeat under interim head coach Ryan Mason.

They drop to seventh on 59 points, three behind West Ham United and above Everton on goal difference alone.

A first Villa win in four matches keeps them in 11th with 52 points.

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MITCHELL’S FIRST GOAL HANDS PALACE DRAMATIC COME BACK WIN AGAINST ASTON VILLA

Tyrick Mitchell both scored and assisted for the first time in the Premier League to earn Crystal Palace a comeback 3-2 victory over Aston Villa.

Villa had twice taken a first-half lead at Selhurst Park as John McGinn and Anwar El Ghazi each beat Jack Butland, who was making his first PL appearance for Palace in goal.

Palace’s first equaliser came on 32 minutes when Christian Benteke headed in his third goal in as many matches from a Mitchell cross, before Wilfried Zaha’s deflected effort made it 2-2 with 15 minutes remaining.

Benteke and Eberechi Eze both hit the crossbar in the second half before the latter’s centre was chested in my Mitchell from close range on 84 minutes.

Palace move back above Southampton into 13th position with 44 points, five behind 11th-placed Villa.

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GREALISH RETURNS AS EVERTON HELD TO A GOALESS DRAW AT ASTON VILLA

Everton’s European hopes suffered a blow after a limp 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.

The Toffees failed to find the win which would have kept the pressure on the Premier League’s top six.

They climbed to eighth, above Arsenal, to move two points behind fifth-placed West Ham, but Everton’s inconsistencies look like costing them a European spot.

Ben Godfrey and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were denied by Emi Martinez, while Tyrone Mings wasted a rare opening for Villa.

The game at least represented a return for Villa skipper Jack Grealish, who ended his three-month injury lay-off as a second-half substitute.

The skipper was unable to conjure a winner, though, as the hosts remain 11th with three games to go.

The game never inspired and only Bertrand Traore’s tame effort and Calvert-Lewin’s header punctured a sluggish start.

The game was played at pre-season pace as both sides laboured and struggled to find anything resembling momentum.

Mings, though, should have at least hit the target when he wasted Villa’s best opening after 17 minutes.

Ross Barkley’s corner was only cleared as far as Douglas Luiz, who crossed for an unmarked Mings to head wastefully wide from seven yards.

Everton, with two wins in their last previous league games, needed victory to move into the top six yet they appeared aimless, with Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison relegated to bit-part roles.

Without the banned Ollie Watkins Villa were just as toothless and would have already been looking to Grealish on the bench for imagination.

The second half at least offered more promise when Everton created an early chance.

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s deep free-kick found the stretching Godfrey and Martinez had to be alert at his near post to turn the ball behind.

The Toffees saw more of the ball but again failed to really stretch Villa in open play, with the hosts also relying on set-pieces to threaten.

Jordan Pickford beat away Anwar El Ghazi’s free-kick after an hour just as Grealish prepared to clamber off the bench.

Andre Gomes fired over after working space on the edge of the box and the game was given a desperately needed lift when Grealish replaced Traore with 18 minutes left.

But the England international failed to find some magic and it was left to Martinez to ensure Villa claimed a point with three minutes left.

Lucas Digne’s deep cross picked out Calvert-Lewin and the goalkeeper was equal to his header, with Abdoulaye Doucoure and Richarlison unable to convert the rebound.

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MANCHESTER UNITED HIT BACK TO CLAIM VICTORY AT VILLA

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s comeback kings did it again as Manchester United overcame Aston Villa to delay Manchester City’s coronation.

Fresh from sealing their place in the Europa League final against Villarreal, the Red Devils turned their focus to Villa Park as they kicked off an unenviable run of three Premier League matches in five days.

Bertrand Traore’s stunner had Villa dreaming of a first home league victory against United since 1995, but Solskjaer’s side dug deep and secured a 3-1 triumph – a competition record 10th comeback win of the season.

Pep Guardiola’s men had been on course to wrap up a third league title in four years as Villa went into the break leading through Traore’s exceptional effort.

But United levelled shortly after the restart through Bruno Fernandes’ penalty, before Mason Greenwood struck to become United’s top-scoring Premier League teenager.

The 19-year-old usurped Wayne Rooney with that 16th goal and veteran Edinson Cavani came off the bench to add gloss on an afternoon that ended with Ollie Watkins being sent off.

The Villa striker picked up a second booking having been adjudged to have dived as United all but sealed a top-four finish.

It was a tougher workout for the visitors than the scoreline suggests as they continued a run of four matches in eight days.

United started brightly enough as Greenwood mishit an attempt across the face of goal before Luke Shaw manoeuvred into the box and stung Emi Martinez’s palms.

Fred saw an effort comfortably saved and Fernandes fired wide, with Marcus Rashford unable to direct home from close range under pressure from Matt Targett.

But while United had the lion’s share of the early opportunities, Dean Smith’s side were causing a headache with their determination, organisation and pressing.

That intensity forced the visitors into errors punished in style in the 24th minute.

After Greenwood ran into traffic, the ball looped up and Fred played a poor pass to Scott McTominay. John McGinn took the ball and Douglas Luiz played it to Traore, who turned exquisitely, held off Victor Lindelof and hit a superb left-footed strike across Dean Henderson and into the top right-hand corner.

United responded well to the setback but were not causing Villa enough problems, with Traore getting back to prevent Paul Pogba getting away an effort from the edge of the box.

Martinez stopped Rashford and just about got a strong enough hand to a fizzing Greenwood attempt as half-time approached, with Ezri Konsa hacking the rebound clear.

Watkins had a shot saved at the other end just before the break, with United drawing level within seven minutes of the restart.

Luiz’s close attention on Pogba turned into a clumsy challenge, with referee Chris Kavanagh awarding a penalty that Fernandes stepped up to take and coolly send Martinez the wrong way.

United had flipped the script by the 56th minute. Greenwood turned Tyrone Mings when collecting an Aaron Wan-Bissaka pass on the edge of the box and struck a low effort beyond Martinez at his near post.

Konsa and Rashford were involved in a shoving match shortly afterwards, with Harry Maguire heading wide from the corner that followed before Henderson saved his skipper’s blushes.

Solskjaer turned to Cavani for the closing stages and the substitute’s first contribution was a timely headed clearance, before Maguire went off in discomfort in the 78th minute.

The defender had been on the cusp of becoming the first outfield player in United’s history to complete 72 consecutive Premier League matches.

United added gloss to the scoreline in the 87th minute as Rashford swung in a cross from the right, with substitute Cavani expertly peeling off to steer home a close-range header.

There was more late drama as striker Watkins was sent off in the 89th minute, having collected a second booking for an apparent dive as goalkeeper Henderson came out.

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VILLA PARK OFFERED AS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL VENUE ALTERNATE

Aston Villa have reportedly offered to host the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea amid ongoing doubts about the suitability of the match being played in Turkey.

The all-Premier League affair is currently scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 29th at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul.

Turkey is currently under lockdown following a surge in Covid-19 cases.

With City and Chelsea now the confirmed finalists, supporter groups, UK MPs and health experts are among those calling for the high-profile fixture to be switched to England.

Wembley is already committed to hosting the Sky Bet Championship play-off final on May 29th, but Villa Park in Birmingham has emerged as an alternative.

UEFA has insisted the venue will not change and is due to announce further details on ticketing, travel and capacity for the game on Friday.

The PA news agency understands at this stage only a request from the Turkish government would prompt the final to be hosted elsewhere.

Switching the game to England would pose a number of logistical issues, including visitors – such as delegates from national associations – being required to self-isolate for up to 10 days upon arrival.

UEFA would also have to inspect and approve the replacement stadium.

Villa fuelled rumours earlier on Thursday by tweeting an aerial footage of their ground, accompanied by a heart emoji.

PA has approached the West Midlands club for comment.
Chelsea booked their spot in the final on Wednesday by overcoming Real Madrid 3-1 on aggregate on Wednesday, while City defeated Paris St Germain the previous evening, winning 4-1 over two legs.

The meeting of the two Premier League rivals could be the second of two all-English European finals as Manchester United and Arsenal are in Europa League semi-final action on Thursday evening.

United travel to Roma holding a resounding 6-2 first-leg lead, while the Gunners must overturn a 2-1 deficit at home to Spanish side Villarreal.

The Europa League final will be staged in Gdansk, Poland on Wednesday, May 26th.

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MANCHESTER CITY INCH CLOSER TO THE TITLE AFTER ASTON VILLA WIN

Manchester City moved a step closer to the Premier League title after capping a turbulent week with a 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

The leaders – who had John Stones sent off in the first half – need eight points from five games to reclaim the crown after the exceptional Phil Foden and Rodri turned the game at Villa Park.

John McGinn’s opener after 20 seconds stunned the visitors but they recovered to win after their ill-fated entry and quick withdrawal from the controversial Super League this week.

They even survived after Stones was sent off for a late challenge on Jacob Ramsey – ruling him out of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final with Tottenham.

Matt Cash also saw red in the second half after two quickfire yellow cards for fouls on Foden to ease any fears of a Villa comeback.

The hosts remain 11th with any European hopes they had slipping away.

City boss Pep Guardiola said before the Super League’s mass exodus “sport is not sport if losing doesn’t matter” and City were losing after just 20 seconds.

They were caught cold by Tyrone Mings’ quick free-kick which a stretching Stones failed to cut out.

It fell to Ollie Watkins and the striker crossed for McGinn, arriving ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko, to sweep in from 10 yards. It was Villa’s fastest Premier League goal for 26 years.

The hosts had not played for 11 days, in that time City had a gruelling Champions League quarter-final win at Dortmund and a FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea.

Yet, with Guardiola making eight changes to freshen his squad they gradually began to dominate and Riyad Mahrez tested Emi Martinez after 20 minutes.

It served as a warning as City levelled two minutes later following a terrific flowing move.

Ederson began from the back and picked out Zinchenko with a 50-yard pass and he knocked it off to Foden.

The England midfielder found Mahrez on the right and continued his run into the area where Bernardo Silva, after being slipped in by Mahrez, found him to fire a first-time finish past Martinez.

Confident City continued to press with the game almost exclusively played in Villa’s half and Mahrez had a free-kick deflect over.

Though Villa’s concentration levels could only keep City at bay for so long and the champions-elect broke through again five minutes before the break.

Foden’s corner was only half-cleared, Ilkay Gundogan and Mahrez kept the ball alive and Rodri glanced into the corner after Martinez failed to beat him to Silva’s cross.

City looked on course to cruise to another three points but just four minutes later Stones was dismissed.

He went for a bouncing ball just inside the City half and clattered Ramsey, with referee Peter Bankes initially giving the defender a yellow card.

VAR intervened though and once Bankes checked his monitor he reversed his decision to show Stones a straight red – in front of watching England boss Gareth Southgate.

It was late rather than malicious and the decision left Guardiola fuming but Cash levelled the numbers up after 56 minutes.

It was rash from the right-back – who had been booked for a foul on Foden just two minutes before – when he chopped down the midfielder again after losing the ball.

The red played into City’s hands and they were happy to control the pace without leaving themselves stretched.

Gundogan flashed a free-kick over with 14 minutes left and City saw out the game with ease to leave them 11 points clear at the top.