The weekend was good wasn't it. After the first half you could have been forgiven for thinking it wasn't going to be our day, but that second have performance and how we went about it just showed we are in a very good place.
And while Leeds had a goal disallowed just after our second, I fancied we had it in us to go get a third. And it wasn't just the football, it was how we went about it.
We were not at the races in the first half and that was fixed straight away in the second and it made a difference. It wasn't a masterclass, but it was a statement. The squad is at a place where it's just a strong when we make changes and it's a team game.
The players that came on could all start tomorrow night against Young Boys and play the role of starters. I'm not sure Ross could play 90 minutes, but if he's to start (I doubt), he'll do the job he's brought on to do. And you know what, even though I doubt he'll start or that he could play 90 minutes, now that I've written it, I suspect he could.
He'd be on the ground at 90 minutes, but I fancy he'd run himself into the ground. And I fancy the entire squad would. And with Emi in goal, making those crucial saves when called upon, it does feel good at the moment.
But it's tomorrow we have to look to now and to some extent Sunday. These are two big matches and we're going to need the squad, but they're both at home and you have to fancy with our form, we have a good chance of doing what we need to do.
And sitting in fourth in the table after 30% of the games after the start we had, is a good place to be. A win tomorrow and on Sunday and it will have some believing. What a time to be an Aston Villa fan.
Match facts from the BBC
-
The only previous European meeting between Aston Villa and Young Boys was in the UEFA Champions League league phase last season - Villa won 3-0 in Switzerland on MD1.
-
Young Boys have failed to win on any of their six European visits to England (D2 L4), only avoiding defeat in draws with Liverpool (2-2 in UEFA Europa League, November 2012) and Man Utd (1-1 in UEFA Champions League, December 2021).
-
Aston Villa have won all five of their home European matches in 2025 (x3 in the UEFA Champions League, x2 in the Europa League) - since the start of 2023-24, they've won more home major European matches than any other club (12 in 14 games).
-
Young Boys have conceded the most of any side in the UEFA Europa League this season (10), while since the start of 2024-25 they've shipped 34 goals in 12 major European matches (also in 24 in the Champions League) - more than anyone else.
-
Donyell Malen has scored 10 goals in 18 UEFA Europa League appearances (8 in 12 for PSV, 1 in 2 for Borussia Dortmund, 1 in 4 for Aston Villa), although he's yet to assist a goal in the competition. Since 2009-10, the only players with more goals in the competition without assisting are Youssef En-Nesyri and Fernando Torres (12 each).