Aston Villa: Don Goodman adamant of what will happen in Europa Conference League tie v Ajax
Don Goodman is confident Aston Villa will beat Ajax in their Europa Conference League tie as long as they do not underestimate their opponents.
Villa have landed a plum tie in the last 16, with a trip to Amsterdam this Thursday (7 March) followed by a home leg at Villa Park a week later.
Ajax are heavyweights of the global game, yet Villa will enter the contest as favourites among many given their form in the Premier League.
And with European expert Unai Emery at the helm, Goodman can see the Villans reaching the quarter-finals of the continental competition.
“Look at how many Europa Leagues manager Unai Emery has won,” Goodman told Villa News. “There’s not a cat in hell’s chance they’ll be overawed.
“They’re being led and guided by a man who knows European football better than almost any head coach around Europe. He’s right up there with the most seasoned and experienced head coaches.
“I think they’ll be favourites, and if they hit their levels then I think they will win. The biggest challenge for them is not underestimating Ajax, who have not had a great season but they’re still Ajax and they still have talented players all over the pitch.
“So as long as they don’t underestimate Ajax, which I’m 100-per-cent certain they won’t, then I’d fancy Villa to win this tie.”
Aston Villa v Ajax could be a thriller
Villa are on course to play in the Champions League next season after consolidating their top-four spot at the weekend, but for now they are more than happy to settle for Europa Conference League success.
As West Ham showed last season, advancing in this competition can provide supporters with memories for a lifetime, with many great European experiences already this campaign.
After progressing through the group stage, the Villans could have done with an easier last-16 tie. At the same time, Ajax are nowhere near the force they previously were.
While they have recovered after finding themselves at the bottom end of the division not so long ago, Ajax are still only fifth in Eredivisie, 27 points behind leaders PSV.
As Goodman says, it would be unwise to write off the Dutch heavyweights on that basis. Over two legs, though, with the second to be played on home soil, this is a game Villa will enter full of confidence.
In other Aston Villa news, Goodman believes the Villans will already be at an advanced stage in terms of their first summer signing.
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