Aston Villa under 'tremendous pressure' with a lot of club staff on holiday - Dan Bardell

Dan Bardell believes Aston Villa must release a statement after receiving backlash from national outlets over Champions League ticket prices.

The Villans made the announcement on 4 September ahead of their home matches in Europe’s elite competition, starting with Bayern Munich on 2 October.

Against the Bundesliga giants, supporters are expected to pay up to £97 for an adult in a move which has been widely criticised.

Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell doesn't think the club can stay quiet and needs to issue a statement sooner rather than later.

Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: "The club are under tremendous pressure. I think this has probably gone down worse than they would have anticipated.

"I'm not sure what they expected but I don't think they would have expected this to make national news.

"They've announced it during an international break when there isn't much going on so that probably isn't the smartest timing. I really don't know if they will backtrack.

"I feel like they have to, they have to say something, they can't stay silent through this time. A lot of people at the club are on holiday and have put themselves in a difficult spot.

"Villa fans will let the hierarchy know what they think before and after games in my opinion."

Aston Villa slammed for Champions League ticket prices

Given that season ticket prices at Villa Park have risen year on year, sadly, this announcement hasn't really come as a surprise to supporters.

The club are yet to offer any sort of reaction to the backlash that they have faced, leaving fans assuming that nothing will be changed.

This has resulted in planned protests outside the stadium before matches and spectators turning their back on play during games.

Given that the Villans' owners have done so much right over the years, propelling the club to the Premier League and then to Europe, supporters expect better.

It is unfair to Unai Emery and his players to face potentially poisonous atmospheres at games for the coming weeks but it may be the only way to get through to Chris Heck and Co.

In other Aston Villa news, one international star struggles in last gasp defeat.

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