Celtic will be fully concentrated on the Young Boys clash at Parkhead on Wednesday night.
But you can’t help but look over at other Champions League results, including Aston Villa’s defeat to AS Monaco on Tuesday night.
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Aston Villa host Celtic next week in a mouthwatering encounter – the first time the two former European champions will meet.
Even Brendan Rodgers will admit that he doesn’t want to be heading to Villa Park needing something to secure a play-off spot because it would be risky.
The Midlands side haven’t lost at home in Europe this term, including beating Bayern Munich.
But, perhaps, just perhaps, Villa will head into the game with some nerves and an edgy feel because Unai Emery wasn’t a happy man post-match.
Unai Emery rages as Aston Villa blow top-eight chances in the Champions League
Before Wednesday’s games in the Champions League can be played, Villa are sitting in the final top-eight spot, but you can perhaps expect that to be taken away from them by the end of the evening.
That’s because Villa suffered a 1-0 loss against Monaco and Emery was fuming. That’s the angriest and most frustrated he has ever looked.
From players not following his plans, his call of two strikers being ‘my mistake’ and questioning his side’s mentality.
Monaco’s Swiss forward #36 Breel Embolo (up) heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League football match between AS Monaco and Aston Villa at th…
Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images
“We can be here maybe two days to explain it, in one minute, it’s difficult,” responded Emery on the reason for Villa’s loss.
“We were horrible in set-pieces. We were horrible. We had seven corners and we didn’t have one corner good to try to score and when you are playing matches like today, very important those three points, because we lost the opportunity, I think, to be in the top eight. Today was the key to getting it. The last 20 minutes, we were playing with two strikers, we lost a little bit of our positioning and we weren’t threatening them like in the first 70 minutes – it was my mistake to play with two strikers.
On some players not following his plan and elaborating on it, Emery then points to his head: “We want it and we need it,” added the Villa manager on the mentality of not being strong enough.
Emery’s Celtic message to Villa players ahead of Champions League showdown
Of course, if Celtic have a play-off place secured, then they can travel down to Villa Park with ease and a chance to enjoy themselves.
It will then make that Villa match that bit easier to deal with, but Emery is going to make sure his Villa players will be ready.
Emery started to look at his side’s overall Champions League picture and how they have been ‘fantastic’, including telling his players to be ‘motivated’ for the Celtic game, as he told his post-match press conference.
“Okay, I can now speak how we are in the Champions League, we are fantastic,” added Emery. “We are doing a fantastic way in the Champions League.
“We were in contention. Today, we had the opportunity to be in the top eight, playing the last home match against Celtic, we didn’t get it today, but we are fantastic.
“We are in the next round and we have to be excited. We are in the Champions League. We have to be motivated to play against Celtic with our supporters. Playing the next round. Wow.”
