Aston Villa's come-from-behind win at Fulham showed a young team growing with maturity... even after their best start in 26 years, it feels like Unai Emery and his side can get even BETTER

Unai Emery walked into his post-match property convention and hardly looked for illustration a man whose broadside had sewage disconnected to their champion convention commencement successful 26 years.

‘We played very earnestly and mature,’ nan Aston Villa leader said, pinch 1 oculus connected Tuesday night.

Once a crippled is complete, Emery will beryllium astatine nan beforehand of Villa's coach, propulsion retired his laptop and statesman to attraction connected nan adjacent opponents.

Win against Bologna successful nan Champions League connected Tuesday and Villa will, successful each likelihood, suffice for nan knockout stages of nan caller Champions League format.

Pre-tournament, UEFA simulations predicted that an mean of 7.6 points (two wins and 2 draws) from 8 games would beryllium capable for qualification. Villa already person six points, pinch six games to play.

Since losing to Arsenal successful August, Emery’s men person gone unbeaten successful 9 games crossed each competitions and nan fundamentals of their show connected nan Thames were a reminder that they person nan squad and a manager, who is alert of what it takes to simultaneously compete successful Europe and successful nan Premier League.

You only person to look astatine Newcastle past play to spot really qualifying for nan Champions League tin impact you domestically. Apart from nan opening weekend, Eddie Howe’s broadside weren’t successful nan apical 4 for nan remainder of nan play and yet vanished seventh.

For Newcastle, it ever felt for illustration a fleeting joyousness and they yet vanished bottommost successful a group that contained AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and PSG.

With a head for illustration Emery - who has 4 Europa League titles to his name - location is simply a genuine consciousness astatine Villa that they aren’t conscionable location to dress up nan numbers, It’s telling excessively possibly that Emery has requested floodlights astatine Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training analyzable truthful they tin train connected evenings.

In an moreover title astatine Craven Cottage, it came down to nan cardinal moments and Villa won those. Emiliano Martinez, described by Emery arsenic ‘the champion goalkeeper successful nan world’ saved Andreas Pereira’s punishment earlier Ollie Watkins sewage nan important goal.

There was nary request for immoderate Jhon Duran heroics disconnected nan chair but it said volumes of their squad extent that Emery could bring connected nan likes of Duran, Jadon Philogene, Ross Barkley, John McGinn and Emi Buendia.

Either broadside of beating Bayern Munich, Villa dropped 4 points pinch draws astatine Ipswich and astatine location to Man Utd but location was a consciousness of a squad increasing successful maturity here. Again, they came from down but resilience is 2nd quality for them nether Emery.

Sunday marked 2 years since nan time Steven Gerrard was sacked by Villa, pursuing a 3-0 conclusion astatine Craven Cottage which near them conscionable extracurricular nan relegation zone. Only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool person won much points since them.

The Spaniard’s statement runs until 2029 and you get nan emotion that location is truthful overmuch much to come.

‘It’s only getting amended for america - you tin spot nan guidance nan nine is going pinch bully signings and Champions League shot truthful it’s breathtaking times to beryllium a Villa subordinate and besides a Villa fan,’ said Watkins.

The ceiling is only getting higher for Aston Villa.