Quote from: Docnaster on Today at 04:36:52 PM

For the first time in since the UEFA Champions League competition was rebranded in 1992, Aston Villa will play in club football's most prestigious competition and the manager that'll lead them in the competition is no other than the very experienced Unai Emery. The former Sevilla boss is the most successful manager in the history of the UEFA Europa League competition but when it comes to the Champions League, he's yet to record any success. The quality of players at Aston Villa is strong enough to have a good campaign in the competition but I don't think they're strong enough to get past the quarter final stage.
The other clubs that aren't regular in the competition such a Girona, Bologna and Bayer Leverkusen I think also stands a good chance of making it outside the group stage of the competition

Aston Villa under Unai Emery have been a team to beat, they started last season in a good form and at one time a tittle contender but they fell off as we all know due to lack of squad depth. They were even lucky to me get this opportunity to compete in the Champions League due to Tottenham mixed performance. Right now in the champions league I hope they don’t end up as Newcastle that is getting a group of death and exiting at an early stage. But one thing the makes me think they will at least get out of the group stage is that Unai Emery is frequent in the competition than some middle club coaches. He guided Villarreal to the semis the last time he competed in the competition and his experience will be much more valuable at this time.

Firstly I wouldn’t put Bayer Leverkusen In the same category with Girona and Bologna in the champions league. Yes they haven’t won it but they are very much familiar with the competition, they have even in the last few years been in the competition more than even Aston Villa who had won it in the past. It will be a mixed feeling for First time Girona, maybe they will push harder to the quarterfinals like Leicester did when they came or fall fiat like Union Berlin