Aston Villa had a brilliant Premier League season and got a UEFA Champions League spot after finishing fourth in the Premier League. The Villans qualified for the Champions League after 41 years. Aston Villa was exceptional under Unai Emery. Moreover, they got through to the Europa Conference League semi-finals but unfortunately lost to Olympiacos.
The Villans lost to the 2024 Conference League winners, Olympiacos, with a 6-2 aggregate. Additionally, Aston Villa’s performance against the top six was incredible. They beat Manchester City and Arsenal one after the other, which was a turning point in their season. Furthermore, the Villans beat Arsenal at the Emirates, leading the Gunners to lose hold of their title hopes. Additionally, now that Aston Villa have secured a spot in the Champions League, they are looking for players to strengthen their squad even more. One player on their chart now is Ayoub El Kaabi.
Ayoub El Kaabi helped Olympiacos win the Europa Conference League
Olympiacos made it to the Europa Conference League final after defeating Aston Villa in the semi-finals. The final between Olympiacos and Fiorentina was thrilling, with the Greek team winning after a goal in extra time. The score was 0-0 after 90 minutes, leading the game to extra time. In the 116th minute of the match, Ayoub El Kaabi became the hero and made the score line 1-0. This goal led Olympiacos to the Conference League trophy. Moreover, they became the first Greek side to win a European trophy. El Kaabi did not only show up during this game but has been consistent throughout the season. The Moroccan scored eighteen goals in 31 appearances in the Super League Greece. However, his performance against Aston Villa in the semis and Fiorentina in the finals has caught the attention of top clubs.
Aston Villa are keen on signing the Olympiacos star
According to reports, El Kaabi’s performance gained attraction from several clubs including Aston Villa. The Moroccan not only scored the winner in the final but also scored a hattrick against Villa in the first leg of the semi-finals. Furthermore, he scored a brace in the second leg of the semis. The Villans believe he could be a great signing for their side. El Kaabi’s performance has been rather promising lately and the club could get a good amount of profit if they sell him. Moreover, a move to the Premier League would be ideal for the Moroccan. Considering the Villans will play in the Champions League next season, signing players will be an easier job for them. The only worry Aston Villa have to deal with is staying within the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
The Olympiacos manager was happy with his side’s performance
Olympiacos’ manager, Jose Luis Mendilibar became the first coach after Rafael Benitez to win major European trophies in continuous seasons. Last season, Mendilibar led Sevilla to a Europa League win. His success with Olympiacos this time displayed his brilliant management skills. It was a happy end to Olympiacos’ season with Mendilibar becoming their third manager this campaign. After the win, there was excitement all around amongst the players as well as the manager and staff.
While speaking after the game, Mendilibar said,
“I am very happy and satisfied, and it is an honour to have made the fans happy. I am very happy that we achieved something that the club had not achieved before. We will celebrate, we will cheer, and then we will get back to work for what comes next.”
It was a successful campaign for the Greek side and the Olympiacos fans can surely be excited for what’s to come in the years ahead.
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