Aston Villa are out of the UEFA Europa Conference League after a 6-2 aggregate defeat to Olympiacos. Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi scored twice in the second leg after getting a hat-trick in the first. TNT Sports’ Peter Crouch and Alan Hutton believe Villa’s fans can be optimistic of the future ahead for the club as they look to close in on UEFA Champions League football via the Premier League. Alan Hutton and Peter Crouch believe it is not all “doom and gloom” for Aston Villa despite them exiting the UEFA Europa Conference League at the semi-final stage.
Villa went into the second leg against Olympiacos in Piraeus needing to overturn a two-goal deficit after losing the first leg 4-2 at Villa Park.
Olympiacos striker Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick in Birmingham and followed up with another two goals in the second leg as his side won the tie 6-2 on aggregate, becoming the first Greek club to reach a major European final since 1971. Although Villa missed out on playing their first European final in 42 years, Unai Emery’s side have secured European football for next season thanks to a successful domestic campaign and are also closing in on securing a UEFA Champions League place.
Villa sit in fourth in the Premier League table; seven points clear of fifth-place Tottenham with two games of their season to go against Liverpool on May 13 and Crystal Palace on May 19.
Former Villa defender Hutton believes there are plenty of reasons for the club’s fans to be positive despite their European exit.
“The first leg wasn’t good enough,” he told TNT Sports. “They knew being at home first they had to go out and put in a good performance, they didn’t do that.
“It was always going to be an uphill battle after conceding a goal so early [in the second leg]. It’s a real shame because I was desperate for them to win.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for the last 10 years. Some real highs and real lows.
“This was a real high, but as I’ve said before it’s not all doom and gloom. Some big things ahead for them.”
Peter Crouch, who played for Villa between 2002 and 2004, says they are “building for the future” and that their fans can be excited about their progress this season.
“It’s a club building for the future,” he said. “They’ve got money to spend and next year as well.
“They’ve had [Boubacar] Kamara and [Tyrone] Mings – both key players – who have been out for most of the season. [Emiliano] Buendia as well.
“They’ve had injuries and they’ve played a lot of games, but they’re in a great position in the league.
“It’s exciting times, the fans are enjoying every minute of it and long may that continue.”