Leon Bland

28 Years Old Football Coach. Living in the United States 🇺🇸. Graduate in Sports Development & Coaching. Instagram: lb27_coaching.

[The Players’ Tribune @PlayersTribune]

Unai Emery’s arrival at @AVFCOfficial brought the club to another level. Ahead of the Europa League final, @EzriKonsa wrote: “The first thing he told us when he arrived was, ‘I’m not here to waste time.’ Right away, he changed our mentality. No more being mid-table.

He wanted titles.

He wanted to get into Europe.

It’s funny because after the first few months, he sat me down and said, ‘Look, I really wasn’t sure about you.’ He told me that I could play for England one day, but only if I was willing to put in the work and really believe in myself. He actually told a reporter once that he believes more in me than I believe in myself. That kind of hit home. From that point on, I wanted to work 10 times as hard....

There was another moment when we lost out on the Champions League last year, and we got back into the dressing room, and it was like a funeral. Guys on the bench, staring into the air. I’m sitting there with my shirt pulled over my head, wanting to disappear into the ground. The boss began to speak, and then he started to tear up. He was telling us how proud he was of us, and how hard we’d worked, and how much commitment we’d shown. We had never seen him open up like that.

I had even more respect for him after that. He just loves what he’s doing, and he cares so deeply for his players.

We’re lucky to have Unai Emery as our boss.

Playing for him, you can see why he has won so much. When we conceded that late goal in Paris last season, he was kicking stuff in the dressing room. But then he told us how much he believed in us, and when you look at him, and you feel his energy, all you want to do is play the second leg. Even when we went 2–0 down at Villa Park, we didn’t lose faith. They were probably thinking, Who the f*** are Villa? But in that second half, I think they got scared of what we managed to do. When I scored, you could hear the noise 10 miles away from Villa Park.

We may have lost the tie, but we beat PSG that night. We showed what we can do when we stick together and believe in ourselves.” https://t.co/8IavNZGrix

[Vfynn_🥷🏼 𐙚 @Vfynn_]

🚨 Thierry Henry on the PSG vs Aston Villa UEFA Super Cup clash.

🗣️ “Aston Villa didn’t lose because PSG were better. They lost because they refused to kill the game when it was begging to be killed.

Tactically, Villa were excellent for long stretches. They sat in a compact mid-block, forced PSG into wide areas, and then exploded on the transition. McGinn and Buendía were finding pockets,

Maatsen was bombing on, and that kid Madjo… 17 years old, making his debut in a Super Cup final, and he was the most dangerous forward on the pitch for 45 minutes. He bullied Pacho, he won every second ball, he created chaos. That equaliser just before half-time was pure instinct.

But football is ruthless. You create five clear big chances and convert one… while the other team creates three and scores two… you don’t deserve to win. Simple as that.

PSG were not dominant. They controlled the ball, yes, but they looked uncomfortable every time Villa broke. Kvaratskhelia’s goal was pure quality, fine. Doué’s second goal was clinical. But in between those moments, Villa had the better opportunities. Headers missed, shots scuffed, final passes overhit when the net was open. That’s not bad luck. That’s a lack of conviction in the final third.

Emery’s side had the blueprint to win that match. They had the intensity, they had the structure, they had the young players who weren’t intimidated. What they didn’t have was the cold-bloodedness that separates good teams from teams that actually lift trophies.

You cannot dominate transitions like that, create more big chances than the Champions of Europe, and still walk away empty-handed. At this level, if you don’t take your chances, the other team will take theirs… and then they’ll lift the cup in front of you.

Villa should be furious with themselves tonight. Not with the referee. Not with VAR. With their own finishing. Because that game was there for them.”

[John Townley @johntownley11]

"John, Pacho is never dominated like this!" That's what one PSG reporter told me after Brian Madjo's Villa debut - what a talent he is. He never gave up on that goal. George Hemmings was also excellent against the European champions. Villa leave Salzburg full of pride. 🇦🇹

#AVFC

[Justin Talks Villa @JUSTIN_AVFC_]

My chat with @DazHaleWM on @sportbbcwm after tonight’s super cup #avfc

[Ｅｓｐｅｎ🦁 @espenstrand]

🟣🔵Feels like Villa are bringing in 4 players before the window shuts. What do you think?
#UTV #avfc🦁

✔️Left Back
Ruggeri is basically done. Medical and sign. tomorrow.
-> Replaces Digne

✔️Right Back
Wan-Bissaka (and others) in talk. Feels like this is something that will happen.
-> Replaces Garcia

✔️Central Midfielder
Palhinha heavily linked. IF we can get the deal we want, a loan (with options) this is 1st choice. IF not there are others on the list. How I read it.
-> Replaces injured Onana

✔️Right Wing/10
When Bailey is sorted, the money and space from Guessand and Bailey will go into a RW/10 addition.
-> Replaces Bailey/Guessand

Question then is who is thew RW/10 we bring in?
Very exciting!

IF Konsa or Watkins are being sold,
then we of course alse replaces them?

20 days to the deadline!

[Aston Villa @AVFCOfficial]

Up the Super Cup EuroVilla 💜

[Raj Chohan @rajsinghchohan]

Shame Villa can’t pull off that Endrick loan. Manzambi-Endrick-McGinn behind Madjo could have been complementary and fire.

[Frankie Maguire @FrankieMaguire]

New episode! Why Aston Villa's heroic effort in the Super Cup gave reasons to be positive for this season.

🟣 Madjo & Hemmings take their chance
🔵 Maatsen superb / Alysson shines / Gomes & Kamara look class

🎥 https://t.co/xSD1PYrZuG

#avfc #utv #astonvilla

[Justin Talks Villa @JUSTIN_AVFC_]

So so proud of this evolution of Aston Villa mk2 under Unai… #avfc

[Gabriella 🏆 @gabsavfc_]

Up the Villa 💜💜

[PGR @pgr_analytics]

Brian Madjo’s competitive debut for #AVFC by numbers.

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Arguably the best centre-back duo in world football were roughed up by a 17-year-old on his competitive debut for Aston Villa.

It is not hyperbole to say Brian Madjo could have scored four or five goals in the first half alone. Two crosses from John McGinn initially were both headed wide by the teenage forward, having been unmarked.

Yet, described as a “physical monster” by club sources, Madjo kept on going. Nothing fazed him — not the occasion or the missed chances.

The England youth international has long been big for his age, but to contest and dominate his direct marker so comprehensively in the first half was stunning.

He is the youngest player to ever play in a Super Cup final at 17 years and 212 days old. If Madjo had started to convert his chances, the potential, from that first-half viewing, felt endless.

✍️ @J_Tanswell

https://t.co/J9ayFDmpHB

[Prime Video Sport UK @primevideosport]

Aston Villa remain joint 4th for most European titles won by an English club 🇪🇺🏆👏

[John Townley @johntownley11]

Unai Emery on transfers: "There will be more changes."

#AVFC

[Jacob Tanswell @J_Tanswell]

Unai Emery: "In the Europa League, I needed to sub George because he was nervous. Today - more confident, more fresh, more comfortable, playing as a 10, getting wide and going inside. I was giving him tests like Salzburg at home, but this is the process for young players." #AVFC

[Damian Vidagany @DV1874]

Any defeat hurts. Not different today. Congratulations to PSG, fair play. But in my opinion the best team today was Villa. And the best coach Unai Emery. Brave, clever and with long term vision. Master class with no result. We are building something beautiful every day. UTV! safe travel back home guys.

[Nicolò Schira @NicoSchira]

🚨Excl. - Talks are progressing well for Nicolas #Jackson to #AstonVilla from #Chelsea. The striker has already given his availability to join #AVFC. Unai #Emery loves him and pushing to re-have him after the positive experience together at Villarreal. #transfers #CFC

[𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 @TotalVilla_]

Unai Emery on Luis Enrique 🗣️

"I like to face the best coaches in the world. Now he's the best. He won the Champions League twice, he's really building a very good and competitive team, improving players, his tactics are amazing.” 👏 #avfc

[Alex Berwick @Alex_Berwick]

Shame about the result. And I do mean that.

But that was amazing.

Incisive, dynamic performance. Not scared of them in any way. Left everything out there.

Players to come in, players to come back.

Really looking forward to the season. #avfc

[Football on TNT Sports @footballontnt]

Marquinhos has now won an incredible 40 trophies with PSG 🤯

🏆 2x Champions League
🏆 2x Super Cup
🏆 1x FIFA Intercontinental Cup
🏆 11x Ligue 1
🏆 8x Coupe de France
🏆 6x Coupe de la Ligue
🏆 10x Trophée des Champions