Aston Villa will return to Wembley Stadium for the third time in as many years when they take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday afternoon. Many fans are already bracing themselves for what could be an incredibly difficult afternoon in the capital, but are there any reasons for optimism for the Villa faithful?
The last meeting between the sides was one that many have blocked out from their memory, as Villa were thumped 6-1 at home by the Citizens. But, this is a cup final and anything can happen in it.
Smith Giving Time To McGinn
John McGinn’s return will be a huge boost for everyone within the camp, and Dean Smith is giving him as much time as possible to prove his fitness ahead of the final. The Villa haven’t won a major trophy in 20 years, but the Scot’s return could have a huge bearing in the result. Jack Grealish has been forced to play in a slightly different position over recent months as Smith has tried to fill the void left by McGinn.
His return will mean that Grealish will be freed up again in midfield, and that is where the Englishman thrives. The Villa captain has already scored seven goals and made six assists in the Premier League this season. He has also scored two goals in the League Cup, which highlights that he could be about to make his presence known.
Villa Have Shocked Experts Throughout The Competition
The prospect of facing City won’t frighten the Villa, as they have already defied the odds to make it this far. The Midlands side have already seen off four Premier League sides, which also includes three of the top ten and two of the top three. Of course, there will still be those that will say Villa got lucky by playing against the second-string Liverpool side, but they could only beat what was put in front of them.
The two-legged tie against Leicester City highlights that the Villa have the quality in attack and defence to compete against the very best in the Premier League when they are at the top of their game. The last-gasp winner from Trezeguet also gives a feeling that the wait for a major trophy could be coming to an end.
Can Villa Beat Manchester City?
Make no mistake about it, a lot of things will need to go in Villa’s favour to get the win. Manchester City are the reigning Premier League champions and have a stranglehold on all domestic trophies, but they have shown this season that they aren’t unbeatable. Teams lower down the division have been able to get results against the Citizens this season, with Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers both getting joy.
The tactics will have to be correct by Smith and his team to give Villa the best chance, and then they will have to be ruthless in the final third when they get chances. If both of those factors happen, then there could be a shock on the cards.
