Aston Villa's right-back Matty Cash remains optimistic about his recovery following an injury sustained during the team's recent Champions League clash against Celtic. The 27-year-old played a pivotal role in Villa's impressive 4-2 victory, which secured their place in the knockout stages of the tournament. Cash's contributions were instrumental in establishing an early lead, with Morgan Rogers netting two goals that set the tone for a memorable night at Villa Park.
Unfortunately, Cash's participation was curtailed after just 30 minutes when he departed the pitch due to what appeared to be a calf issue. He was replaced by teammate John McGinn, and while manager Unai Emery did not provide an immediate update on Cash's condition post-match, the player's own comments suggest he may face a spell on the sidelines. Taking to social media, Cash expressed his sentiments, stating, “Champions League Qualification, great night at Villa Park, I'll be back stronger.”
This injury adds to the challenges facing Villa, who are already contending with a number of sidelined players, including Pau Torres, Tyrone Mings, and Amadou Onana. Following Cash's exit, Celtic seized the opportunity to level the match, with Adam Idah scoring twice to bring the score to 2-2 by the 38th minute. However, Ollie Watkins restored Villa's lead shortly after the hour mark, and Rogers capped off a delightful evening by completing his hat-trick in injury time.
Reflecting on the team's achievements, Emery expressed pride in their journey to the Champions League and their strong performance this season. He remarked, "We are very proud of our work, of our way in the Champions League this year, of our work last year in getting here. There are a lot of strong teams to be favourites to be a contender. It is very important how we are here and how we started in this way. Now we enjoy the way; today was a fantastic day. The atmosphere was fantastic, it was a very good match."
With this victory securing automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout rounds, Aston Villa's upcoming schedule appears more manageable than it could have been. They will next face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. The club is hopeful that Watkins will remain with the squad after rejecting an approach from Arsenal, while Jhon Duran's move to Al-Nassr is expected to be finalised soon.
As noted by Metro.co.uk, Aston Villa's resilience and determination are increasingly evident as they navigate this pivotal phase of the season, reinforcing their status as a formidable contender in both domestic and European competitions. The team's ability to adapt and overcome adversity will be crucial as they aim to build on their recent successes.