Europa League: Aston Villa and Nottingham seek solace in European competition

02/10/2025 11:12:00 esportapi

A poor start after six Premier League matches has left Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest searching for a confidence boost. Both teams will target wins in the second qualifying round of the Europa League, facing Feyenoord and Midtjylland respectively.

Instead of being in the upper half of the standings, Aston Villa currently occupy 16th place with 6 points, while Nottingham Forest have one point less and sit just below them. Nottingham Forest even replaced their manager earlier this month, dismissing Nuno Santo and appointing Ange Postecoglou, yet results have not improved much as Forest remain winless after their first five matches under the new leadership.

Pressure mounts on Postecoglou at Nottingham Forest

The difference under Postecoglou at Nottingham Forest is clear. The team shifted from Santo’s defensive counter-attacking style to a more assertive approach. The 1-1 draw against Burnley on September 20th clearly demonstrated this, with Postecoglou’s squad holding 63.3% possession—the highest in a Premier League match since their promotion three years ago. Additional statistics from that game highlight the change at City Ground: Nottingham Forest completed 500 successful passes for the first time in a Premier League match, with Elliot Anderson (98 passes) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (88 passes) leading the way.

Despite efforts to implement a new style, doubts remain about whether Postecoglou is the right coach, as the team has lost three matches (to Arsenal, Swansea, and Sunderland) and drawn two (against Burnley and Betis). Former Manchester United scout Mick Brown warned that Postecoglou will face intense pressure if he does not secure Nottingham Forest’s first win soon, possibly tonight. This concern is understandable given the similarities between Nottingham Forest this season and Tottenham last season: an unbalanced playing style and a rigid tactical approach that Postecoglou demands from his players instead of the flexibility needed to adapt to different opponents. Tottenham might give Postecoglou until his second season to prove himself, but Nottingham Forest may not be as patient if the club falls deeper into relegation trouble and fails to meet expectations in the Europa League qualifying rounds. After opening the qualifying round with a 2-2 draw against Betis, Nottingham is eager to achieve their first continental victory against the lesser-known Midtjylland.

Postecoglou faces significant pressure as Nottingham Forest remain without a win after his first five games in charge

Aston Villa revival as Watkins finds the net

For Aston Villa, the goal drought that lasted four rounds was broken when Unai Emery’s team scored four goals in two matches against Sunderland and Fulham. Besides John McGinn’s impressive performances in these games, another encouraging sign appeared as main striker Ollie Watkins scored his first goal of the season, ending an 11-match goal drought. Before scoring against Fulham, the 29-year-old striker faced criticism over his prolonged dry spell since May. McGinn understands the pressure Watkins has been under: “Watkins has been under immense pressure recently, but we have always believed in and supported him. There were many times when things didn’t go his way, but he kept working hard, and whenever he had the ball, everyone hoped a goal would come.”

Two wins, against Bologna in the Europa League and Fulham in the Premier League, have also eased Unai Emery’s nerves on the sidelines. The Spanish coach was once so frustrated that he called his players lazy after a 1-1 draw with Sunderland, despite that match featuring Aston Villa’s first Premier League goal of the season. After two wins in a few days, the 53-year-old’s mood has improved significantly: “We maintained the stability we showed against Bologna. Although we conceded to Fulham, we responded better, played more aggressively, and tried to penetrate their penalty area. As a result, we successfully came from behind.”

Aston Villa’s trip to the Netherlands promises to be challenging as Feyenoord currently lead the Eredivisie with 19 points from 7 matches and excellent form. The positive spirit within Emery’s squad gives them hope for at least a draw or even a win if Watkins continues his goal-scoring momentum.

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