It is over and done with. After an incorrect lapse of judgment by the official to blow his whistle, not allowing for VAR to even have the chance to make a judgment, the season is over. Even so, Aston Villa did play their part in finishing sixth. Earlier dropped points and having an entirely flat appearance at Old Trafford are what cost them a spot in Champions League.
While the way in which that final match unfolded justifiably angers AVFC supporters, there is a lot to consider moving forward. For one, this is a club that is looking to push boundaries, despite having only been reintroduced to the top flight.
It is more than acceptable to be proud of the position that Villa are in while frustrated with another year gone by without a trophy and how that Manchester United match was officiated.
As this past season should show, it is difficult to remain competitive in Europe and the domestic tournaments while also fighting for a spot in the league standings. That is the standard that Villa are now pushing for, however.
The call from key people at the grounds is to unseat the big six. In order to establish that type of presence, it needs to become expected for Villa to go far in one of the competitions while competing and staying in range of Prem title contention. That is the aim is at least.
What the Villans accomplished this year should not be underappreciated or overlooked. It also needs to be part of a continued stepping stone for a club that has ambitious goals.
Winning together and finding that unknown quality that is needed takes time to develop in sports. This becomes even more true when there are active obstacles working against a team's favor.
Positive outlook for Aston Villa
Regardless of what happens this transfer cycle due to PSR, it appears that the departing sell-offs will be much less drastic than the doom scenarios that many have predicted. In other words, most, if not all, of this corps will be able to stick together.
The pain that comes with being on the wrong end of a decision, of seeing silverware chances go up in smoke from a poor performance, is part of the building block for a Villa side that has large ambitions.
How exactly it will manifest itself is unknown. Despite the clear bias against AVFC, the efforts of those at Bodymoor are working toward something incredibly strong and meaningful. Competing in Champions League while contending for a title is not that far from being an annual reality.