It is understandable to look at other English Premier League teams with envy. Unlike Aston Villa, sides that by all other accounts have had awful seasons are able to celebrate the joy of lifting a trophy. The prospect of now winning Unai Emery's Europa League competition is one that excites many supporters.
As seen by Manchester United, however, while they did manage to show up on the final Matchday, as a whole that last win meant very little, as they went the year trophyless and embarrassingly in the bottom half of the EPL standings.
That is to say that it is not a smart approach to place all eggs in the singular basket of winning the UEL piece of silverware. Yes, it would be an accomplishment. The overall club standard and push, however, is to be a top team in England and consequently in Europe.
Playing in Champions League while fighting in the FA Cup and for a spot in the Prem each year has to be the expectation of Villa moving forward.
There are many who are understandably growing weary of hearing messages of needing to be patient and that winning a trophy is coming. What is going on now at Villa is different from past regimes at the club.
Naturally there have been some miscalculations, but on the whole, the current staff have proven themselves to not only be highly competent but also committed to AVFC for the long haul. Fans should be frustrated, particularly after how the must-win moments ended up playing out this past season.
To want to dismiss the clear progress that has been made and celebrate missing Champions League, while some are even suggesting a similar all-in push to what Tottenham Hotspur and Man Utd did, is far too shortsighted.
Perspective shows how close Aston Villa truly are
Being on the outside and not one of the six English clubs to have won a trophy can be viewed in two different lights. Particularly with Chelsea and Tottenham more recently securing their silverware, a similar narrative of 'It is never us' can certainly be one approach. This half-dozen display of others hoisting silverware shows that it is very much a strong possibility, even with the rules protecting the status of the 'big six,' to come away with something tangible.
Now Villa are in the Europa League; by all means, they should strive for and have a good chance of winning that European competition.
This club's realistic ambitions are to compete in the EPL, go further in Champions League, and make an annual push at either the EFL Cup or FA Cup trophy.