Monchi, the Aston Villa President of Footballing Operations has reinvigorated some hope back into a fan base that was feeling overall low. While admitting to the challenges that PSR will face, the club executive seemed optimistic that they would still be able to act in the summer transfer window as they would anyway.
Part of his interview on Canal Sur Radio, as shared by the Aston Villa Español Fans X account, Monchi did mention the lingering effect that the loss to Manchester United still had on him and Damian Vidagany. As it should.
That was a defeat that few saw coming, and virtually no one expected it to then play out the way it did at Old Trafford. It was something of a complete shock. Emiliano Martínez receiving a red card, the attack never being able to gain a foothold in the match, and the possession falling comfortably in the hosts' favor on the day was not what anyone envisioned.
Add the fact that the needed results from other Premier League matches went in Villa's favor, and it only further adds to the pain of that 2-0 devastation.
It is what Monchi then shared from his conversation with Vidagany from the interview that should spark some interest from Villa fans. The executive explained:
When you fail due to your own (and others') mistakes, you look foolish. In time, we'll look back with joy and pride on the season we had.
One aspect that stands out is, of course, the 'others' portion of his statement. While Manchester United certainly played better on the day, disallowing a goal that clearly should have stood undoubtedly swayed the momentum of the match.
The words here from Monchi are not focusing on that officiating error, however. It simply acknowledges that on the big stage, with everyone at least paying attention to that game due to it being one of the few that had stakes attached, Villa got embarrassed.
Déjà Vu Aston Villa fans hope to avoid
It is a similar feeling that Villa supporters felt during the FA Cup semi-final. Teams can either shrink or grow from moments like that.
The mindset now needs to be one that seeks to avoid being in a position again where one error can have such immediately devastating consequences.