Player Details:
Name: Marcus Edge
Age: 17
Height: 5'8
Position: LW/LM
Current stats:
Pace-95
Dribbling-89
Shooting-86
Passing-86
Physicalilty-65
Acceleration-81
Agility-81
Reaction-69
Vision-79
Positioning-75
Stamina-89
Ball Control-78
Finishing-89
Crossing-87
Overall-87
Goals-36+1=37
Assists-26
This Season:
Games-25
Goals-16+1=17
Assists-18
Playstyle- 1) Quick Step +
2) Finesse Shot +
Marcus's injury had sent shockwaves through the fanbase. Aston Villa fans were on edge, fearing that this could derail their remarkable season. Marcus's supporters hoped for the best, anxiously awaiting the medical reports. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and the weight of uncertainty loomed large.
When the reports finally came in, it was a mixed bag of relief and concern. Marcus had suffered a bruised shoulder and a hamstring injury, which would keep him out of action for 45 days. This meant he would miss a crucial month and a half of the season. It was a significant setback, and the implications were severe. But as any great footballer knows, resilience is key to overcoming such challenges. As injury really effects a player's skills so it will be fair that we deduct points from his stats so that it shows that he has taken a dip in his stats because of his injury. This will be done at the end of the injury tenure.
The timing couldn't have been worse. Marcus was set to miss eight Premier League matches, potentially jeopardizing Aston Villa's progress towards the title. Moreover, he would miss the Round of 16 and the Quarter Finals of the Champions League. The news hit hard, and the team's morale took a blow.
The R-16 draw had paired Aston Villa with Sporting CP. It was a challenging matchup, and facing it without Marcus added to the difficulty. The first leg kicked off away from home, and Villa's lack of quality on the left side was evident. The playmaking and creativity that Marcus provided were sorely missed, and the team's chances were limited.
The First Leg:Aston Villa v/s Sporting CP
Sporting CP capitalized on Villa's vulnerability. In the 38th minute, they broke the deadlock with a well-executed goal. Villa's defense had been caught off guard, and the absence of Marcus's offensive threat left them struggling to create opportunities. The first half ended with Villa trailing 1-0.
The second half saw Villa putting up a strong defensive front. Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa marshaled the backline, and Emiliano Martinez made crucial saves. However, the lack of attacking impetus meant that Villa could only hold on defensively. The match ended in a 1-0 defeat, a result that put their Champions League hopes in jeopardy.
The Second Leg: Aston Villa v/s Sporting CP
With their backs against the wall, Aston Villa faced the daunting task of overturning the deficit in the second leg. The atmosphere at Villa Park was electric, and the fans' unwavering support provided a much-needed boost. Before the match, Unai Emery gathered the team for a pep talk.
"Listen up, boys," Emery began, his voice filled with determination. "We have to win this at any cost. We have to win this for Marcus, for our fans, and for ourselves. People think we're underdogs, but we're here to prove them wrong. We're here to dominate the game and get a convincing win today. Am I clear?"
The players responded with a resounding cheer, their spirits lifted by Emery's words. The second leg kicked off, and it was clear that Villa was a different team. They played with intensity and purpose, refusing to be cowed by the absence of their star player.
The Turning Point:
In the 25th minute, Aston Villa launched a counter-attack. Jacob Ramsey received a long ball on the right side, displaying his pace and skill as he surged forward. He delivered a precise pass to Ollie Watkins in the middle, who struck the ball home with confidence. The score was now 1-1 on aggregate, and Villa was back in the game.
The atmosphere at Villa Park was electric, the fans roaring with approval. Just before halftime, Villa struck again. John McGinn collected the ball in midfield and played a quick one-two with Douglas Luiz. McGinn then threaded a pass to Ramsey, who had made a clever run into the box. Ramsey took a touch to control the ball and then fired a low shot past the goalkeeper. It was a beautifully worked goal, and Villa took a 2-1 lead on aggregate.
Dominating the Second Half:
The halftime whistle blew, and Villa headed into the break with a renewed sense of purpose. Emery's halftime talk emphasized maintaining their intensity and taking advantage of counter-attacking opportunities. The second half began, and Villa continued to press forward.
In the 60th minute, another counter-attack saw Ramsey breaking down the right flank. He delivered a cross into the box, which Watkins flicked on to Ødegaard. The Norwegian playmaker took a touch and then chipped the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 3-0 on aggregate. The fans erupted in celebration, and the energy in the stadium was palpable.
Villa's counter-attacking football was unmatched, and in the 80th minute, they struck again. Luiz intercepted a pass in midfield and played a long ball to Ramsey, who dribbled past a defender and squared it to Watkins. Watkins calmly finished, sealing the 4-0 victory on the night and a 4-1 win on aggregate.
The final whistle blew, and Villa's players celebrated jubilantly. They had overcome the odds, secured a statement victory, and advanced to the quarter-finals. The absence of Marcus had been keenly felt, but the team had shown resilience and character.
This win was a statement that Aston Villa was here to make history this season and not just be a mid-table club. The journey ahead was still filled with challenges, and the team knew that they needed to maintain their momentum in the Premier League and the Champions League.
But the main question remained: Was this team really capable of winning in the Premier League without Marcus, or was the second leg against Sporting CP just a loophole? The answers would reveal themselves in the coming matches, and Villa's quest for glory continued.
Stay Tuned.