Aston Villa - The African Mirror

Jul

13

2024

Stellenbosch United to play in English Next Gen Cup

FOOTBALL

STELLENBOSCH Football Club, based in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, have a golden ticket to participate in England’s Next Generation Cup, alongside seven invited clubs from England and India. This will be the second time the South African club has participated in the tournament; they lost 5-4 in penalties to England’s Wolverhampton Wolves in the 2023 final of the cup when it was hosted in India. Stellenbosch United’s side will represent as the 2023/24 DStv Diski Challenge Champions, which is a youth reserve team league for the top South African football teams in the Premier Soccer League, in the fifth…

May

15

2024

By The African Mirror

Klopp hails Liverpool’s character, bids farewell to away fans

FOOTBALL

LIVERPOOL'S squad has shown great character this season, manager Juergen Klopp said after the Merseysiders drew 3-3 at Aston Villa as he bid farewell to fans in his last game on the road. Liverpool looked set for all three points in Klopp's penultimate game, leading 3-1 before substitute Jhon Duran's goals in the 85th and 88th minutes made the teams share the spoils on Monday. Klopp was not only serenaded by the travelling Liverpool fans who paid homage to his nine-year tenure with the club but also received applause from the home crowd as he headed down the tunnel at…

Apr

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the latest round of Premier League games. ARSENAL SHOW GRIT TO PROVE DOUBTERS WRONG Defeats by Aston Villa and Bayern Munich in their last two matches called Arsenal's backbone into question but Mikel Arteta's side answered the doubters with a gritty 2-0 win at Wolves to show that their title challenge is not over yet. It was a dour affair and though the statistics might suggest that Arsenal had it easy, they had to grind it out, scoring late in each half to show a different side of themselves that might prove vital as the title race…

Apr

16

2024

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the weekend's Premier League matches. 'CHOKERS' TAG REARS ITS HEAD AFTER ARSENAL LOSS Arsenal's league form in 2024 has been scintillating, the side picking up 31 points from 11 games before a 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday saw them lose ground on Manchester City. But the nature of the loss, squandering multiple chances in a dominant first-half display before conceding a late quickfire double, will revive questions about the Gunners' mentality after their title challenge petered out last season. This term Arsenal have largely answered those questions, displaying greater mental strength, and remain just two points behind…

Mar

12

2024

By The African Mirror

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the weekend's Premier League games: GUARDIOLA SHOWS RUTHLESS TOUCH AS DE BRUYNE HOOKED When Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne was substituted after 69 minutes of a rip-roaring contest at Anfield with the game locked at 1-1 and the top spot up for grabs there was widespread surprise, not least from the Belgian playmaker. De Bruyne, a key component of five Premier League title triumphs, was not impressed and made his feelings known to manager Pep Guardiola who sent on the more defensively-minded Mateo Kovacic. City hung on for the draw in the face of a Liverpool onslaught,…

Feb

03

2024

By The African Mirror

Villa’s Traore joins Villarreal on free transfer

FOOTBALL

WINGER Bertrand Traore has joined Spanish side Villarreal on a free transfer for the rest of the season after leaving Aston Villa, both clubs said. Villa confirmed that Traore had agreed a mutual termination of his contract. The 28-year-old Burkina Faso international has struggled with playing time this season, only spending nine minutes on the field in the Premier League spread over two matches. He will join struggling Villarreal, who are 14th in the LaLiga table with 23 points, seven clear of the relegation zone.

May

01

2023

By LORI EWING

Man United edge closer to top four finish with 1-0 victory over Villa

SPORT

A goal from Bruno Fernandes secured Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa, increasing their chances of finishing in the top four in the Premier League and continuing their dominant form at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag's side is fourth in the standings with 63 points from 32 matches and has a game in hand on fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who are on 54 points. United are unbeaten at home in 15 straight Premier League games, with just three draws. They have not lost at Old Trafford since the opening weekend of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion. United…