Aston Villa warned to prepare for 'battle' with Go Ahead Eagles

Villa will arrive in the Netherlands as favourites to make it three wins from three in the competition.

But Boel, who led the hosts to glory in last season’s KNVB Cup, has warned his team will be no pushovers. 

“Respect comes before and after the game,” Boel said. “The moment you enter the pitch, it is a battle. That is also what we will try to make tomorrow night.

“An English team is coming here, so everyone is looking forward to the game. This is also the league which everyone follows on TV. Every team is a top team.

“I think if you ask most of the players, where do you want to get a transfer too, they will all say to England. It is a big game that we are all looking forward to.”

The home club’s stadium is among the smallest in the competition but Boel does not expect it to be quiet.

“This is not the biggest stadium,” he said. “But I think it is pretty English, not only the neighbourhood, but also within the stadium, with how the fans react to everything.

“It is also how we want to play. The people in the stadium work their butts off the whole week to have a living. That’s also something we want to represent on the pitch. That’s also a little bit English.

“People expect us to give everything for 90 minutes and hopefully we get a positive result, but firstly it is about what we put into the system on the pitch. That’s what you can expect tomorrow. There will be great co-operation between the players and the fans.

“I don’t want to make you guys too nervous, but hopefully you will also enjoy it tomorrow!”