Aston Villa told to draw on past experience as star targets glorious end to the season

Unai Emery’s team find themselves in an almost identical position to the one they held at this stage of the 2023-24 campaign, with just two fewer points in the Premier League and through to the last-16 of European competition.

But while Villa held on to secure a top-four finish and qualify for the Champions League, they were knocked out of the Conference League at the semi-final stage by Olympiacos.

The Europa League now offers their best chance of winning the club’s first major silverware since 1996 and Bailey believes the memories of two years ago can be used to achieve an even stronger finish this time.

Speaking to the club’s official podcast, the winger said: “I said in a meeting earlier, two years ago we were in a good place, like we are right now as a team.

“If we can learn from that and try to improve from that time, maybe this is the time we can really compete and really go for a title.”

Last Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round defeat to Newcastle also saw Villa exit that competition at the same stage as two years ago.

They are now entering a key four-week period ahead of next month’s international break, with fixtures against top-four rivals Chelsea and Manchester United following this Saturday’s visit of Leeds and next week’s derby at Wolves. Emery’s men will also play both legs of a Europa League last-16 tie.

Bailey has vowed to do everything he can to help after last month being recalled early from a season-long loan at Roma, following an injury to skipper John McGinn.

The Jamaica international’s Villa career appeared to be over when he joined the Italian club last summer but he now claims to be “learning again” after returning to the UK.

Bailey said: “I missed the dressing room, being with the boys.

“And I did miss the manager a lot too because he is for me the best manager I have had. He is amazing.

“It is not just the manager but the staff around him. They all play a massive part. They have helped my career a lot.

“To be back in that environment, I feel like I am learning again. Like I am in a good place.

“As a footballer, you have an ego and it can get in your head sometimes, thinking you know the game. But I have always been the type of person who wants to learn, who wants to improve.

“I have had a very good relationship with the staff because we have worked on a lot of things in training and I have done it in the games.

“It has improved the way I think, the way I move on the pitch, to create space. It is deep for me with the staff that is here.

“My goal has always been to part of something. We want to see the end result. I am hoping to put my best foot forward all the time and help the team as much as possible with my abilities.”