There is a strange defeatism creeping into sections of the Aston Villa fanbase, and it is being exposed by the latest round of online rumours linking Unai Emery with Real Madrid.
Some supporters are already panicking. They are worrying about the future, talking as though everything collapses the moment a top club shows interest in our manager. That is not ambition; that is small-time mentality. It is the mindset of a fan who still sees Aston Villa as a stepping stone rather than a destination.
You can see the same attitude when it comes to players. These are the fans who would happily hand over our best talents to any so-called elite club without a second thought. The idea that Ollie Watkins is “giving” Morgan Rogers away to Madrid is a perfect example. It is insane. Why are we so quick to diminish our own players and talk them down as if they are lucky to be here?
The truth is that this mindset needs to change and quickly. With or without Unai Emery, I believe Aston Villa were always on a trajectory towards becoming a top five club in this country. Emery has been a huge part of accelerating that progress, but the foundations are bigger than any one individual. Emery himself does not seem to believe we are currently at that level; I strongly disagree with him.
If there is ever a time for concern, it is if Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens decide they want to sell the club. Even then, we are in a far stronger and more attractive position than we were when they bought us. Aston Villa is not fragile anymore. We are not a club clinging on, hoping not to lose everything at the first sign of change. We are established, ambitious, and respected again.
A manager leaving would be disappointing. A top player moving on would be frustrating. That is football. What it should not be is the end of the world. The big club mentality is about believing in the club itself, not attaching all hope to one man or one squad.
So buck up, Villa fans. Start believing in who we are again, not who we used to be. Aston Villa is still here, still growing, and still moving forward, no matter what the rumour mill tries to tell you. UTV