‘Unfinished business’ – Mings redemption has Villa dreaming

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery described it as “the biggest mistake I have witnessed in my career” when Tyrone Mings allegedly gave Club Brugge a penalty in the Champions League group match in November.

Mings helped Villa advance far beyond the quarter-finals of European football’s most prestigious competition on a night of redemption for the England defender by returning to the scene of his howler.

After Villa’s impressive 3-1 victory at Club Brugge in the last-16 first leg in Belgium, Mings said, “I was more than happy to come back here and play in this stadium again.”

“What we did tonight is very impressive to me. This game was really enjoyable. We were prepared for their [in the league phase] and had some experience playing against them.

“The game turned out exactly as we had anticipated.” Our defensive and attacking play is both impressive and admirable.

Will Villa book a last-eight showdown with Liverpool or Paris St-Germain on March 12 to complete the job in Birmingham?

One thing is certain: Mings appears to be back in action now that the events of four months ago have been completely forgotten.

Emiliano Martinez nudged the ball out of the six-yard box before Mings, who believed the goal had not been taken, picked up the ball.

Hans Vanaken, the only goal of the game, stepped up to score the only goal of the game after German referee Tobias Stieler received a penalty for handball.

Mings had a terrible experience with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and was replaced shortly after making his European debut.

After that game, Emery added, “His mistake is completely strange.”

Leon Bailey scored a headed assist for Mings in the third minute to open the scoring for Yate Town and Chippenham Town in non-league football on Tuesday. Mings has come a long way since playing for Yate Town and Chippenham Town in non-league football.

Before Mings managed to get a crucial touch that propelled the ball wide, Brugge skipper Vanaken headed the ball into the back of the net at 1-1.

Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin, who was present for BBC Radio 5 Live, said Tyrone Mings was incredible there.

He prevented a goal by stopping it from going into the post’s interior, and that surely prevented it.

As Villa won their sixth of their first nine Champions League games this season, Mings scored seven clearances, more than anyone else, to give their 1,500 traveling fans a wild ovation at the end.

Emery responded, “The first experience he had here was not good,” when asked about Mings’ performance. But he played incredibly focused, serious, and saved one crucial action, which was a goal, today.

My only objective with the players is to understand the difficulties in football, how we can overcome them, how we can improve, and how to analyze everything thoroughly, and how to try to correct it.

Emery’s side are undoubtedly making up for lost time with Villa in this knockout tie, which was their first since the 1982-83 quarter-finals.

Villa have a fantastic chance to advance to the last eight, but Club Brugge will think they did not deserve to lose 3-1.

Emery is careful, however, to stay focused.

The Spaniard quickly pointed out, “We are not in the quarter-finals.”

There are still 90 more minutes to go. Because I am aware of how challenging it is to play each match, we are prepared in case we need extra time and penalties.

The players, I’m sure, have played similar games before, and we must always respect the opponent.

They did a great job competing against Atalanta (3-1), which they won against very well.

“We need to watch the game once more to understand the challenges we may encounter playing against European teams.”