After all the hubbub among the Aston Villa supporters who spent the day hugging Amsterdam’s canals and the pre-match fanfare in the way of pyrotechnics and flares, in the end the game itself proved a frustrating stalemate, one to forget in a hurry. Ajax had the best chances to earn victory, Emiliano Martínez repelling an effort by Kenneth Taylor and Brian Brobbey earlier firing wide.
Villa finished with 10 men, Ezri Konsa sent off after picking up two yellow cards. Unai Emery grimaced as Konsa headed down the tunnel after tangling with the substitute Chuba Akpom and these sides will reunite at Villa Park next Thursday with this Europa Conference League last-16 tie delicately poised.
The excitement was palpable in Emery’s voice as, on the eve of this contest, the Villa manager explained how this was his first visit to this arena, named after a pioneer of the game in Johan Cruyff. Emery had his picture taken on the pitch alongside Monchi and Damian Vidagany, key cogs behind the scenes.
Everywhere you look this stadium is dripping in history, decorated by tributes to the greats who played for the 36-time Dutch champions: Van Basten, Bergkamp, Ibrahimovic, Suárez, Rijkaard, Danny and Daley Blind. John van ‘t Schip, who took charge until the end of the season in October, lifted the Uefa Cup in 1992. Banners proudly displaying their rich history, including four Champions League wins, the last of which was in 1995, hang from the roof’s skeletal structure.
At the same time Emery’s team selection – five changes from a late Premier League victory at Luton Town – was both indicative of the magnitude of Sunday’s game against Tottenham and how, indeed, the mighty have fallen. This may be an iconic European venue but Villa have San Siro and Bernabeu in mind next season. Ajax are fifth in Eredivisie, 27 points behind leaders and rivals PSV Eindhoven.
Winger Morgan Rogers, a January signing from Middlesbrough, made his first Villa start and Tim Iroegbunam, the academy graduate midfielder, his second. Matty Cash, one of the five Villa players to drop to the bench, entered at half-time in place of Pau Torres. Leon Bailey and John McGinn arrived shortly after the hour tasked with sparking Villa into life but never truly stirred.
Villa created few chances, their best opening presenting itself on five minutes but Moussa Diaby did not get enough conviction on his strike after Sivert Mannsverk surrendered possession, his effort failing to work the Ajax goalkeeper Diant Ramaj.
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Up the other end Brobbey, a hulking forward, rattled the side netting after Jorrel Hato, the 18-year-old who made his Netherlands debut last November, fed him down the left channel. The England midfielder Jordan Henderson, wearing the captain’s armband for Ajax, sent a free-kick over the bar from 25 yards.
