Jordan Henderson was forced to pay a reluctant tribute to a ‘fantastic’ Aston Villa as Unai Emery’s side hammered Ajax 4-0 in the Europa Conference League last-16 second-leg at Anfield.
The look on John van’t Schip’s face said more than words ever could. Resembling a man who had los a tenner and found a Monopoly note in it’s place, the Ajax boss was powerless to prevent his side from imploding in the Midlands.
In the space of just a few second half minutes – while just 2-0 down in the tie – Sivert Mannsverk gifted Aston Villa their second and then picked up a straight red card, Jordan Henderson’s young midfield partner almost single-handedly scuppering any hopes Ajax had of giving a miserable season a happy ending.
Villa were two goals up through Ollie Watkins and the one-time Ajax target Leon Bailey before Mannsverk’s dismissal. Further efforts from Jhon Duran – cracked in off the bar – and a confidence-booster from Moussa Diaby ensured that a Villa side who lost 4-0 on home soil against Tottenham just four days earlier flipped that scoreline around against the embattled Dutch giants.
Aston Villa cruise past Ajax in Conference League
“It was a very difficult evening,” Henderson sighs, speaking to Veronica Inside while rueing a an effort from Brian Brobbey cleared off the line on the stroke of the break.
“It is difficult because we ended the first-half quite well. We felt like we could hurt them. In the second-half, I had the feeling that we were still in the game. Then we conceded (another) and received a red card.”
“Anyway, you have to give credit to Villa too. They are a good team and they controlled the game very well. They are an experienced team. You also clearly saw the difference in experience between both teams tonight.”
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery already has four European trophies in his collection. The Spaniard is now looking to add a fifth, the Premier League high-flyers surely now the favourites to pick up the Conference League gong.
Jordan Henderson humiliated
“Aston Villa is a fantastic club with fantastic fans,” adds former Liverpool captain Henderson, who was controversially called up by Gareth Southgate for England’s friendlies with Brazil and Belgium this month.
“They are a good team and I wish them all the best.”
Villa could now be drawn against the likes of Lille, Olympiakos or Club Brugge in the quarter-finals.
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