ZHAKE
Aston Villa defender Matty Cash has struggled with injuries this season but is geared up for their tie against Club Brugge.
The Poland international is the only recognised right-back in Unai Emery’s Champions League squad, after Andres Garcia was left out.
However, due to his recent fitness issues, January loan signing Axel Disasi has been forced to fill-in at full-back, impressing against Club Brugge in the 3-1 first-leg win (4 March).
Cash won a penalty for Aston Villa after being brought off the bench in the late-stages of that game, and Emery will now be forced to pick between the two defenders in the second-leg on Wednesday evening (12 March).
Matty Cash ‘ready’ for Champions League clash
Ahead of the European knockout game against the reigning Belgian champions, Cash posted a photo of himself performing a press conference on his Instagram story, captioned: “Champions League ready”.
The Poland international has featured five times in Europe’s premier competition this season, as Villa look to replicate the unlikely success achieved in 1982, when they won what was then known as the European Cup.
Since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2020, Cash has played a vital role in the club’s recent success, and even in an injury-hit season, has still managed to appear 25 times in all competitions for his side.
Disasi looked comfortable in the 3-1 win over Club Brugge, in Bruges, and it would be a surprise to see the Spanish manager drop the French defender.
Emery is a savvy operator in Europe, having won the Europa League four times in his career (three times with Sevilla, once with Villareal), and finished runner-up once (Arsenal).
Had Villa failed to win against their Belgian counterparts, Cash may have been given the nod, as the former Forest man is a talented attacking fullback.
2024/25 Premier League stats Cash
Appearances 19
Starts 16
Goals 1
Assists 1
Minutes 1,400
However, given Disasi is a natural centre-back, his defensive qualities make him the ideal man to retain a lead.
The other major decision to be made will be on the left-wing, after Jacob Ramsey notched another assist in the 1-0 win over Brentford (8 March).
January loan signing Marcus Rashford started in the first-leg, and will likely start again, with Emery regularly rotating between the two wingers.
Qudus Salihu
ZHAKE
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