'Sometimes football is more vibes than technicalities'

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Perhaps this method will catch on.

Against Manchester City, Aston Villa recorded what would, if taken out of the very specific context of last week, otherwise stand as the most eye-catching single result of their season after preparations what must have been, how can we put it, unorthodox... Partying is good for the soul, clearly.

As they float off into summer, either at the World Cup or on the beach, Villa's players and staff could hardly be in a more different frame of mind compared to this time last year. The sullen sense of grievance after their narrow failure to qualify for the Champions League then, along with the prospect of a summer of relative austerity in the transfer market, seemed to linger into the start of this season.

But it's funny how things work out. Without that disappointment, there would have been no Europa League run, no Istanbul, and no grand procession to halt Birmingham traffic. Imagine what Villa might achieve next term if they again start the campaign in the mood they finished the last one? Even in this hyper-prepped age, sometimes football is more vibes than technicalities.

The glorious outcome of this campaign does not mean there is nothing to improve. Villa's year changed mood with the seasons - the stormy summer, the dazzling autumn, the grey winter and the new life of spring. Consistency of both individual players and the team rose and fell. Their resources were put through a serious stress-test by the injuries in midfield which exposed weakness, although things worked out.

Even if their progress had been smoother, however, Unai Emery would no doubt be setting his sights higher anyway. That relentless drive to improve – and to show that improvement could be possible at a rate not envisaged by many supporters – will be undimmed by their recent euphoria.

That work will include a summer of choices. Achieving Champions League status should widen Villa's margins a little, but they will be mindful both of financial regulations and their own patchy record on transfers. Larger investments have not always been successful.

Having talented players means sometimes your resolve to keep them will be tested by clubs with bigger budgets, and there may be smart deals to make. Whether or not any more improvement can possibly be wrung out of the core players Emery inherited – and having come so far together, they will give everything for him – Villa will need better transfer outcomes to take advantage of the chances they have earned. Get more of them right, and there may be further still to rise.

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