Matty Cash insists Aston Villa are both excited and calm as they prepare for Thursday’s UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos.
Unai Emery’s side are set for the first leg of their European semi-final showdown at Villa Park, with the second leg to come in Greece next week.
Villa also head into the final three matches of their domestic campaign competing for a top-four finish in the Premier League for the first time since 1995/96.
And defender Cash says he and his team-mates are highly charged and in determined mood for the season finale, but also remain composed ahead of the challenges that lie in wait.
“I think we’re really excited but pretty calm as well at the same time,” he said.
“I think it’s really important that we know what’s on the line, we know obviously we’re in a really good position being in the top four and being in the semi-final of a European competition.
“Which is fantastic and what we set out for at the start of the season.
“And here we are – three games to go and sitting in fourth position; it’s really good, but loads to play for still.”
Cash played a crucial role in Villa’s quarter-final success over LOSC Lille.
Trailing 3-2 on aggregate with time running out, the right-back drilled home an 87th-minute equaliser to send the last-eight tie to extra-time and subsequently penalties, from which Villa prevailed to reach the semi-finals.
“It was a big moment,” he reflected.
“When I hit it and it went in, I thought ‘let’s go again’ because we had a bit of a spell where we were counter-attacking.
“And then I got back and thought ‘buzzing, I’ve just scored’.
“When I look back at it now, it obviously was a key moment or we probably wouldn’t be sat here.”
Villa have won all six of their home fixtures in this season’s competition to date.
Having progressed through the play-offs, Unai Emery’s side topped Group E to reach the knockout stages, before seeing off Ajax 4-0 on aggregate and then Lille to reach the semi-finals.
“I think we deserve to be where we are,” added Cash.
“I think we deserve to be in the semi-finals, you’re not there by luck, you’re there because you deserve to be.
“And I think the manager’s been a key part of it, being so demanding of us.
“As I’ve said, we’ve haven’t really got a massive squad so we’ve all had our fair share of games, we’ve got through it really well and we’re in a great position.”
You can watch Matty’s full pre-match press conference below…
