Aston Villa v Cardiff Metropolis: FA Cup fifth spherical – dwell | FA Cup

The groups are in, and these are the gamers who will determine this tie, with Emi Martinez declared match to take his place in a robust Aston Villa aspect:

Aston Villa: Martinez, Garcia, Konsa, Bogarde, Maatsen, McGinn, Tielemans, Bailey, Asensio, Rashford, Watkins. Subs: Olsen, Digne, Rogers, Ramsey, Kamara, Rowe, Zych, Jimoh.
Cardiff: Horvath, Fish, Goutas, Lawlor, Ng, Ramsey, Colwill, Giles, El Ghazi, Willock, Robinson. Subs: Turner, O’Dowda, Mannsverk, Robertson, Salech, Bagan, Davies, Ashford, Nyakuhwa.
Referee: Peter Bankes.

“We’re not a contender within the FA Cup to win the title,” mentioned Villa boss Unai Emery forward of this sport. “We’re not contenders. Why? As a result of there are different groups with extra choices than us to win this competitors.”

Oh.

Forward of this fifth-round tie it’s arduous to learn these feedback and never simply assume, oh nicely sod it then, I’ll simply learn my e book. However wait till you hear what Omer Riza needed to say about his Cardiff aspect, having fun with a quick breather from the battle for Championship survival (they’re nineteenth, six factors and various aim distinction above the underside three):

“I’d prefer to put my strongest crew out so you possibly can have an actual go at it – and if we had been twelfth within the league I’d haven’t any points with that,” Riza mentioned. “However we’ve got simply bought too many much more vital video games arising, that are about surviving and staying within the Championship. Typically I believe it [would have been] greatest that we went out within the third spherical. We’re positively not rolling over and saying ‘take the sport’, however it’s irritating we are able to’t be at full-strength and have an actual go at it.”

So what we’ve got here’s a sport between a crew that doesn’t wish to be within the competitors and one other that thinks they may as nicely not be in it. And if that doesn’t get your juices flowing on the finish of an extended week I don’t know what is going to.

For what it’s price I believe Emery is mistaken: the 2 greatest groups within the nation (based on the league desk) are already out of the Cup, Chelsea likewise, and the groups in sixth and eighth are enjoying one another on Sunday. Positive, Manchester Metropolis are nonetheless concerned, have a useful draw and look a bit ominous, however Villa appear to be very possible cup-winners to me.

There are some harm points proper now, although. “Matty Money, shut, however we are going to see,” Emery mentioned. “Pau [Torres] not, Tyrone Mings doubt, Emiliano Martinez doubt, Barkley not, Onana doubt, Kamara doubt, they’re near a come again however we are going to see. Malen is sick, hopefully he can recuperate. Being sick is totally different.” Their line-up tonight might be fearsome, or it might be a bit feeble.

None of that is very promising, I can’t lie. However stick with me! It’s a humorous previous sport, and perhaps this can become a very good one.