Don deal: A ‘super star proud’ as Hibernian set up European clash with Aston Villa
Hibernian manager Lee Johnson praised his “warriors” after a 2-2 draw in Switzerland set up a European clash with Aston Villa.
Villa captain John McGinn will bring his team to Easter Road next Wednesday for the first leg of the Europa Conference League play-offs after Hibs secured a 5-3 aggregate victory over Luzern.
Elie Youan scored early to put Hibs three ahead on aggregate and then set up Martin Boyle for a 73rd-minute equaliser after Luzern had got in front on the night.
Backed by about 1,000 travelling fans, Hibs saw out the game to ensure they progressed through a second European round in a season for only the second time in 50 years.
Johnson told Hibs TV: “I’m super proud. I’m proud of everybody – the board, the fans, the staff who work ever so hard, and the players. The players have been absolute Trojans.
“This was a stretch game for us, they are a quality side. The boys have worked so hard, they have had to double up, run forward, run back, make big angles.
“When we had to see the game out, there were some really good passages of play.
“There were some big, big warrior-type performances. The fans massively played their part.
“It just goes to show we are building something here. Everybody is frustrated with us, and we are as well, with our league start in terms of the two losses.
“But this is a sign we can compete at this type of level and we just keep building the club and pushing it forward.”
Hibs reached the European Cup semi-finals in the competition’s first season in 1955-56 and made the last four and two quarter-finals of the Fairs Cup in the 1960s and the European Cup Winners’ Cup last eight in 1972-73.
But recent forays into Europe have not been successful.
Johnson added: “Hibs haven’t been amazing in the past in terms of Europe. This goes down as one of the biggest wins over two legs, probably in the club’s history. For that we are extremely proud and now obviously we bring on Aston Villa.”
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Villa paired with interest in another defensive target
Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Sevilla right-back Gonzalo Montiel, but face competition for his signature from Fulham.
The 26-year-old joined the Spanish side from River Plate in August 2021, and has since gone on to make 72 appearances for the club to follow on from a successful spell in his homeland.
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Montiel was also a key member of the Argentina squad that won the World Cup last year, and he has 23 caps in total to his name as he has gained valuable experience and pedigree at the top level.
According to Argentine journalist Gaston Edul, Villa are keen on the defensive ace, but Fulham are said to have a stronger interest at this stage. It’s added that Sevilla won’t entertain a loan exit, and so negotiations will have to be over a permanent move this summer.
Following the departure of Ashley Young coupled with the injury sustained by Tyrone Mings last weekend, Unai Emery has seen his defensive options become a little more limited despite the arrival of Pau Torres.
Matty Cash continues to be the preferred option at right-back for the most part, while Ezri Konsa is capable of shifting across too when Emery deems it appropriate. The Villa boss also has Calum Chambers in reserve as well who has shown he can play that position.
Nevertheless, in a season in which we hope to play in excess of 50 games if we progress in cup competitions and in Europe, we could arguably do with more competition and depth at the back, with the Mings setback a huge blow and raising question marks over whether or not we do indeed have enough.
Bringing in another right-back, be it Montiel or another target, would perhaps allow Konsa to remain in the heart of the backline, where he can build a strong partnership with either Torres or Diego Carlos to give us a settled centre-half pairing to establish a strong foundation.
Speculation has also linked us with a reshuffle at left-back in the latter stages of the window, with Fabrizio Romano suggesting that Lucas Digne could leave and Marcos Acuna could arrive to replace him.
In turn, it could yet be a very busy end to the transfer market for Villa, with Emery continuing to mould the squad into his own and bring in tactical solutions that he feels he needs for us to be successful this year and beyond.
