Gombau reflects on Young Lions' start to the season

Under-21s head coach Josep Gombau is relishing the experience his young players are gaining from competing across several different competitions this season.

Three months into the campaign, his side has already turned out in Premier League 2, the Bristol Street Motors Trophy and – for the very first time – the UEFA Youth League.

The Young Lions sit top of Northern Group D in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, after victory at Fleetwood Town last month was followed by a penalty-shoot-out triumph away to Bolton Wanderers last Tuesday, in the final game before the international break.

Gombau praised the resilience and mental strength of a team largely made up of scholars – as they kept their cool to win the shoot-out 4-1 and gain the extra point in the group – and believes these experiences will prove invaluable for his players.

“It was a very good experience for all of us,” he said.

“It was a game that we discussed with Unai [Emery], because the first team was having a friendly the next day.

“A lot of the players from the Under-21s joined the first team, which was amazing for them, and a good experience for our Under-21 players.

“We had a short number of players, and we discussed with Mark [Harrison, Academy Manager] to take a lot of Under-18s, so we went to Bolton with a very young squad.

“It was a very good night because all the boys worked very hard and did well as a team. It was a good game, and we got a good result.

“Bolton had the ball and dominated the game. They created many chances, but everyone in the team worked very hard, and we got the draw, and after the penalty kicks, we won.

“We are enjoying this competition. It is a competition that is bringing a lot for our young players, because you are playing against first team squads in men’s football, and teams in League One and League Two have big squads and good teams.

“We started the competition at Fleetwood, and we had that day also a few players from the first team coming to join up with the team, which was a great experience for our Under-21 players, to mix in a game with professional players.

“We had a good game too, we won that game. With the draw against Bolton, we are in a good position now. We have the next game against Barrow (Tuesday, November 12, ko 7pm) and we hope to put in a good performance and win.”

Arriving at the club in January, Gombau has enjoyed his first nine months as a Villan, and is embracing the challenge of developing a pathway for players at Bodymoor Heath, alongside Unai Emery, Monchi and Damian Vidagany.

He added: “I am enjoying it a lot. This position is to develop players. Of course, you want to win all the games, but the most important thing is to help develop the players.

“I work very close to Unai and his staff. We have a meeting every day, and it is very important, I feel, this work from all of the club – from Damian and Monchi.

“We have a great connection with the first team. We have players joining a lot of training sessions, and Unai and the staff know the players very well.

“We want to bring the opportunities to the players to develop and to play more with the first team.

“The players realise that, if they work hard, there can be an opportunity there, and everybody is working hard. We are doing well, working hard and playing good football.

“It is a pleasure for me to work at this club. We have a good group, a lot of nice people working hard, and the staff I have with me here is a lot more than it was when I came here.

“I feel very proud to have them with me, and I am learning a lot from them also.”

Villa’s qualification for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League meant an Under-19s side would be automatically entered into the UEFA Youth League, for the first time in history.

Gombau described how this competition provides a unique challenge for his players, pitting them against some of Europe’s elite academy outfits, and looked ahead to next Tuesday, as Bologna visit Bodymoor Heath (ko 1pm).

“It is an amazing competition – you play against the best teams in Europe,” he concluded.

We started the competition, and it was difficult. It is not an easy one. We had an away game which was very difficult against Young Boys, which we lost.

“But after that, we came here [Bodymoor Heath] and put in a very good performance against Bayern Munich. That game we deserved to win. We had a lot of chances and a lot of possession.

“At the club, the main objective of the academy is to develop players, and this experience will help them to grow. We are satisfied with this.

“Next week we have a game against Bologna, and we are preparing already for this game. Hopefully, we can get a good result and start our journey in the Youth League.”