Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie described a feeling like no other on European nights at Villa Park, as part of the latest instalment of the Villa Podcast.
EP04 of The Official Aston Villa Podcast sees the boyhood Villan join Kate Tracey and Alan McInally at Bodymoor Heath, discussing his Villa debut in 1995, punditry and much more.
Villa Podcast EP04
Reflecting on a UEFA Cup tie with Atlético Madrid in March 1998, Hendrie waxed lyrical on the atmosphere and feel around B6 when European football comes to town, as Unai Emery’s side gear up for another huge Champions League clash with Juventus after the international period.
He said: “The European nights at Villa Park were fantastic. It’s something you just cannot explain.
“It’s a different atmosphere, it’s a different vibe. It’s phenomenal, it really is.
“It’s something that’s different. You’re playing against top-quality foreign players who you don’t get to see week in, week out. That just gives something different.
“A European competition is always special at this football club. It’s a special club to be at when these European nights are around.”
Hendrie also had his say on the transformation Unai Emery has overseen at the club, and still follows his Villans with pride, carrying optimism for the future.
“They’ve been phenomenal – it’s brilliant,” Hendrie added.
“The club, just to see it slowly progress from the Championship, for them to get relegated to understand to rebuild the football club, and then to slowly progress to where they’ve got to, the journey has been phenomenal.
“What we achieved as a football club last season was outrageous, and that’s down to the management.
“I watch him (Emery) and just think there’s obviously something that, recruitment-wise, he looks at. What he likes in players, and that he can get the best out of them. That’s what I think he’s so good at.
“The understanding that he has with the players and what he gets out of the players, even with the change of style and formation, he is a brave man in what he’s done at the football club. He’s taken us to another level.”
The Official Aston Villa Podcast is here!
Welcome to our latest new regular offering for all supporters, available for free on all your favourite podcast platforms and also in video format on VillaTV+.
Co-hosted by fans’ favourite Alan McInally and VillaTV presenter Kate Tracey, The Official Aston Villa Podcast brings you all things claret and blue.
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