Gary Lineker recently referred to Celtic as ‘strange’ ahead of their upcoming clash with Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Villa is taking steps to secure its emerging star, safeguarding him from potential future transfers.
Gary Lineker Calls Celtic ‘Strange’ Ahead of Villa Clash
Gary Lineker has praised Celtic and Aston Villa as a surprising standout team in the Champions League this season.
Brendan Rodgers’ team secured victories over Slovan Bratislava and earned a solid point away at Atalanta, putting them on four points in the revamped league phase. Aston Villa, meanwhile, won every match, which was highlighted by a notable triumph over Bayern Munich.
The two teams will face off in a Champions League match at the turn of the year as the league phase concludes. Celtic will aim to finish between 9th and 24th in the group to secure top-tier European football after January. This week, Lineker shared his thoughts on the competition and both clubs.
Together with Brest in France, he considers Celtic and Aston Villa to be surprising standouts, though he points out something unusual about the Hoops, who were thrashed 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund in their second match.
When asked about his Champions League surprise teams on the Rest is Football podcast, the Match of the Day host said: “Villa, three wins from three, you’d have to say them.
“The three English teams are top, aren’t they, with Manchester City and Liverpool as well. So I’d say Brest, the team in France, who are doing really well. Two wins and a draw, which is, I think, pretty impressive.
“Celtic, in a weird way, considering they actually got battered in one game, seven [against Dortmund], they’ve got four points from the other two games. That gives them a chance of being, probably realistically, in the middle block.”
Aston Villa Protecting New Star From Future Transfer
Since Unai Emery’s arrival, Aston Villa have emerged as the team to watch in the Premier League. The Spanish manager first led the Lions to the Conference League and has now guided them to the Champions League this season.
Emery and Aston Villa now aim to remain a top-four team in England, and with their great start to the Premier League in 2024–2025 and Champions League campaigns, there’s every reason to believe the project is here to stay.
Aston Villa made several key signings this past summer to bolster their squad, with the standout move being the acquisition of top-class midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton.
The standout new contributors are breakout stars Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers. While Duran has garnered the most attention for his impressive goal-scoring off the bench, Rogers has had the biggest impact on Villa.
As reported by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, Rogers is set to be heavily rewarded with a contract extension for his improved performances this season despite having already signed a long-term deal in January.
The new contract was originally based on his expected potential, but Rogers has already surpassed those expectations. As a result, Aston Villa is offering this extension to ensure he is compensated appropriately for his current value to the team.
At just 22 years old, Rogers is already among the Premier League’s best offensive midfielders, with four-goal contributions in nine matches. He’s also averaging close to three successful dribbles per game.
Rogers is a key player for Aston Villa, contributing both offensively and defensively. His all-around value is evident as he works hard to start plays, create chances, and support the team defensively.
Every Premier League team would welcome a young, dynamic, and versatile attacking player like Rogers in midfield. Aston Villa are making the right move by ensuring they secure his future.
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