Aston Villa: Luke Young reveals how last season's pain lingers on
LUKE Young insists Villa are still haunted by the late season slump which wrecked their Champions League dream.
Young is hoping to play his first part in Villa’s pre-season campaign against Atlante tomorrow after battling a thigh injury,
And the former Middlesbrough full-back hopes a fresh start will help him to put the disappointment of last season behind him.
“When you look back now, it was quite a big feat where we were,” he said.
“We were doing brilliantly. Expectations rise among the fans but they also did that within the camp.
“We thought we had a really good chance, we thought we’d go a lot closer than we did in the end at least.
“You look back at the Stoke game and I think that was the turning point.
“You don’t want to say it at the time but I thought it was a massive chance missed.
“I remember driving home from the game thinking ‘that could come back to haunt us’ but obviously it went on much longer than that.”
Young admits Villa face a tough challenge repeating last season’s form and mounting another challenge for a top-four finish.
But the versatile defender hopes Martin O’Neill’s men will be stronger for the experience.
“We did well last year up to a certain stage but we just couldn’t quite see it through. There’s a bit of regret, certainly,” he added.
“It will be a lot more difficult next year.
“I expect Manchester City, Tottenham, maybe West Ham the way they’ve been playing, all fighting to try to break into that bracket too.
“But we’ll be stronger for the experience and are determined to give it another shot.”
