As soon as the present worldwide break is over, Aston Villa will embark on their first Champions League/European Cup journey in over 40 years.
Issues had been slightly completely different again in 1982 when Peter Withe fired residence the winner within the ultimate in opposition to Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich.
Solely the champions of their respective home leagues had been concerned within the event, and the Midlands-based outfit solely wanted to get by means of 4 two-legged video games to get to the ultimate.
Stan Collymore is livid with Aston Villa
This season, the brand new format is in place, and that may see Villa play a minimal of eight video games within the first a part of the event.
At residence, they’ll entertain – as destiny would have it – Bayern Munich once more, in addition to Juventus, Celtic and Bologna.
They’ll additionally face RB Leipzig, Membership Brugge, Younger Boys and AS Monaco on their travels.
It’s clear that tickets to the video games might be like gold mud, and Villa look like cashing in, in a transfer that has disgusted their former participant, and constant supporter, Stan Collymore.
“The nice occasions are again due to Unai Emery,” he mentioned in an unique interview.
“After ending fourth within the Premier League final season, we’re now on the verge of kicking off our Champions League marketing campaign — the primary time we’ve been within the competitors since 1982!
“Regardless of all of this although, the membership, who’ve determined to cost season ticket-holders between £85 and £97 for Champions League residence video games, are utilizing the feel-good issue to money in whereas they’ll.
“I feel it’s an absolute shame!”
Although it doesn’t look like a case of ‘dynamic pricing’ from the membership, they’ve definitely priced the tickets on the very high finish, and given what number of different video games domestically followers might be forking out for, you possibly can’t actually blame Collymore for his outburst.
Maybe supporters will vote with their ft on the first recreation, and since administrators gained’t need to see any empty seats at Villa Park it might power a wanted change upon them.
Almost £100 for a gaggle stage ticket… that’s about as removed from the ‘working man’s recreation’ because it’s attainable to be.
