Maccabi Tel-Aviv’s Europa League Match at Villa Park: A Difficult Day for Manager Zarko Lazetic

Maccabi Tel-Aviv’s head coach Zarko Lazetic disclosed that his team was instructed to arrive at Villa Park five hours prior to their tense Europa League encounter with Aston Villa.

The match, which Aston Villa won 2-0, escalated into a significant political event as supporters of the Israeli team were prohibited from attending due to safety concerns.

Security Measures and Arrests

A robust security operation was in place, with over 700 police officers present, including units with police horses, dogs, and drones, in anticipation of demonstrations supporting both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli sentiments.

The West Midlands Police reported that 11 individuals were apprehended during the operations at the game, with five arrests related to racially aggravated incidents.

Discontent with Preparation

Lazetic expressed his frustration with the team’s preparation, stating that they were left with idle time after being mandated by local authorities to be at the stadium by 3 PM.

“It was not a normal situation,” he remarked following the game, where goals from Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen secured the victory for Villa. “We arrived five hours early with nothing to do. It was challenging and beyond our control.”

Match Outcome and Future Prospects

Maatsen and Malen’s goals—one from a penalty—contributed to Aston Villa’s win, enhancing their prospects of advancing to the knockout round. At the season’s halfway stage, Maccabi Tel-Aviv finds themselves in sixth place in the group, with upcoming matches against Young Boys, Basel, Fenerbahce, and Salzburg.

Aston Villa coach Unai Emery avoided discussing the surrounding non-football issues but commented on the match performance.

Post-Match Insights from Unai Emery

“While I’m satisfied with the result, I’m not content with our overall performance,” Emery admitted, recognizing the challenges that lay ahead. “We allowed more chances than anticipated and made several errors, yet throughout the 90 minutes, we maintained control and managed the game effectively.”

He added, “Utilizing our passion and European experience was crucial. From our time in the Conference League two years ago, we learned to navigate difficult situations. Rather than being frustrated, we need to channel our emotions positively, particularly as the second half unfolds.”