“Still hurts” – Player haunted by Aston Villa ahead of Europa League clash

As Lille prepare to face Aston Villa again in Europe tonight, Rémy Cabella has admitted he still regrets the defeat he believes cost LOSC a European title.

Le Petit Lillois have an interview with the 36-year-old today, relayed by Le 11 HDF. He discusses Lille’s 2024 defeat to Aston Villa in the Conference League quarter-finals. The two sides meet again in the Europa League this evening.

The two sides met in the last eight of the competition that year, with Unai Emery’s side ultimately progressing on penalties. The Villans were then knocked out in the semi-finals, to eventual winners Olympiacos.

Villa had enjoyed a strong run to that point, finishing top of their group and seeing off Ajax before edging Lille on penalties.

The campaign marked the club’s first European semi‑final appearance since 1982, but there was some regret that they did not go further.

Cabella still haunted by Aston Villa penalty heartbreak

And there was a similar sense of regret at Lille too. The French side also felt like they were strong contenders for the crown, at least according to Cabella.

“At the time, we were undoubtedly playing some of the best football in Europe,” he said.

“It was a huge competition (the Conference League), because we played on pitches and in stadiums far from everything. But Aston Villa was still a very strong team. Losing in the penalty shootout is a shame. It’s a real shame to have stopped there.

“Then, we were going to play against Olympiacos, no less… And they’re the ones who won the competition. I think if we get through that, we’ll go all the way. I would have loved to win a title with LOSC, and that one would have been great. What we achieved was huge.”

Why Lille believed the Conference League was theirs

Cabella’s claim about Lille’s prowess that season certainly holds up when looking back at the loss to Aston Villa.

Paulo Fonseca’s side were widely praised at that point for a slick passing game and a dominant attacking system that helped them to that stage of the competition.

They had also gotten to that point with just one defeat in 12 and finished their group undefeated to boot.

They were frequently described as the better team over the two legs with Aston Villa too. That showed in the stats. Alongside holding 59% of the possession in the second leg, Emiliano Martinez was also forced into several world class saves to keep Villa in the tie.

Indeed, it was only the Argentine’s heroics in the shootout that secured Aston Villa’s progression. With Villa standing in Lille’s way once more, Cabella’s words will only sharpen the sense of what might have been — and what still could be.