After defying the critics for so long this season, Aston Villa must now dig deep and show their resolve if they are to fulfil their Champions League dream.
Going out of the FA Cup, Uefa Cup and then dropping two points at home in a surprise Premier League draw to lowly Stoke has rattled them, made them fearful perhaps that a season of much promise could end in bitter disappointment.
Ambitious talk of the league title has rightly subsided in recent weeks, but victory at Manchester City tonight will keep them on track for fourth place and suggest their recent run of five games without a win is just a minor blip.
Stiliyan Petrov does not think Villa have run out of steam, nor are they crumbling under the weight of expectation. Talented youngsters like Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young have scored just one goal between them in the last 12 games, a disappointment after their early-season efforts. But Petrov said: "There are 11 games to go, it is up to us. It is going to be a race to the end. If you are a footballer there is always pressure because the fans demand it. They want to win things, they want to play in the best competitions [like] the Premier League and the Champions League.
"We have a big two-and-a-half months ahead and we need to do it because it will be a great achievement for the club."
Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, has been criticised for sacrificing the Uefa Cup to pursue the bigger prize. He sent out a weakened team against CSKA Moscow last week and paid the price with defeat at the last-32 stage.
Petrov added: "Everyone wants to play and fight for his place. They want to play and show they deserve to be here. Unfortunately the result didn't go their way, but we believe in each other. You judge people at the end of the season."
An eighth successive league away win this season at City will lift spirits, but O'Neill thinks there are "a lot of twists and turns" to come in this campaign.
The Irishman also believes City, shorn of the injured Craig Bellamy and Robinho up front tonight, will be a force next season.
"In terms of their players I fully expect Manchester City to be big, big competitors next season," he said. "They are getting a side together with the players they bought in the January window."
The loss of Bellamy, with a knee injury for up to three weeks, will affect City as Mark Hughes said: "Since he came to the club he's carried the fight for us. Against a team like Villa you need as many of your top players available as possible."
@Email:akhan@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
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Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
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DUNE%3A%20PART%20TWO
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Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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