Dion Dublin Jagokan Aston Villa Juara Liga Europa di Istanbul

Mantan penyerang Aston Villa Dion Dublin menjagokan eks timnya untuk memenangi pertandingan final Liga Europa melawan SC Freiburg di Istanbul pada Rabu malam waktu setempat. Kehadiran pelatih Unai Emery dinilai menjadi faktor krusial yang membawa stabilitas besar bagi skuad The Villans saat ini.

Klub asal Inggris tersebut kini berpeluang mengakhiri puasa gelar kontinental yang sudah berlangsung selama 44 tahun. Penantian panjang para pendukung fanatik Aston Villa kini berada di ambang pembuktian dalam laga puncak yang digelar di Tupras Stadium.

"It's absolutely huge. I was at the club for six years, in the late nineties and early noughties, I was playing with Ginola, Merson and Southgate, some of the best players ever and we didn't really achieve anything either." kata Dion Dublin kepada BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

Dublin menilai keselarasan kerja antara manajemen klub dan manajer asal Spanyol itu berjalan sangat harmonis. Kebebasan penuh yang diberikan kepada Emery terbukti mampu mendongkrak performa para pemain di atas lapangan sepanjang musim ini.

"The fans have had to wait a long time for any success at all, any trophies. Now it is here, with this group of players under one of the best managers this football club could ever get hold of. I think the balance between Unai Emery and Villa is a very, very good match. It works, they have given him full control. The players have got on board and look where they are, look at the players they have." ujar Dublin.

Sejumlah pilar penting seperti John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, hingga Ollie Watkins disebut tengah berada dalam kondisi puncak. Dublin berharap konsistensi permainan ini bisa dipertahankan demi mempersembahkan trofi bagi para suporter.

"Super John McGinn has been brilliant, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins has found his form just in time for the England squad. Everything at Aston Villa is very good. I just want them to get over the line for the fans." tutur Dublin.

Mantan pemain nasional Inggris tersebut juga mengingatkan agar Aston Villa tidak lengah dan tetap menghormati kekuatan lawan. Emery dipastikan bakal menerapkan strategi disiplin tinggi untuk mencegah lini pertahanan mereka kebobolan lewat skema serangan balik.

"Unai Emery will make sure that his boys are on it and that Villa are very hard to beat. When they are in possession and they are going forward trying to score goals, he makes sure that his team are solid at the back, just in case. That is so important, especially tonight, don't get caught on the break, don't get too giddy because we should win the game but please respect the opposition." ucap Dublin.

Pada akhir pernyataannya, Dublin memberikan prediksi skor akhir yang meyakinkan untuk keunggulan tim perwakilan Premier League tersebut. Ia meyakini dua pemain andalan Emery akan menjadi pembeda dalam pertandingan krusial di Turki ini.

"I'm calling this Villa 3-1 in normal time. Ollie Watkins brace, Morgan Rogers far post header. I can't give you any more information than that. Villa bringing it home, just wait and see." kata Dublin.

Di sisi lain, gelandang muda Arsenal Max Dowman resmi dikonfirmasi menjadi pemain termuda yang memenangi Premier League seiring kepastian gelar juara The Gunners. Pemain berusia 15 tahun itu memecahkan rekor yang sebelumnya dipegang oleh Phil Foden bersama Manchester City.

Sementara itu, mantan bek Arsenal Matthew Upson memberikan tanggapannya mengenai keberhasilan skuad asuhan Mikel Arteta mengunci gelar juara liga lebih awal. Menurutnya, kepastian ini memberikan kelegaan besar bagi mental bertanding para pemain.

"The first thing I thought, I looked at the players and I thought now they don't have to think about that game [against Crystal Palace] and from a player perspective, you obviously love those moments, that's what you get out of bed for, for the pressure of that game." kata Matthew Upson kepada BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

Upson menambahkan bahwa keberhasilan ini sekaligus membungkam kritik publik yang kerap meragukan mentalitas Arsenal di fase-fase kritis. Ketangguhan melewati periode sulit pada Maret dan April menjadi kunci utama kesuksesan mereka.

"But there is also a relief that somebody has opened the pressure valve and they have done it and don't have to worry about going to a tricky fixture at Crystal Palace that can produce anything on the day." ujar Upson.

Menurut laporan BBC, beberapa pilar Arsenal seperti Declan Rice dan Bukayo Saka sempat terlihat berada di luar stadion pada pukul 05.00 waktu setempat setelah perayaan gelar juara. Upson menilai hal tersebut sangat wajar mengingat signifikansi prestasi yang mereka raih setelah puasa gelar liga selama 22 tahun.

"I think that certainly is an emotion the players feel along with the emotion of being Premier League champions. They have got it over the line and it puts to bed that noise that they are bottlers to a degree. They've shown the resilience to get through that sticky patch certainly in March and April." tutur Upson.

Menutup komentarnya, Upson memaklumi kegembiraan luar biasa yang ditunjukkan oleh skuad muda The Gunners pasca-pesta juara tersebut.

"There's probably only one way you're going to get away with that and it's the evening you have been crowned Premier League champions after 22 years. I think we can cut them a little bit of slack." ucap Upson.