Friday of anticipation before FA Cup semi-final at Wembley | OneFootball

There was something of a sting after the late stoppage-time goal by Manchester City against Aston Villa. Champions League qualification is still very much in play. The steepness of achieving that goal has increased as a result of that loss.

The FA Cup, on the other hand, is still well within reach. Saturday's fixture against Crystal Palace is a chance for the club to win a piece of silverware. This crowning achievement would further highlight the progress that Villa have made under Unai Emery and be a tangible reflection of their accomplishments this season.

The excitement is present. There is a lot of energy among fans and players alike. How the side is performing on the pitch is at times a thing of beauty. With the plethora of options, the attacks and resulting goals at times make AVFC look like one of the best clubs in Europe.

While the progress is clear and the level of Villa needs to continue to progress, winning a significant trophy would validate the recent undertakings and prove to naysayers that, under Emery, the club is entering a new phase. The difference between being marginalized to a feel-good story and a serious threat to the Premier League's top six comes via silverware.

Having good campaigns is nice; certainly sometimes a roster can overachieve. Sustained excellence and proving the ability to be far from a one-off has one ultimate route. That case is easier made, and in fact, solidified in the event that players in claret and blue are hoisting an FA Cup over their heads.

Looking at Aston Villa's opponent

Emery will lead his men against a Palace side that has gotten favorable results against Villa. CPFC are coming off an interesting run of matches. Against Newcastle, it didn't look remotely competitive. The draw against Bournemouth is what it is. The then ensuing 2-2 game against Arsenal could potentially prove to be something of a preview of how difficult they will be to get a result against.

Either way, it's something of a foolhardy task to take too much from a single match or a common opponent. A high-flying unit can just as easily crash within 90 minutes as well as the reverse. Regardless of who Villa line up against, they will need to attack the moment and play unafraid.

All of the players will know what is at stake. The possibility of then playing in a final will weigh heavily in the moment. It will be up to Emery to mentally prepare his side to overcome this barrier and display what has often looked like a strong team that is worthy of a trophy.