Nottingham Forest will watch with envy as Aston Villa line up against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, dreaming of similar Champions League duels next season.
But Villa are just as jealous of Forest’s position in the Premier League, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s third-placed side edging their way towards a top-five finish that is likely to secure a spot in Europe’s premier club competition. Even after Villa beat Forest 2-1 on Saturday, there is still a six-point gap between the clubs.
Yet if seasons like these are to become typical rather than exceptional for these clubs, decisions taken off the field are just as important as those made on it.