A difficult season ended on a high for Harvey Elliott on Wednesday night as he lifted the Europa League with Aston Villa in Istanbul.
Having joined Villa on a loan-to-buy move last year, the 23-year-old’s Liverpool career should already have been over by now. However, Unai Emery’s bungling has meant that Elliott will be back at Anfield for pre-season.
Emery had the graciousness to include the Reds’ No. 19 on the bench as Villa beat Freiburg 3-0, though, ensuring that he will have a Europa League medal to show for a lost year. And as he prepares for an unexpected Liverpool return, Elliott showed his class with a message for Aston Villa fans on social media.
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A sour end could be in store…
Elliott’s classy Europa League message for Villa fans
Although he has barely played for Villa, Elliott is clearly a very popular member of Emery’s squad. The scenes when he held the trophy aloft on Wednesday night confirmed as much.
The former England U21 star could have sulked and thrown his toys out of the pram having only made nine appearances all season, but instead the beaming smile on his face told a different story.
And as he took to Instagram after full-time, Elliott clearly has a genuine affection for Villa, despite the way the season has gone.
“Was written in the stars from the moment I signed!” he posted. “Up the f****** villa.”
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Elliott then added a tongue-in-cheek message that he ‘played a huge part,’ along with a cry-laughing emoji and a winking face.
“All jokes aside Villa fans thanks so much for everything! Enjoy yourselves,” he concluded.
Given the reaction from Aston Villa supporters, it seems that Elliott has endeared himself to them with his positive attitude despite a really difficult circumstance.
Hopefully he can now come back to Liverpool with a spring in his step, and, who knows, perhaps there is still a part for him to play at Anfield.
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