The latest West Midlands sport headlines, from Daniel Wales.
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00:00Birmingham World reporter Charlie Haffenden has been reflecting on Aston Villa's previous campaign
00:06in which they finished 6th in the Premier League, qualifying for the Europa League
00:10as well as looking back at some of the matches in their memorable campaign in last season's Champions League.
00:17I think it's difficult to pick just one to be honest.
00:20The Champions League run was just incredible.
00:22Qualifying for it in the first place was such an achievement.
00:25I think even if Villa got knocked out in that league phase,
00:28they wouldn't have been too disappointing.
00:29At least they would have had the opportunity to play within it.
00:32Playoffs would have been good enough.
00:34Finishing between 9th and 24th, finishing the top 8 was just absolutely incredible.
00:39And that win over Bayern Munich at Villa Park, which was the start of that run,
00:42was such an incredible night to remain unbeaten at Villa Park
00:46throughout the entire Champions League campaign.
00:48Incredible.
00:49The same could be said in the Premier League as well, apart from the opening.
00:52The first home game in the season against Arsenal that they lost,
00:55they were undefeated in every single game at Villa Park.
00:57So that's a real achievement.
00:59I think that PSG game, the second leg, even though they went out on aggregate,
01:04just a fight to get back into that game after going 1-0 down so early,
01:08to win it 3-2, the atmosphere was absolutely unbelievable.
01:12And Haffenden has also spoken about Birmingham City
01:15and the need for the Blues to carry on their momentum,
01:19found in winning League One into the Championship next season.
01:24It's so important.
01:25I can see them definitely carrying on the momentum because how could you not, really?
01:29The group of players are so tight-knit.
01:31Chris Davies has created such a great atmosphere.
01:33And when you've got so much success, success I think breeds success.
01:36I can see them being playoff contenders immediately.
01:40Maybe that's a bit too much pressure, but I think they'll be right up there.
01:43They'll be spending more this summer.
01:45They'll be addressing some areas in the squad.
01:47I think a lot of it is already good enough to compete at that level.
01:49And, yeah, we could see an Ipswich town.
01:52We absolutely could.
01:53But I think it's the story of Birmingham, not of Ipswich.
01:55It's their own story.
01:56As well, the developments under the new ownership with Tom Wagner,
02:00Tom Brady getting involved as well.
02:02There's a worldwide appeal coming to Birmingham.
02:04And when they've got the plans of a new stadium in the next 10 years or so,
02:08the new sports quarter in Birmingham, it's the whole project.
02:11It's not just the footballing side of it.
02:13And I think it's very exciting for them.