Tyrone Mings emerged after burying his personal demons in Bruges, saying: “I’m glad it happened to me - and not someone else”.
The England international experienced redemption as Aston Villa advanced their claims for a spot in the last eight of the Champions League with a 3-1 first-leg triumph over Club Brugge. Four months ago, Mings picked up the ball after Emi Martinez had kicked it to him, conceding a penalty that led to Villa’s first defeat in the competition.
But a remarkable goalline clearance with the game in the balance enabled Villa to grab two late goals that gives them a huge advantage ahead of next week’s return at Villa Park. Asked if it had bothered him in the build-up, he said: “How much was it on my mind? It’s impossible for it not to be because everybody keeps bringing it up all the time.
“When we saw the draw and knew we were coming here I was fully aware people were going to talk about it again, as they should because I think that game had 0-0 written all over it.
“It’s important to bring it up because it is part of our history and part of what happened. I have no problem; I have said since that if it was going to happen to anybody and be such a big talking point, I’m happy for it to happen to me.
“That was a night to remember - both have been in Bruges for different reasons. And it sounds like a cliche, but I don’t really feel much different tonight than I did when we left last time.”
Mings’s long-time teammate Matty Cash said the centre-half had been reminded of his moment before kick-off on Tuesday night. Cash said: “I think he was just happy to not handball it.
“Obviously at the time, it was pretty serious, but yesterday we made a little joke in the group about it. I was injured, sat watching on the sofa it at home last time and I think you'd let him off because he had a little bit of time out. We can sort of have a laugh about it now - but it won't happen again.”
It was the deftest of touches that sent the ball around the post from Hans Vanaken’s header after the powerful defender used every bit of his six-foot four-inch frame to reach the ball.
Mings said: “I have made a few goalline clearances in my time at Villa, I can’t not know what I am doing every time, at some point someone has to say ‘good clearance’. It’s instinct, as a defender when the ball goes over my head my natural reaction is to drop onto the line in case something like that happens.
“Mind you, if we did that another 10 times again, I’m not sure I’d be able to do it - make that fine of a touch to make it go around the post, but you don’t need to, you just need to do it at the time.”
Villa are now favourites to progress next week with a two-goal advantage at Villa Park where they have only lost twice in 23 outings. Mings added: “Our responsibility as players is to stay calm and not be too high or too low.
"I think it is really important for the fans to enjoy this moment. We have a healthy, but delicate lead going into the second leg. We will treat it with the adequate respect.
“The dreaming and all of that really is for the media and fans. Our job is to promise the fans we will always stay consistent and stay respectful and humble of the challenges we have in front of us.”