Go Ahead Eagles director Jan Willen van Dop has revealed Aston Villa’s classy gesture to them after their defeat this week.

NOS have an interview with him today after his side beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the Europa League this week.

Few would have predicted the result before the game. Aston Villa are considered one of the favourites for the competition this season, thanks to Unai Emery’s history in it.

He’s won the Europa League multiple times and is likely to see the competition as a route back to the Champions League for Aston Villa this season. That’s even before debates about the size of the clubs or their relative squads.

Go Ahead didn’t read the script, though, securing a 2-1 victory against the odds in a moment that will be remembered forever at the club. And it seems Aston Villa took the defeat well, with Van Dop revealing their classy gesture afterwards.

“They said they’d rarely, if ever, experienced such a warm welcome. And how well everything was organized. Yes, the club does that very well,” he said.

Still, the focus should be on what was a momentous occasion for the Dutch...