Roberto used the Italian phrase after our Carabao Cup loss at Liverpool in midweek, where we out-shot the Reds 17-12 only to lose 3-1 with the Reds scoring three world-class goals. The spark certainly arrived after Conor Gallagher reduced arrears at Anfield, but we couldn't find the second to level before Dominik Szoboszlai's late screamer wrapped it up for the home side.
As we focus back on the Premier League and Villa in N17 on Saturday (12.30pm UK), turn the clock back 40 years, and Clive’s La Scintilla moment arrived on the opening day of the 1986/87 season at Villa Park.
Back from serious injury towards the end of the previous 1985/86 season, Clive worked hard throughout the summer and pre-season, was fully fit and raring to go – and an early goal, converting a cross from Tony Galvin, led to a hat-trick on the day, a 3-0 win and started a journey that would end at a club record 49 goals in all competition – a record that still stands today.
Clive, across our games now in his role as pundit and co-commentator on SPURSPLAY, knows exactly the difference goals can make.
“For me, that Villa hat-trick was the perfect start to the season, and the confidence I had from there was unbelievable,” he recalled this week. “I just wanted to play the next game straight away, the next and the next! It was the perfect start for me.
“I'd had a pretty horrendous year the season before, came back towards the end of the previous season, but after working hard in the summer, I was in the best shape I’d ever been. I had a good pre-season, scored a few goals and the team was playing well.
“So, I went into the season confident, but you always want to start well. Villa Park was the perfect start. I knew we’re going to create chances, but to score a hat-trick means you are always confident you are going to take those chances.
“We created chances against Everton, created chances again against Liverpool in midweek – it’s an obvious thing to say, but if we can just get ourselves in front, it could make all the difference.”
Most goals in a season
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