UCL: “We did our best” – Raphael Onyedika reflects on Club Brugge loss to Aston Villa

By Wale Mustapha

Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika has praised his Club Brugge teammates for their efforts following their 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday.

The reigning Belgian league champions were undone by Unai Emery’s side, despite Onyedika’s return to action after a two-week injury layoff.

The Super Eagles star had been sidelined but was passed fit for the crucial encounter, though his presence could not prevent the loss.

Onyedika expressed his disappointment over the result but remained optimistic, emphasizing that the team had given their all.

“It was a tough conclusion for us. The result was heading in the right direction, so it was tough for us at the end,” Onyedika told UEFA’s official website.

“In this competition, you have to be at your best. You have to be ready for every action, every match.

“We’ve worked hard for this. We played our game and did our best,” he added.

With a two-goal deficit to overcome, Club Brugge now faces an uphill battle in the return leg.