Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield expects Aston Villa to be ‘rotating their team’ ahead of Tuesday’s EFL Cup encounter.
The cup tie, which is expected to be close to a sell-out, could see names such as World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez, England’s Euro 2024 semi-final hero Ollie Watkins, and FA Cup Final-winning goalscorer Youri Tielemans all make the matchday squad when the Premier League side head to Adams Park.
But with the Villans competing in the Champions League for the first time in over 40 years, and with fixtures against the likes of Ipswich Town, Bayern Munich and Manchester United around the corner, Bloomfield believes his counterpart in Unai Emery might make a few alterations.
Speaking ahead of the contest in the third round of the EFL Cup, he said: “We are up against a very high-calibre opposition, and we respect that.
“But, we will prepare, dream, and have belief in ourselves that can get a result.
“No-one outside of our changing room will believe that we can win the game so we will use that as motivation.
“It’s understandable due to the disparity between the two clubs as one is playing Champions League football, and the other is competing in a very tough League One.
“Of course, there is a gulf between the two teams.
“But if we can be at our best and Villa aren’t, then who knows what could happen.
“We believe in ourselves and I believe in this group, so it is about getting that balance right.”
Speaking on Villa, he added: “I’m expecting changes from them to be honest.
“They played in the Champions League and have another game in the competition soon, so I am sure they’ll be rotating their team.
“But, the quality of player Villa have been able to recruit has been incredible.
“The job they have done in the last few years in building a squad to get CL qualification and be a well-run football club is great.
“So we’ll put out what we believe will get a result against an excellent Aston Villa side.”
Villa go into the contest with five wins from their last six games in all competitions – their only blemish so far this season was in a 2-0 home loss against Arsenal back in August.
For Wycombe, they are unbeaten in their last six in all competitions and have scored in nine of their 10 matches this season.
Their only blank was against AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy where they lost 1-0 at Plough Lane.
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