CHRIS SUTTON: Aston Villa must take positives from their spirited performance

Aston Villa do not want this to end up being a ‘nearly’ season. 

The season they nearly won the Carabao Cup. The season they nearly retained their Premier League status.

Manchester City took the trophy home but were it not for that save by Claudio Bravo at the death, Villa might have gone on to cause an almighty upset.

Aston Villa must take the positives from the Carabao Cup final for their battle against the drop

They have to take the positives from this spirited performance and use it in their fight for Premier League survival.

They gave it a right good go at Wembley Stadium. Now give it a proper good go in the Premier League.

Show that same spirit in your last 11 league games, all of which are cup finals.

For City, Phil Foden stood out, and it is hard to remember a time when he was thrown in and did not play well.

The club must show the same fighting spirit and treat all their final league games as cup finals

Phil Foden impressed for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola greatly values his reliability

This 19-year-old had played a total of five minutes of first-team football since January. Then he starts in a cup final and is named man of the match.

That tells you a lot about his attitude.

The reliability of this young talent is something Guardiola values greatly. Here’s hoping more minutes follow.