Captain Jack Grealish’s promotion to the Premier League with Aston Villa in the play-off final against Derby County had a painful aftermath. Villa captain James Chester, who had missed out on a million-dollar injury, slashed his left eyebrow as he rejoiced with the winners’ trophy at Wembley Stadium.
“Ches gave me a little push and let the trophy plop on my brow,” said Grealish (23) at Sky Sports about the mishap and added with a smile: “I’m not going to look too good at the party.”
With Grealish and Co., Prince William, who has always been a big fan of the Birmingham club, celebrated the 2:1 in the stands. Villa, where former English international John Terry works as an assistant to head coach Dean Smith, returns to the top English football league after three years of second place. The club will receive around 190 million euros in TV money.
Previously, second-league champions Norwich City with German coach Daniel Farke and Sheffield United had secured their promotion. Villa, fifth in the regular season, had to cross the play-offs and eliminated West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals. In the final in front of 85,826 spectators, Terry defeated his former team-mate, Derby Team Manager Frank Lampard.
