Football has a way of getting into your head. Teams that appear well matched on paper can slip into a cycle of domination that starts to feel more psychological than tactical, logic cast into a tangle of fear and superstition.
Aston Villa have qualified for European football through their position in the Premier League for each of the last three seasons but they can’t beat Crystal Palace.
The Eagles ended Villa’s participation in both domestic cup competitions last season, solidifying the notion that they have some kind of hold over Unai Emery’s team.
It might feel tangible but such an idea is, of course, of limited truth. Sure, it can get under the skin of players and have an effect too but the root is in how Villa and Palace play against one another.
Palace don’t have Villa in their talons. Oliver Glasner, their manager, has Emery figured out.