When Unai Emery took over at Villa Park, Aston Villa were clinging on to their spot in the Premier League and the very thought of European Football was a laughable commodity from 40 years ago. Now, they've beaten Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Aston Villa drastically exceeded expectations last season with their phenomenal run to fourth place in the Premier League, but not even the most devout Villain could've predicted just how well Villa would start on their return to Europe's elite.
Jhon Duran's frankly ludicrous run of substitute goals continued with the biggest goal of his career so far, a 79th-minute winner against six-time European Champions Bayern Munich.
Aston Villa's 1 - 0 win over Bayern Munich was a fitting repeat of their 1982 European Cup Final win, where they stunned favourites Bayern by the same 1 - 0 scoreline.
It's fair to say that Bayern hadn't had the greatest weekend, drawing 1 - 1 in a game they'd dominated against Bayer Leverkusen, but it takes nothing away from Villa's achievement.
Arguably it was an important win not only for their hopes of reaching the knockout stages, but because it relied on Villa to really dig deep and defend with everything they had, something they've struggled with in the Premier League.
Just as Bayern were, Villa were held to a disappointing draw before this huge Champions League game, blowing a 2 - 1 lead to draw 2 - 2 at Portman Road with Ipswich Town.
While Liam Delap's second goal was outstanding, the first was entirely preventable from both a defensive and goalkeeping point of view.
Emi Martinez couldn't claw Delap's effort away from the near post and it ended up costing his side two points.
It's not the first time Villa have conceded a cheap goal in this Premier League season either, with both Everton's Dwight McNeil and Arsenal's Thomas Partey capitalising on mistakes from the Villa backline and/or goalkeeper.
Villa's problem with consistency almost automatically rules them out of a potential title race, but the fact that they're even being mentioned in such conversations is a sign in itself of how far they've come under Unai Emery.
At their best, Villa look even better this season than they did last term. They're capable of beating anyone, as proven by their dramatic win over Bayern Munich, and so much of it comes down to their super sub Jhon Duran.
Ollie Watkins is a fantastic striker, but he simply cannot compete with the rate at which Jhon Duran is knocking them in over the first six weeks of the season.
Duran's current goal per 90 minute ratio in all competitions is 2.29; Erling Haaland's is 1.67.
Villa's number 9 has six goals in all competitions and five of them have been decisive (scored in draws or single-goal wins). Even then, the outlier was a derby goal against Wolves, which for a Villain is just as sweet as any goal.
By any definition, Duran's form is impressive. Whether or not it gives him the opportunity to start remains to be seen but ultimately his strike rate is as good as it gets.
It's not just Duran's goals leading Villa to these results though. Morgan Rogers, who Duran has come on for at times this season, has lit up the Premier League at the start of his second season at Villa Park.
Rogers' goal against Ipswich was his first of the season, but his contributions to his teams attacking football go beyond stats.
Assist or not, he was involved in two of the goals against Everton and delivered on a day where his team faltered in their defeat to Arsenal.
Amadou Onana is another Villain who has emerged as a top class talent early on this season.
The departure of Douglas Luiz easily could've derailed Aston Villa, but not only have they found a replacement in Amadou Onana, they've arguably got an upgrade, and for less money.
Douglas Luiz was an outstanding player for Aston Villa, but it can't be ignored that on a night where Onana was a general in Villa's midfield, Luiz came off the bench and immediately conceded a penalty for Juventus.
Onana is fantastic at controlling a game both with and without possession. His awareness and ability to read a situation have not only allowed him to protect Villa's back four in tough moments against Bayern and Young Boys, but has also made him a goal threat.
The big Belgian has three goals in his eight appearances this season, more than any other defensive midfielder in the Premier League.
But if we're focusing on individuals at Aston Villa, we really can't overlook Unai Emery.
The Spaniard had a somewhat tainted record in England when he arrived at Villa Park having lost control of a difficult dressing room towards the end of his spell at Arsenal.
But just two years after taking over 16th-place Aston Villa, Emery's side play some of the best football in Europe.
Masterminding victories over Bayern, Arsenal and Manchester City in the past year aren't the peak of Emery's Villa though. It's the style.
They're direct, precise and absolutely deadly when they want to be. Duran's goal on Wednesday night sums up Emery's football brilliantly.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was off his line, Villa hadn't had too many chances and it was late in the game. In the Emery philosophy, Duran has to think why not shoot, 30 yards out or not.
The lack of consistency Villa are still battling at times paired with slightly inferior squad depth to the expected title contenders likely rule them out of a Premier League title challenge, but a cup title or a deep run into the Champions League could absolutely be on the cards for Villa in what could be another historic season under Unai Emery.
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