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Vibrant and victorious - Villa ready to end 30-year trophy drought
Vibrant and victorious - Villa ready to end 30-year trophy drought
Unai Emery walked into Villa Park and declared he was at Aston Villa to win trophies.
In his first press conference in November 2022 the Spaniard's ambition was clear. It has taken a little over three years but Villa are nearly there.
In front of a raucous and triumphant Villa Park on Thursday, the club reached the Europa League final with a crushing win over Nottingham Forest.
Germany's Freiburg await in Istanbul on 20 May but few would bet against Emery adding a fifth Europa League trophy to his collection.
Villa are a game away from their first major silverware for three decades and a first European trophy in 44 years as they look to try to stand with the club's European champions of 1982.
The commentary of Peter Withe's winning goal against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam hangs above the Doug Ellis Stand.
In two weeks, Villa may need another banner if they win in Turkey, which would also earn a Champions League return regardless of whether they finish in the Premier League's top five.
John McGinn's late double put the gloss on a dominant performance that was too much for Forest to match, or even cope with.
Boss Vitor Pereira was able to include Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangare and Murillo on the bench but none were fit and only defender Murillo made it on to the pitch and that just for two minutes with the game lost.
But even with that trio fully available, the visitors might have struggled to contain a rampant Villa, who only increased the tempo throughout the match.
Ollie Watkins' opener and Emi Buendia's penalty put Villa ahead on the night and then in the tie. After that there was never any doubt in a performance that even gained Royal approval from a fan – Prince William visiting the dressing room post match to offer congratulations
"They [the players] were so focused, they were aware about the momentum," said Emery. "We planned before emotionally and how we were playing the match. It was the only match we played with this circumstances.
The possibility to get to a final was the only moment we've had here. We were confident about how the supporters were here and creating this atmosphere.
It will be Emery's sixth Europa League final with four wins - a record - and one defeat, which came against Chelsea while Arsenal manager in 2019.
"Europe is very important," he said. "In my first press conference here I was speaking about Europe, I was speaking about trophies as well, but it's very difficult. It's difficult to get trophies.
"In Europe, it's difficult to be consistent like we are. It's through our hard work and the players must set the standards we want to achieve.
Today the players [gave] their best, collectively and individually.
Only Giovanni Trapattoni, with seven, has reached more major finals in European competition than Emery.
"There's no better manager than this to get us prepared for this game and take us into the final. His track record speaks for itself," Watkins told TNT.
We need to go and win it now.
Watkins himself admitted changes in the squad are expected this summer and so this current run represents the last chance to achieve something together.
Emery has wrung everything out of his players. Several like Watkins, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash and Morgan Rogers came to Villa from the Championship, and there is an internal recognition the squad needs to be revamped.
Skipper McGinn also recognises the players have a final chance to be compared to past heroes like European Cup-winning captain Dennis Mortimer and Paul McGrath who lifted the 1994 and 1996 League Cups.
He told TNT: "We've had low moments, definitely. It's a demanding club to play for, but when it's like this, Villa Park is electric. What we've done in the last few years is exceptional.
"I felt it this morning, but now it is about embracing it and trying to be legends. You see the guys from 1982, you see the cup winners in the 90's.
It's a historic club and it's been a long time without success. There's been massive lows, like relegation and it has built itself back up. It's such a proud football club, it deserves success and hopefully we can be the group to do it.
Emi Buendia was not expected to still be at Aston Villa by now.
Having been loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen in the second half of last season, making just three Bundesliga starts, his Villa career looked over.
A then-record signing from Norwich in a deal rising to £38m in 2021, the playmaker struggled to live up to the billing and scored just four goals in 38 games in his debut season.
A serious knee injury forced him to miss the whole of 2023-24 and left him in the shadows as his team-mates qualified for the Champions League.
Villa were ready to sell last summer as they looked to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules - but ultimately decided to keep the 29-year-old.
He has been one of Emery's most dependable players this season, scoring 10 goals, and is one of the reasons Harvey Elliott's loan move from Liverpool has failed.
"I took responsibility," he told TNT of the penalty." "It was one of the most decisive penalties for the club in recent years, but I didn't feel pressure. I felt calm, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
"We showed the whole season how good we can play. The result is amazing and I think we deserve it.
I think the prestige to win a trophy, with the history this club has - it would be amazing. The fans really want this trophy for us, and we will try.
Former Villa striker Dion Dublin gave Buendia praise and feels he offers something different.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Buendia goes below the radar. He plays good passes, weight of pass is good. His finishing is good.
He's nasty too, he doesn't mind putting a foot in. He is one of those players Villa need in their side in order to achieve things. He doesn't want the plaudits, he just wants to play and get to finals.
Source: BBC
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