Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, is eagerly anticipating the upcoming “special” Europa League semifinal against Nottingham Forest after a commanding 7-1 aggregate victory over Bologna.
Following a 3-1 triumph in the first leg, Villa maintained their momentum, with Ollie Watkins igniting a first-half onslaught by netting his 13th goal of the season and his third in this tie.
Emi Buendia extended Villa’s lead to 2-0 less than a minute after Morgan Rogers missed a penalty, but the England international redeemed himself by scoring a third goal before halftime. Ezri Konsa capped off a convincing performance with his second goal of the tie late in the match.
The victory sets up an all-Premier League semifinal against Vitor Pereira’s side, as they vie for a spot in the final in Istanbul.
The two clubs faced off just last week, ending in a 1-1 draw at the City Ground.
Emery expressed: “This is significant for both clubs, especially since we share a history of winning the European Cup. They have had historic successes in Europe, just as we have. Competing in this semifinal is crucial for both us and them. It promises to be an exciting matchup for the teams and the fans. We’re relishing these moments with our supporters here at Villa Park, feeling energized and motivated.
“This semifinal is genuinely special for both clubs as it presents an opportunity to advance, and I’m aware of the challenges that come with it.”
Emery praised his team’s ability to decisively win the match with three swift goals in the first half.
He added: “Today we maintained the same game plan we executed against Bologna last week, demonstrating respect for the opponent and the competition. The overall performance across both matches was fantastic, albeit challenging. Our clear victory stemmed from a serious approach to the game. We emphasized the need for a strong start this week and to be merciless in the final third, and that was the key difference.”
Watkins marked his 100th goal for the club with the opener, adding to his tally in this year’s competition.
Despite experiencing goal droughts at various points this season, Emery commended his persistence: “Individual milestones matter to players. Today is a significant day for Watkins because he achieved this within the context of our collective goal of reaching the semifinals. We want to support our players in reaching their personal targets. It’s essential for us that he continues scoring, assisting, and that others like Buendia, Rogers, and Konsa also contribute. Today was especially about Watkins.”